Measuring

Commands: DIST, AREA, MASSPROP, ID and LIST

The Dist command reports the distance and angle between two points.

The Area command finds the area and perimeter (or length) of 2D entities.

The Massprop command reports the area, perimeter, and other mathematical properties of 3D solids and 2D regions (short for "mass properties").

The ID command reports the x,y,z coordinates of picked points.

The List command lists the properties of selected entities.

Measuring distances

To measure a distance between two points:

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Distance tool button () on the Inquiry toolbar.
3. Type dist in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Starting point for distance:

2. Identify the first point.
   The command bar reads: End point:
3. Identify the second point.

The following information displays in the command bar (see image below):

Distance, Angle in XY Plane (alpha), Angle from XY Plane (beta),
Delta X, Delta Y, Delta Z.

The values are calculated with respect to the current coordinate system.

Measuring lengths

To measure the length of single linear entity, click the entity then read the Length field in the Properties Bar.

To add the lengths of a series of linear entities:

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Area tool button () on the Inquiry toolbar.
3. Type area in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Entity/Add/Subtract/<First point>:

A prompt menu displays:

2. Do one of the following:
3. Choose Add areas together in the prompt menu.
4. Type A in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Adding: Entity/Subtract/<First point>:

A prompt menu displays:

3. Do one of the following:
4. Choose Add entities to area in the prompt menu.
5. Type E in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Adding area<Select entities>:

4. Click the first entity.
   The area and length of the first entity display in the command bar.
   The command bar reads: Adding area<Select entities>:
5. Click the second entity.
   The area and length of the second entity and the total area and total length display in the command bar.
   Optionally press the F2 function key to display the Prompt History window; press F2 again to close the Prompt History window.
   The command bar reads: Adding area<Select entities>:
6. Repeat step 5 to add more entities
   or
   press the Esc key to stop.

Measuring areas

To measure the area and length of single closed entity, click the entity then read the Area and Length fields in the Properties Bar.

To measure areas and perimeters by specifying points in a drawing:

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Area tool button () on the Inquiry toolbar.
3. Type area in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Entity/Add/Subtract/<First point>:

A prompt menu displays:

2. Do one of the following:
3. Choose Add areas together in the prompt menu.
4. Type A in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Adding: Entity/Subtract/<First point>:

A prompt menu displays:

3. Click the first corner point of the area.
   A dashed line displays dynamically from the first corner point.
   The command bar reads: Adding: <Next point>:
4. Click the second corner point of the area.
   A dashed polygon displays dynamically, indicating the currently defined area.
   The command bar reads: Adding: <Next point>:
5. Click the third corner point of the area.
   The command bar reads: Adding: <Next point>:
6. Repeat step 5 to add more corner points
   or
   Right click to stop adding corner points.
   The Total length and Total area display in the command bar.
   Optionally press the F2 function key to display the Prompt History window; press F2 again to close the Prompt History window.
7. Do one of the following:
8. Repeat steps 3 through 6 to add another area.
9. Press the Esc key to stop.