Using 'Offset' in ACAD2104

Working through Brian Benton's tutorial 'Quick Run Thru' I find that the 'Offset' command works differently from the way it is displayed.

 

Command: _line

Specify first point:

Specify next point or [undo]:

Specify next point or [undo]: Zero length line created at (3290.0000, 1250.0000, 0.0000)

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:

Command: O

OFFSET

Current settings: Erase source=No Layer=Source OFFSETGAPTYPE=0

Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] : Specify second point:

Value must be positive and nonzero.

Specify second point: Specify second point:

Value must be positive and nonzero.

Specify second point: Specify second point:

Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] :

Specify point on side to offset or [Exit/Multiple/Undo] :

 

The tutorial doesn't say anything about a second point. It just says 'enter o for offset, specify distance to offset, click on the line to offset' -- Bingo, the line is offset. Not in the AutoCAD 2014 I have

 

Can someone run me through how it actually works in 2014.

 

Thanks

:DGee! It looks like I have a really up-to-date version

 

I DID mean AutoCAD 2014

You will move the cursor to one side of the line and pick. In 2014 you should see a preview prior to picking the mouse button to indicate the side to offset.

 

Looking at what you paste it says you have a zero length line, you can't offset a point.

Thanks for the quick response.

 

You won't believe this but I just went back to A14 and it works as it should.

No request for a second point!

Yes - I get a preview.

Grrrr! Grrrremlins!

 

Incidentally, I DID have a line to transpose so I don't know what that zero length bit was about.

 

Thannks again

Start the Line Command (L + )

Pick the start point for the line

Pick the endpoint for the line

Start the Offset Command ( O + )

Specify an offset distance (either by picking two points with the mouse, or entering a distance)

Select the object to be Offset

Move the mouse to the side you want the offset to appear, and click

 

I don't know what that zero length bit was about.

It occurs in your first post:

Command: _line

Specify first point:

Specify next point or [undo]:

Specify next point or [undo]: Zero length line created at (3290.0000, 1250.0000, 0.0000)

I didn't even notice this when I read through the post. It was a good catch on rkent's part. You probably picked the same point twice by mistake when you created it. I suppose it would be very difficult to determine a side for a zero length line, as it would be a point, which has an infinite number of sides (or no sides); so OFFSET is not likely to be able to work in such a case.