The Most Basic Cad Problem Ever: I can't Draw A line

[MAK]

This came right out of the blue while drawing, so I suspect I hit a hotkey that I don't know about.

 

It's ACAD 2008, also using one of the thin aluminum Mac keyboard, which is why I'm thinking a hotkey. Here's the problem: I type 'L' then select a random point on the screen to start a line, move the pointer in the ortho direction I want and select a random end point. As soon as I click, the line disappears and starts again at the second point. The command line says 'specify next point or [undo]' Anyone know what's happening?

 

This is the second time it's happened. When I loaded 2004 into a laptop, the first drawing I opened from a thumb drive did the same thing. I can get around the problem by opening another drawing, copy/paste my detail into the new drawing, then erase the original detail, but then I have to deal with changing the title block, etc.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Cad64]

It sounds like you are drawing on a layer that is turned off.

[MAK]

HaHaHa, boy do I ever feel like an idiot. Y'know, I've been doing this for 6 months now, you'd think I could have figured that one out. I mean, I've done a ton of really detailed mechanical fabrication drawings, and was really beginning to feel cocky. Good thing I posted in the beginners section, 'cause that's exactly what I still am.

 

Thanks for the quick reply, Cad64, I'm going to go hide now.