Polyline

CAD drafting Polyline 0 Ribbon: Home, Draw – Draw > CAD software Polyline 1 Polyline

CAD drawing Polyline 2 Menu: Draw – CAD drafting Polyline 3 Polyline

CAD software Polyline 4 Toolbar: Draw – CAD drawing Polyline 5

CAD drafting Polyline 6 Hotkeys: CTRL+ALT+P

CAD software Polyline 7 Command line: PL, PLINE, SIMPLEPOLYLINE

A polyline can contain linear and arc segments and their combinations. It is a graphic primitive. Arc segments of a polyline are created by two points, or by angle, center and tangent or arc radius. When creating arc segments by two points, each next segment is tangent to a previous.

Polylines can have different width, which is specified by Width, Halfwidth. Every segment of polyline can have its width value, and it can expand and contract, if widths in a start and end points are different. Start and end points of segments with widths lay on an axis line.

Polylines can be created not only with the PLINE command but also with the RECTANGLE (by two points), FRAME (by three points), POLYGON BOUNDARY, and REVCLOUD.

Created polyline can be edited with the PEDIT command and with ordinary and multipurpose grips. The Explode command (from the Modify menu) transforms a polyline into separate segments and arcs.

Command options of linear segments:

Arc	Arc segment mode.
Close	Closes a polyline by linear segment. The option is available when the second point is specified. When the second point is specified the option finishes the command and creates a polyline of one segment.
Halfwidth	Halfwidth (distance from axis line to any of ends) of polyline. When initial halfwidth is specified of polyline segment, this value becomes default value for end halfwidth of a segment. Value of end halfwidth of a segment is the same for next polyline segments, until this value is changed.
Length	Length of segment, created as continuation of the previous segment and in the same direction. For previous arc segment a new line segment is created tangent.
Undo	Deletes the last created segment.
Width	Width of following line segment. When initial width is specified of polyline segment, this value becomes default value for end width of a segment. Value of end width of a segment is the same for next polyline segments, until this value is changed.

Command options of arc segments:

Angle	Center angle of arc segment starting from start arc point (positive value of angle – arc is created counterclockwise; negative value – arc is created clockwise). When Angle option is selected, the command prompt is shown in the command line after specifying the center angle: Specify endpoint of arc or [Center/Radius]: Options: Center - Specifies center of arc segment. Radius - Specifies radius of arc segment.
Center	Center of arc segment. When Center option is selected, the command prompt is shown in the command line after specifying the center of arc: Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle/Length]: Options: Angle - Specifies center angle of arc segment from start point. Length - Specifies a length of chord of arc segment. If a previous segment is arc, a next segment is created tangent to it.
Close	Closes a polyline with an arc segment.
Direction	Direction of tangent in start point of arc segment.
Halfwidth	Halfwidth (distance from axis line to any of ends) of polyline segment. When initial halfwidth is specified of polyline segment, this value becomes default value for end halfwidth of a segment. Value of end halfwidth of a segment is the same for next polyline segments, until this value is changed.
Line	Linear segment mode.
Radius	Radius of arc segment. When Radius option is selected, the command prompt is shown in the command line after specifying the arc radius: Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle]: Option: Angle - Specifies center angle of arc segment.
Second pt	Second point of arc in three point creation.
Undo	Deletes the last added arc segment.
Width	Width of following arc segments. When initial width is specified of polyline segment, this value becomes default value for end width of a segment. Value of end width of a segment is the same for next polyline segments, until this value is changed.

CAD drawing Polyline 8

Command prompts:

Specify start point:	Specify point 1.
Specify next point or [Arc/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]:	Specify point 2.
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]:	Select Arc to create an arc segment.
Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle/Center/Close/Direction/Halfwidth/Line/Radius/Second pt/Undo/Width]:	Specify endpoint 3 of arc. Press ENTER to finish command.

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