Huh? Tracking at odd angles?

[CalypsoArt]

I switched off something and I don't know what. I hope I can explain this right.

 

Previously, if I had a line that was at an odd angle, (say 54.5 degrees.) and I wanted to stretch it along the same angle. All I would need to do is just select one grip and the tracking would highlight along the angle. I then just stretched along that path. Recently I went into the tracking options and switched on other options etc. All of a sudden that function which I used a lot disappeared. I went back and I believe I restored the options to what they were, but the tracking along the line did not come back. So the question is what is the best way to stretch a line along its angle using grips?

[kencaz]

Command: polarmode

Enter new value for POLARMODE : 7

[CalypsoArt]

Tried 7 in polar mode. Did not give me back what I lost. Must be some combination of changes. Attached is an example. Previously, when I selected the upper grip the tracking line would follow the green line. Now it gives me the incremental angle tracking no matter what I try. I cannot get it to track along the object line angle.

[Dana W]

Change your Drafting Settings > Snap Tracking Settings to Track Orthogonally Only.

Then it will show you the true angle of your pull until you hit a 90 deg point, then it will SNAP the angle in. This setting does make it fiddly to position to a particular angle that is not 90 deg but it won't snap you until you are real close to 90 deg. (or 180)

 

If you select Track Using ALL Polar Angles, and your tracking increment is small enough, it will SNAP to the incremental without displaying the true interim angle position of the cursor making it VERY hard to draw a line to a fraction of an angle, unless you use direct input.

[Dana W]

Change your Drafting Settings > Snap Tracking Settings to Track Orthogonally Only.

Then it will show you the true angle of your pull until you hit a 90 deg point, then it will SNAP the angle in. This setting does make it fiddly to position to a particular angle that is not 90 deg but it won't snap you until you are real close to 90 deg. (or 180)

 

If you select Track Using ALL Polar Angles, and your tracking increment is small enough, it will SNAP to the incremental without displaying the true interim angle position of the cursor making it VERY hard to draw a line to a fraction of an angle, unless you use direct input.

 

 

You have to be kidding me. After having posted all that, it does not work for me any more. It did before, but now it does not. I am befuddled and dumfounded now.

[Patrick Hughes]

Did your UCS change?

[CalypsoArt]

Yep, did what you said, Worked once, got all excited, then would not work again. Wha?

[Dana W]

OK, OK. Got it. It does not matter whether you select ortho or all angles, but you do have to select relative to last segment, and LINE has to be active. For some reason it does not show the 0 deg track when stretching.

[CalypsoArt]

Dana, I see what you are saying. That works but having to have the line tool active and thereby draw another line is a work around. Previously--before I went in an played with the tracking--I could just select a grip on the object and track along the object zero angle. It seems I've lost that ability by diddling with the tracking options, and now you have too. Sorry. Bug?

[Steven Erickson]

Wouldn't it be simple just to reset your UCS to the object at that angle.

[Dana W]

Wouldn't it be simple just to reset your UCS to the object at that angle.

 

For one line it is, but if you're doing a 47 acre lot survey with 35 or 40 sides and needing absolute angles, not so simple.

[rkent]

1) With Osnap set to Parallel and Otrack on, grab the grip, hover over the existing line, now move the cursor out away from the line, pick.

 

2) I prefer to use Ortho and rotate the UCS. I have UO set to rotate the UCS when picking on a line, grip edit, UO on next line, grip edit, etc. UW puts me back at UCS World.

 

3) I have used this lisp routine for years and years, it is from Cadalyst 1990. I keep it loaded with every session, type LX enter, pick the end of a line, pick a distance, done.

 

;ALTERNATE EXTEND COMMAND, CADALYST APRIL 1990
(defun c:lx (/ ENT EDATA PT1 PT2 PT3 DIST A B GET)
 (defun GET (A B) (cdr (assoc A B)))
 (setvar "CMDECHO" 0)
 (while (null (setq ENT (entsel
   "\nSelect near end of LINE to extend:"))))
 (setq EDATA (entget (car ENT)))
 (cond
   ((= (get 0 EDATA) "LINE")
     (initget 3)
     (setq
      PT3  (cadr ENT)
      DIST (getdist (osnap PT3 "END")
       "\Distance to Extend Line: ")
      PT1  (get 10 EDATA)
      PT2  (get 11 EDATA)
     )
     (entmod
       (if (> (distance PT1 PT3)
              (distance PT2 PT3))
         (subst (cons 11 (polar PT2
           (angle PT1 PT2) DIST))
           (assoc 11 EDATA) EDATA)
         (subst (cons 10 (polar PT1
           (angle PT2 PT1) DIST))
           (assoc 10 EDATA) EDATA)
     ))))
 (princ)
)

[CalypsoArt]

Well that is an option But the thing is I never had to before. It was just drag the grip in the correct direction.

[CalypsoArt]

Yes, but I never had to before. It was always just drag the grip in the correct direction close to 0.0 degrees and the tracking would display.

[lpseifert]

If I have 'Relative to last segment' checked in Polar settings and use the Stretch command with the endpoint of the line as the base point, I can get a Relative Polar angle of 0 degrees, but not using grips.

[CalypsoArt]

Thanks for all the input. It is really frustrating as the grip/stretch behavior only changed after I made changes in the options somewhere.

 

rkent, that is a very useful script i would use a lot. However, it isn't working for me. I copied the text into notepad, saved it as lx.lsp, loaded in to AC2010. command: lx, brings up the dialog "select near end of LINE to extend". From there I get nothing. If I select the end of a line the routine ends.

[rkent]

 

rkent, that is a very useful script i would use a lot. However, it isn't working for me. I copied the text into notepad, saved it as lx.lsp, loaded in to AC2010. command: lx, brings up the dialog "select near end of LINE to extend". From there I get nothing. If I select the end of a line the routine ends.

 

It only works with lines. If you select anything other than a line the routine will end, as you are experiencing.