Product Documentation

Available in: Plus, Pro Architectural

Use this command to draw a series of single lines and/or arcs stored together as a single entity called a Polyline. Explode it to break it into individual entities.

Select the 'Polyline' button and command the prompt reads:

Give Start Point:

Select the first point of the polyline using any of the snaps and input options. A dynamic line will be drawn from this point to the cursor. The prompt now reads:

Give Next Point:

When a second point is indicated using any of the snaps and input options a small circle is temporarily displayed at the first point selected. This is drawn to assist identifying the beginning of the Polyline. A line is also drawn between the two points selected, this is the first segment of the polyline. A dynamic line is now drawn from the second point to the cursor and the prompt now reads:

Give Next Point or (A)rc or (3) Point Arc or (Escape) to End:

Further points can now be selected to continue to add line segments to the polyline. At this point a 'close' option is added to the prompts. Hit or Right click the mouse to finish drawing the polyline. Alternatively hit thekey to switch to arc mode. If you do this the prompt reads:

Give Next Point or (L)ine, or (3) Point Arc, (U)ndo or (Escape) to End:

The next point will define an arc segment using any of the snaps and input options. As the mouse is moved a solid dynamic arc is drawn tangentially from the last end of the previous segment to the cursor. In addition to this the arc chord is drawn (dashed line style )from the last point to the cursor. Further points can now be selected to continue to add arc segments to the polyline. Hitor Right click the mouse to finish drawing the polyline. You can hit thekey to switch back to line mode.

After the second segment of the polyline has been drawn two extra options are added to the command prompt to either '(U)ndo' or '(C)lose' the Polyline.

Simply hit the key to remove the previously drawn segment. Note the 1st segment cannot be undone.

To finish drawing hit the key or the right mouse button, alternatively hit thekey to close the polyline.

In addition to the above options type (when available) to select a '3 Point Arc'. When this is done the command prompt reads:

Give Intermediate Arc Point or (A)rc (L)ine:

Select the next point of the arc segment using any of the snaps and input options. The arc segment to be drawn is now dynamically drawn from the last polyline point through the point just picked to the cursor. The prompt now reads:

Give Next Point or (L)ine or (A)rc or (Escape) to End:

Select the next point of the arc segment using any of the snaps and input options. The Polyline segment is drawn. The prompt reads:

Give Intermediate Arc Point or (A)rc (L)ine:

You can continue drawing '3 Point' Arc segments or switch back to 'Line' or 'Arc' mode by typing or . If you want to 'Close' the Polyline after drawing a '3 Point' Arc segment you must switch back to 'Arc' or 'Line' mode and type .

See Modifying/Moving a Polyline for information on how a Polyline can be edited, including. turning it into a 'Curve Fit'. Also in that topic there is a description of how to access add a point at the centroid of the polyline, change it's position in the display order and add a hyperlink.

It is also possible to access the mass properties (centroid, moments about Centroid) of a Polyline using the Entity Info command.