Draw Line

This tool creates continuous straight lines through points clicked, entered coordinates, tangent between a point and an arc or tangent to two arcs.

It can also be used to create smooth Curved lines.

Watch this video to see this in action:

The quickest and easiest way to draw a line is by clicking within the 2D View using the mouse.

• Click the left mouse button to indicate the start point of your line.
• Move the mouse pointer and click again to set the next point in your line.
• Repeat this process to add as many line segments as you require.
• Right-click or press Esc to finish your polyline and exit the form.
• Alternatively press the Space bar to complete this polyline but keep the form open and begin drawing another polyline.
• Press the Tab key to automatically close the vector.
• A smooth bezier span can be created by clicking and dragging to modify the curvature. The next span will then also be smoothed. If you want next line to be straight line then you can press S to disable the smoothing.

• There are two separate curve modes in the polyline tool
• While in straight line/polyline mode, click in the 2D or 3D View to begin drawing a one-shot curve at the clicked point.
• Upon adding your initial point, move the mouse pointer within the 2D View to your desired end point and click and hold the mouse left button to being creating a curve by dragging the mouse to pull out the Curved Line. Release the Mouse button to place your curve.
• A curve will be created that smoothly joins your points.
• You can switch between creating Lines or Curves, using Left Click and release for Lines, and Left Click, Drag and then release for Curves.
  
• You can also press 'S' on the keyboard to toggle between curved and straight line modes. Alternatively, while in curved drawing mode if you click on the last point added to drawn line, this will exit draw curves mode and will return to draw polyline mode and vice versa, if you are in draw polyline mode you can click on the last point created to return to draw curve mode.
• Ensure snapping options are enabled within the software so the last created point can be snapped to.
• The software will retain the last instance of the curve or line mode used. So if a user closes the software, upon the next use of the Draw Polyline tool, the last mode used - curve or straight - will be enabled.

In order to extend an existing open vector using the Create Line Drawing tool;

1. Hover your cursor over the point you wish to join from
2. Holding down Ctrl > Left Mouse Button within the immediate area of this point > Drag to draw path
3. Release Left Mouse Button to complete path.

The polyline tool can also be used create lines that are tangent to arcs in your existing drawing.

To create a line tangent from an arc to a point click on the arc to insert a point and then hover the cursor over the next point position and press T

To create a line tangent from one arc to another click on the arc to insert a point and then hover the cursor over the second arc and press T.

Instead of releasing the left mouse button when you have dragged your shape to the required size, you can also type exact values during the dragging process and set properties precisely.

• Left-click and drag out your shape in the 2D View.
• With the left mouse button still pressed, enter a quick key sequence detailed below.
• Release the left mouse button.

By default, entering a single value will be used to add a point at the specified distance along the line direction currently indicated by the mouse pointer position, relative to the preceding point. With polyline drawing underway, move the mouse pointer in the direction you wish to create a new line segment and type Length Value Enter to extend the line by the specified distance in that direction.

By default two values, separated by a comma, will create the next line point at the absolute X Y coordinate indicated by the two values, respectively. While drawing, type X Value, Y Value Enter to place the next point precisely at specified X and Y position

Examples

• 3 . 5 Enter - Adds the next point at a distance of 3.5 along the line direction indicated by current mouse direction
• 1 , 2 . 5 Enter - Adds the next point at the absolute position 1 in X and 2.5 in Y

By using specific letter keys after your values, you can also specify the line segment in terms of angle and length. Using the key sequence value A value L creates the next line segment at angle (A) degrees from the last point and with a length(L)

Examples

• 45 A 3 L - Creates a line segment at 45 degrees and length 3

You can also use the form to enter values for each line segment as you go along. The segments can be defined using :

• The absolute X Y position of the next point
• The Angle and Length to the next point

The relative offset in X (dx) and Y (dy) to the next point.

Once you have entered the values you wish to use :

• Click the Add button to enter a new point.
• The Undo button deletes the last point entered and allows a new point to be added. The Backspace shortcut can also be used for this.
• The Finish button completes drawing the current line and leaves the form open to allow additional lines to be drawn.

This tool can be used in both the 2D and 3D View.

2D View offers a more direct way to view your vectors while 3D Offers more flexability to work with Vectors in 3D Designs and to make use of the Edit Boxes.