Rectangles

Command: RECTANG

A rectangle is created as a closed, four sided polyline.

A rectangle is drawn by specifying two opposite corners.  The Dimensions option allows to specify the width and height of the rectangle.

Unless the Rotated option is chosen, the sides of a rectangle are always parallel to the x-axis and y-axis of the current coordinate system.

 

NOTE

When Fill Mode  is turned off, all filled entities, such as wide polylines and solids, display and print as outlines.

Drawing rectangles

General Procedure

  1. Do one of the following
  2. Click the Rectangle tool button () on the Draw toolbar.
  3. Choose  Rectangle in the Draw menu.
  4. Type rectang  in the command bar, then press Enter.
  5. Type rec in the command bar, then press Enter.

You are prompted: Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Rotated/Square/Thickness/Width/Area/Dimensions<select first corner of rectangle>:

A prompt menu opens:

  1. Specify the first corner of the rectangle.
    The rectangle displays dynamically when you move the cursor.
  2. Specify the opposite corner of the rectangle.
    The rectangle is created.
  3. (option) Right click to draw more rectangles.

 

NOTE

Because a rectangle is created as a closed polyline, rectangles have a direction. The direction of a closed polyline is positive if it is drawn counter-clockwise and negative if it is drawn in a clockwise direction. Rectangles have a counter-clockwise direction if both the X- and Y-coordinate of the second point are higher or lower than the coordinates of the first point (= movement of the cursor is positive or negative along both X- and Y-axis). Rectangles have a clock-wise direction if the X- or Y-coordinate is higher or lower than the X- or Y-coordinate of the first point (= movement of the cursor is positive along the X-axis and negative along the Y-axis or vice versa).

The Reverse Direction option of the Edit Polyline tool changes the direction of a polyline.

 

Using Dynamic Dimensions

Using Dynamic Dimensions the width and length of the rectangle can be controlled dynamically.

  1. Launch the Rectang command.
    You are prompted: Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Rotated/Square/Thickness/Width/Area/Dimensions<select first corner of rectangle>:
  2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle.
    The rectangle displays dynamically when you move the cursor.
    The width and height display in the dynamic dimension fields.
  3. Type a value in the Height field.
  4. Press the TAB key.
    The Height field is locked and turns red.
  5. Type a value the Width field.

  1. Do one of the following
  2. Press Enter to create the rectangle.
  3. Press the TAB key until the desired field is active, then type a different value.
  1. Press Enter to create the rectangle.
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