Do I want "surveyor" settings? Version 2000

[kpaters]

I am an extreme novice with AutoCad and am very good at corrections, creating is the new part. I want to design a garden and was supplied with a suveyors plot plan. All directions for the property are given as: s24d-59'-50"e, 42.44'. From all of this I need to construct the property line and the placement of their house. Can someone walk me thru the menu choices to arrive at this? Also, how do I set a scale so that it can be printed out on an Ansi C paper? How do I line it up with "north"? The overall property is about 150' wide by 175' deep--but there are many angles to it, not straight at all. I will be very grateful for all the help I can get. I am a garden designer by trade and am trying to teach myself this new software.[/code]

[Orbit]

For some of your questions you might find helpful this http://www.autocadcentral.com/Tutorials/Lesson%2010/lesson10.htm

http://www.cadtutor.net/

[CADTutor]

Can someone walk me thru the menu choices to arrive at this?

Kim, sadly, AutoCAD is not the sort of software you can just "pick up and run" with. I recommend that you follow the tutorials indicated by Orbit and get hold of a good reference/tutorial manual. You'll need to get to grips with the basics before you attempt a serious project.

Tou will find a list of on-line tutorials and book recommendations here: http://www.cadtutor.net/acad/general/resource/resource.html

[kpaters]

I am familiar with the very basics (have had a full semester of clases ending with a B+--however, there is nothing in my AutoCad books that says how to do this. I am not intuitive as AutoCad is not. No matter how many ways I try to look up the settings, I have not been able to find any help on it. Also, I cannot find anything that says how to determine "north" on a drawing and how to arrive at the degrees according to north. I have been reading all sorts of tutorials and none mention this specific thing. Thanks again to anyone that can help me. For more info of what I need, please refer to yesterdays posting. Thanks again,
Kim

[CADTutor]

OK, let's sort out the "North" thing.

AutoCAD does not understand the concept of "North", all it knows is where the zero degree position is. By default the zero degree position is at 3 o'clock and angles increase in an anti-clockwise direction (yes this is barmy but we've got used to it!). However, there is good news :) , this default state can be changed. Most likely, you would like the zero degree position to be at 12 o'clock and for angles to increase in a clockwise direction (just like the real world). You can make these settings using the Units Control dialogue box, type UNITS at the command prompt. This tutorial should tell you all you need to set up your drawing so that North is pointing up the page: http://www.cadtutor.net/acad/acad2ki/units/units.html

[Orbit]

I really have no precisely idea of how to solve your main concern. Give a try to this command> MVSETUP and there is an angle question. Try and play with it and see where it leads you.
I cannot open my AutoCad and figure out how this command will work for your given parameters due to an unsolicited virus’s collection.

Let us know how it goes and maybe someone would come with the hit on target solution. However, I want to know how to solve it.

[vizwhiz]

hi There kpaters

post a list of the surveyors units and i will input This for you
even better yet i will explain This so that you can do it yourself

command: units

set units to Type: Decimal
Angle: Type: Surveyors Units
(i didnt hilite This so that you could still read it)

command: line
specify first point (pick point)
specify next point or (Undo): @42.44'<s24d59'50"e

the distance and angle MUST BE INPUT EXACTLY AS SHOWN NO SPACES ALLOWED

Try This and let me know what happens

Thanks

Randy

see attached Images

http://www.viz2000.com/imgs-home/surv-img-1-units.jpg

http://www.viz2000.com/imgs-home/surv-img-2-line1.jpg
[/img]

[Orbit]

As Mr.T would have said, hit F1>

Precision

Sets the precision for the current angle display.

AutoCAD uses the following conventions for the various angle measures: decimal degrees appear as decimal numbers, grads appear with a lowercase g suffix, and radians appear with a lowercase r suffix. The degrees/minutes/seconds format uses d for degrees, ' for minutes, and " for seconds, for example:

123d45'56.7"

Surveyor's units show angles as bearings, using N or S for north or south, degrees/minutes/seconds for how far east or west the angle is from direct north or south, and E or W for east or west, for example:

N 45d0'0" E

The angle is always less than 90 degrees and is displayed in the degrees/minutes/seconds format. If the angle is precisely north, south, east, or west, only the single letter representing the compass point is displayed.