How to copy an object to a specified distance

[sinergy2020]

Hi,
I am a beginner, and I am actually using nanocad, which seems to have very similar basic commands as Autocad. It basically looks so ...
I'd like create a copy of an existing object, such as a rectangle, just beside the original one but at a specific distance.
I am using the copy command which has a parameter for inputting a distance but I never manage to actually copy the new object exactly beside the exiting one at the specified distance. How is this done in Autocad?

[BIGAL]

A couple of ways type copy, pick objects, pick start point, drag mouse, have say ortho on for in X & Y direction, type distance all done.

 

These were written like 40 years ago. If you have this task a lot then Appload add to startup a lisp with code.

 

(defun C:CHX ()
  (SETVAR "CMDECHO" 0)
  (setq sn (getvar "osmode"))
  (command "osnap" "near")
  (princ "\nalters object in X direction")
  (setq ht (getstring "\n What is amount of change: "))
  (setq newht (strcat ht ",0"))
  (while (setq newobj (entsel "\nPoint to object: "))
    (command "move" newobj "" "0,0" newht)
  )
)
;
(defun C:CHY ()
  (SETVAR "CMDECHO" 0)
  (setq sn (getvar "osmode"))
  (command "osnap" "near")
  (princ "alters object in Y direction")
  (setq ht (getstring "\n What is amount of change: "))
  (setq newht (strcat  "0," ht))
  (while (SETQ NEWobj (entsel "\nPoint to object: "))
    (command "move" newobj "" "0,0" newht)
  )
)

;simple routine to change objects in the z direction
(defun C:CHZ ()
  (SETVAR "CMDECHO" 0)
  (setq sn (getvar "osmode"))
  (command "osnap" "near")
  (setq x 0)
  (princ "alters object in Z direction")
  (setq ht (getstring "\n What is amount of change: "))
  (setq newht (strcat "0,0," ht))
  (while (SETQ NEWobj (entsel "\nPoint to object: "))
    (command "move" newobj "" "0,0,0" newht)
  )
)

 

Edited Saturday at 12:43 AM by BIGAL

[CyberAngel]

The COPY command has several different schemes, but they all do the same thing. The difference is in how you input your information.

 

One option is to type the command (COPY) before you select the objects. The prompt will say:

Select objects:

 

You pick the objects you want to copy and then continue with the command. If you've already selected them, you get this prompt:

Specify base point or [Displacement mOde] <Displacement>:

 

What happens next depends on your input. It's asking for a base point, that is, a place that marks the beginning of the operation. You can type a coordinate, like (2,5), or you can pick a point with your mouse. If you select a corner of your rectangle, for instance, that will help you place the copy in line with it, rather than doing some math.

 

Another option is Displacement, which is probably better for your purposes. AutoCAD forgets about a base point. Instead hit Enter to go into Displacement mode. You type the distance, such as (5,0). The copy appears five units to the right, and you're done.

 

If you do use a base point, you get this prompt:

Specify second point or [Array] <use first point as displacement>:

You can still use Displacement. AutoCAD assumes again that the base point is the beginning mark. When you put in the second coordinate, you've defined the distance between the original rectangle and the copy.

 

If you work through all these versions of COPY, you see that they all give you similar results. The only difference is where the copy begins and ends, and that depends on how you enter those points.

 

With a base point, you can start anywhere in your drawing. You can snap to a corner of your rectangle, for instance, or to any other object in the drawing. You can type in an X,Y coordinate based on anything, or type in numbers at random, or pick a random point with your mouse. Once you have that base point, you can pick a second point in the same way: a point on another object,  a pair of numbers, or a point in space.

 

Without a base point, AutoCAD assumes the base point is (0,0). Any X/Y distance you enter will be calculated from (0,0). The result is the same.

 

The best way to learn any CAD system is to experiment. You can't break it by giving it bad input. Try the different options to see what they do.