Direct Distance Entry with ArchT in AutoCAD 2000-2002
There is a problem that has been around for awhile using Direct Distance
Entry with ArchT in AutoCAD 2000-2002. Direct Distance Entry is the method of
COPYing or MOVEing entities by pointing in the direction you want and typing in
a distance on the keyboard. Although many are aware of the problem not everyone
knows how to get around it. Thanks to the help of a user and some research on
our part we have been able to identify the exact conditions under which the
problem develops and how to avoid it.
In order to avoid the problem you first need to know how it is caused. To see
the problem perform the following steps:
In the Utility>Preferences>Session menu on the Commands tab check the
box 'Enable Enhanced Commands'.
Turn ORTHO ON
Select the COPY command
Select the objects you wish to copy
To finish selecting objects press the SPACEBAR (not ENTER or a right mouse
click)
Drag the crosshairs to the right and up so that the selected entities are
dragged at angle 0
Instead of selecting a point type in a distance on the keyboard followed by
the SPACEBAR (example: 8')
Using the DISTANCE command measure the distance between the two objects.
Results: The distance is off by varying amounts
To avoid the problem keep the following tips in mind:
1. With ORTHO OFF it is impossible to cause the problem.
2. Using the ENTER key instead of the SPACEBAR will not cause the
problem.
3. The problem only occurs with the ArchT enhanced versions of the AutoCAD
commands.
4. It is possible to use the SPACEBAR only IF Polar Tracking is turned ON and
the angle of the line displays next to the crosshairs.
5. You can explicitly specify the angle and distance as in 8'<0. With the
IntelliCAD version of ArchT you must use this method.
We expect to fix this problem in the next version of ArchT.
![Autodesk Design & Make Report](https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/1350519iCB55845EBFC43016/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999" "Autodesk Design & Make Report")