Offset

Creates parallel copies of 2D linear entities, 3D solid faces and detected boundaries.

Accessing the Command

command bar: offset

alias: o

menu bar: Modify | Offset

toolbar: Modify |

Quad: 2D Editing |

: offset

Prompts you in the command bar:

Offset: Through point/Erase/Layer/<Distance> <0.1000>: (Enter a distance, or choose an option.)

ENTER to stop/<Select entity>: (Choose a single entity.)

Both sides/<Side for parallel copy>: (Pick a point, or type B.)

Select entity [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: (Choose another entity, type U to undo the previous parallel copy or press Enter to exit this command.)

OFFSETGAPTYPE settings variable controls how potential gaps between segments are treated when polylines are offset.

Command Options

Option	Description
Distance	Specifies the distance between the original entity and its parallel copy. Do one of the following to specify the distance: Press Enter to accept the current distance. Type a value. Specify two points in the drawing. The offset distance is saved to the OFFSETDIST system variable.
Erase	Deletes the source entity. This option sets the value of the OFFSETERASE system variable. The status of OFFSETERASE remembered for each open drawing seperately. The value of OFFSETERASE is not saved with the drawing, but reset (Off) when you (re)open a drawing.
Through point	Specifies the offset distance by pointing. When you pick a point at the "Side for parallel copy" prompt, your pick point specifies the offset distance.
Select entity	Selects the entity of which to make the parallel copy. Only one entity can be selected; the command repeats automatically so that you can offset additional entities. Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.
Side for parallel copy	Specifies the side on which to make the offset (parallel) copy. If the Through Point option was selected, your pick point also specifies the offset distance.
Both sides	Places offset copies on both sides of the entity.
Layer	Select layer for offset objects Current/Source/<Source>: Choose an option: Current: Create the offset on the current layer. Source: Create the offset on the layer of the source entity.
Undo	Undoes the previous offset operation.
OFFSETGAPTYPE	The OFFSETGAPTYPE settings variable specifies how possible gaps are filled when offsetting polylines. Left: OFFSETGAPTYPE=0: polyline segments are extended to close gaps Middle: OFFSETGAPTYPE=1: filleted gaps (the radius of the arc segments equals the offset distance) Right: OFFSETGAPTYPE=2: chamfered gaps (the perpendicular distance to the chamfers equals the offset distance)

Using the Quad:
If the Select Faces flag of of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is set.	Offset of the face of a solid.
If the Select Detected Boundaries flag of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is set.	Offset of a detected boundary between two overlapping squares: Offset of a detected boundary on the face of a solid:

Procedures

Making a parallel copy at a specified distance

Making a parallel copy through a point

Making a parallel copy of a 3D solid edge

Making a parallel copy a 3D solid face

Making a parallel copy of a detected boundary

Related Command

Copy - makes copies of entities.