the first of many

[Irozato]

Hello,

 

I'm building a house, and because I've had a technical education, I decided to get autocad, so I can draw plans of anything I'd need, for communication purposes with architects and all that. Should come in handy cause I'll be doing a lot of the woodwork myself.

 

now ... as mentioned I had a technical education and I did in fact get autocad lessons. Problem: that was over 10 years ago. A lot has changed ^^

So this probably won't be the last stupid question you'll be getting from me.

 

I found myself facing a problem right from the getgo.

 

using the line tool I started drawing an object. at a certain point I want to start a new line, at an exact 5cm to the right. I move the line cursor, type in 5. and then I'm stuck.

 

The idea is to just move the line cursor 5cm, not drawing an actual line, and then just draw on from there. I can ofcourse just draw the line, draw the next object and afterwards remove the unneeded parts. but that seems extra useless work.

 

Faint memories from 10 years ago tell me this should be possible by just adding a button to the enter, like ctrl+enter or something like that. so the cursor would just not draw a line but move. Tried all combinations I can think of, and it doesn't work.

 

Is this at all possible ? and how ?

 

Thanks ahead,

 

Irozato

 

(BTW I should mention I've been searching for the answer quite a while, been through the entire forum and google. SO if it's just impossible I'll settle for drawing the line and deleting it afterwards, but at least then I know ^^)

[ReMark]

One way of accomplishing the task is to use the Tracking command. It takes a bit of practice to get used to it though.

 

To start drawing your next line segment 5 units from the end of the line previously drawn start the line command. Look at your command line. When AutoCAD prompts LINE Specify first point type in the letters tk (the alias for tracking). AutoCAD will prompt you to pick the First tracking point. Pick the endpoint of the line previously drawn. Now AutoCAD prompts Next point. While moving your cursor in the direction you want to go type the number of units (in this case '5') at the command line. Look at your screen. AutoCAD has jumped ahead those 5 units and starts a new line. Press Enter to end tracking. AutoCAD prompts Specify next point or [undo]. Now just continue the line you started to draw from this new location.

[JD Mather]

Sounds like you are remembering Direct Distance Entry (F1) and Tracking (F1). You say you got AutoCAD but don't indicate what release?

Be aware that in later releases relative is now default (@ not required) and absolute is not (requires #).

[Tiger]

Also, to add to ReMarks explantion, if you draw the first line first, then hit enter to end the command - and then hit enter again, you will start the last command (in this case Line) again.

[Irozato]

The one I'm using now is autocad 2002,

The one I used in school was .... 1.3 if I remember correctly. as said, long time ago.

 

I will try the tracking command, sounds like it'll do the trick. Could be bad memory remembering the ctrl+enter bit .. robocad keeps spinning through my mind. might be that had such commands. Now I'm unsure ^^

 

EDIT: Tried the tracking thing and it worked a charm thank you.

I also noticed the version thingy under my member name, skipped over that when registering trying to go a bit to fast, changed it to acurate version, should be handier in the future ^^

[ReMark]

Glad to hear that the Tracking command helped you sort out your problem. I skipped 2002. Went from 2000 to 2004. You may find that once in awhile someone will suggest a command forgetting or not knowing it wasn't included in an earlier release like 2002.

[JD Mather]

The one I used in school was .... 1.3 if I remember correctly. as said, long time ago.

 

Well object tracking did not exist in 1.3 (or at least in v11 when I started) so you must have been anticipating how ACAD should work.

 

You should have gone to work for Autodesk a long time ago.