Doing a calculation within a command

[jiggly_jelloo]

When I used earlier versions of Acad I used to be able to do a calculation within a command. Like if I wanted to offset something equally on each side of a mid-point I could start the offset command then for distance I could put in the distance I wanted/2 (ie if the total distance between the 2 lines needed to be 85.375 i I could do 87.357/2). Is there some setting that I am missing or is this something that has disappeared from Acad?

 

Thanks,

Colleen

[tzframpton]

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but you can type 'CAL at the command line to pause the tool and calculate an expression. I do this a lot.

 

Link here for more info: http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/enu/online-help/search#WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-4d52.htm

 

This is actually a better link, but I'll leave the above for reference: http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/enu/online-help/search#WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-6fdf.htm

[jiggly_jelloo]

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but you can type 'CAL at the command line to pause the tool and calculate an expression. I do this a lot.

 

Link here for more info: http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/enu/online-help/search#WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-4d52.htm

 

This is actually a better link, but I'll leave the above for reference: http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocad/enu/online-help/search#WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-6fdf.htm

 

Thank you, that will works as well, it is one extra step, but still better than pulling out my calculator all the time!!

 

I do recall just being able to do the calculation right in the command, just wanted to know if there was a setting that I had set wrong or if it is something autocad no longer does.

[JD Mather]

AFAIK it has always been the same.

If you used a common fraction like 1/2 or even 101/5 it would work. But with a decimal place marker in the number you have to use the transparent calculator 'cal.