How to Specify an Angle in AutoCAD
By Alan Sembera
Specifying an angle when you create lines in AutoCAD gives you more exact control over the placement of your drawing elements. AutoCAD provides two different input methods for specifying the angles: the dynamic input tool that pops up on your screen when you create a line, and the more traditional command-line entry method.
Dynamic Input Tool
Step 1
Click the "Dynamic Input" button at the bottom of the screen to enable the tool.
Step 2
Select the "Home" tab, and then click "Line" on the ribbon.
Step 3
Click anywhere in the drawing to establish the starting point for your line. Two input fields appear on the screen near the starting point.
Step 4
Enter the line length in the first field.
Step 5
Enter the angle in the second field. The angle should be in relation to the "X" axis. For example, enter zero to create a horizontal line extending to the right, or enter 90 to create a vertical line extending straight up.
Step 6
Press "Enter" to accept the values and create the line.
Step 7
Enter a new line length and angle to create a second line attached to the first. The angle for the second line should also be in relation to the "X" axis, and not in relation to the first line. For example, if you've created a vertical line and want to attach a horizontal line, enter zero for the angle of the second line.
Command Line Input
Step 1
Click the "Dynamic Input" button at the bottom of the screen to turn off the tool if it's enabled.
Step 2
Select the "Home" tab, and then click "Line" on the ribbon.
Step 3
Click anywhere in the drawing to establish the starting point for your line.
Step 4
Type "@length<angle" (without the quotes) at the command prompt, replacing "length" and "angle" with the length and angle of the new line. The angle should be in relation to the "X" axis. For example, to create a 3-inch vertical line, type "@3<90".
Step 5
Press "Enter" to create the line.
Step 6
Enter new values to create a second line attached to the first. For example, to add a 2-inch horizontal line at the end of the previous line, enter "@2<0".
References
Warnings
- Information in this article applies to AutoCAD 2014. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
Writer Bio
Alan Sembera began writing for local newspapers in Texas and Louisiana. His professional career includes stints as a computer tech, information editor and income tax preparer. Sembera now writes full time about business and technology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Texas A&M University.