Polar Tracking

Polar tracking assists you to draw at exact angles:

A polar tracking path line displays from the origin point when you move the cursor close to one of the polar tracking angles. The tracking path lines display as long as the Snap Aperture box overlaps the polar tracking line.

In 3D views an additional tracking line displays parallel to the Z-axis of the current UCS.

 

NOTE

The display of the tracking path line is controlled through the TRACKPATH settings variable.

The color of the tracking path line is controlled through the AutoTrackingVecColor user preference.

 

Draw isometric

Learn how to draw an isometric perspective using Polar Tracking and Entity Snap Tracking.

To define the Polar Tracking settings

  1. Do one of the following:

  2. Right click on the POLAR  field in the Status Bar, then right click and choose Settings in the context menu.

  3. Open the Settings dialog, then expand the Coordinate input sub-category under Drafting in the Drawing settings class.
    Expand the Snap Tracking settings group.

  1. Adjust the settings:

  2. Autosnap > 0x0001: Autosnap marker (not used, required for AutoCad® compatibility only)

  3. Autosnap > 0x0002: Autosnap tooltips (not used, required for AutoCad® compatibility only)

  4. Autosnap > 0x0004: Autosnap magnet (not used, required for AutoCad® compatibility only)

  5. Autosnap > 0x0008: If checked, Polar Tracking is on.

  6. Autosnap > 0x0010: If checked, Object Snap Tracking is on.

  7. Autosnap > 0x0010: If checked, tooltips display for polar tracking and entity snap tracking.

  8. Polar angle: Sets the polar angle increment.

  9. Polar add angles: Sets the additional polar angles. Separate angles by semicolons.

  10. Polar mode > 0x0001: If checked, polar angles are measured relatively from selected entities.

  11. Polar mode > 0x0002: If checked, the polar angles (interval and additional angles) are also used in entity snap tracking.

  12. Polar mode > 0x0004: If checked, the additional angles for polar tracking are used.

  13. Polar mode > 0x0008: If checked, press and hold the Shift key to acquire entity tracking points.

  14. Track path: Controls the display of the polar and entity snap tracking paths.

Using Polar Tracking to draw a line

  1. (option) Check the Polar Tracking settings.

  2. (option) If not already on, click the POLAR field in the Status Bar.

  3. Launch the Draw Line tool.

  4. Specify the start point of the line.
    Polar tracking lines display at the specified intervals and additional angles.
    A cross marker (X) indicates the current point.

  5. Do one of the following to define the endpoint of the line.
    When the appropriate tracking line displays:

  6. Click when the cursor is at the desired position.

  7. Use Direct Distance Entry: type the length of the line in the command bar and press Enter.

 

NOTE

Turning on Polar Tracking automatically disables Orthogonal Mode.
© Menhirs NV. All rights reserved.