Draw Polyline

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

Note: Pressing the Space-bar re-opens the last vector creation form you used. This is very useful when using other forms in between each shape you create.

Interactive - cursor

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 Spacebar to complete this polyline but keep the form open and begin drawing another polyline.

Note: Placing the mouse pointer close to the first point on the polyline and clicking will snap the polyline closed.

Creating Tangent Lines

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

From A Point To An Arc

To create a line tangent from a point to an arc simply enter the initial point and then hover the cursor over the arc and press T.

From An Arc To A Point

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.

Note: You cannot create a tangent line to a bezier curve.

From An Arc To Another Arc

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.

Note: Arcs are not trimmed as a result of creating a tangent line.

Extending Contours

An existing open contour can be extended by holding down the Ctrl key and then clicking on either its start or end point.

Note: Ctrl clicking on the start point of a contour will cause the contour to be reversed before extending.

Quick Keys

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.

Default

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 ValueEnter 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 ValueEnter to place the next point precisely at specified X and Y position.

Example

Keys	Result
`3.5Enter`	Adds the next point at a distance of 3.5 along the line direction indicated by the current mouse pointer position.
`1,2.5Enter`	Adds the next point at the absolute position 1 in X and 2.5 in Y

Specifying Further Properties

By using specific letter keys after your values, you can also specify the line segment in terms of angle and length.

Quick Keys	Result
`ValueAValueL`	Creates the next line segment at an angle (A) degrees from the last point and with a length (L).

Note: When specifying multiple properties with quick keys, it is still important that they are entered in the order indicated in the table above.

Examples

Keys	Result
`45A3L`	A line segment at 45 degrees (A) and a length (L) of 3.
`15A2.5L`	A line segment at a 15 degree angle (A) and a length (L) of 2.5.

Note: These key combinations are pressed once you have begun using the mouse to draw your polyline.

Next Point

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 Finish button completes drawing the current line and leaves the form open to allow additional lines to be drawn.

Note: The X Y position use absolute coordinates.
The Angle, Length and dx/dy positions are incremental from the current position.