Align objects by touching

[edgley]

I was watching a CAD user the other week, and to get two circles in line with each other he moved one over the other, then a line appeared and he could move the other one away but still see where to be aligned.

I have tried to use the onsnap and get the little magnetic to appear but I cannt seem to get it to work.

Thanks.

[SLW210]

Select Polar tracking.

[Strix]

what do you need the line for?

you know you can type a distance in after selecting 'move'?

[GE13579]

I agree with SLW on the Polar tracking.

I have tried to use the onsnap and get the little magnetic to appear but I cannt seem to get it to work.

... and if by this you mean you can't snap one circle to another, then you need to set the Quadrant option in your Osnap settings, or shift + right click and choose Quadrant for each circle.

Edit--- or even Centre, depending on where you want it positioned.

[edgley]

Polar is what I am after, thank you again.

[Strix]

yes - we know but AutoCAD has several ways of doing any one thing, and we usually like to explore all the options so we can all improve our working methods along the way

We also run threads such that they're of use for other people in future - this forum doesn't usually run as an answer shop for OPs (though I know some forums do )

so anyway.......

when you use polar tracking, how do you lock the angle? I'm always wary that somebody will try to eye in an object by reading off the coordinates

[GE13579]

when you use polar tracking, how do you lock the angle? I'm always wary that somebody will try to eye in an object by reading off the coordinates

I use Polar tracking set to 45° increments, and if I need to run at another angle I just use polar coords, ie <15,600 for a 600 long line at 15°.

[Strix]

Thanks GE - I really must have a play with polar

maybe I'd see more reason for it if I was producing mechanical drawings?

I'm sure one of the architects I worked with was using it, but as I was only doing domestic work (which is pretty square) I didn't see the point in trying it

electrical drawings don't need it either

[GE13579]

No worries