offset tool does not work with this specific drawing

[Anonymous]

Hi there

I received this drawing from the surveyor.  When I try and offset lines, the line copies, but moves until I click to place it.  This means I cannot offset the line a specifc distance.  The command seems to be working fine in other drawings. The drawing was prepared using an earlier version of Autocad - I'm not sure which version was used. I would appreciate any suggestions to resolve this.

Thanks

Sue

[leothebuilder]

The attached drawing works fine with the offset commend.

When you issue the OFFSET command and read the command line you will notice that the first prompt asks you which line you want to offset.

Once you select the line, the next prompt asks you on which side of the original line you want the copy placed.

The command will not end until you select a point on one side or the other side of the original line.

That is the way the offset command is supposed to work.

[Anonymous]

I have been doing exactly what you suggest.  It works fine on my other drawings.  With this drawing, I can't even enter the distance to offset.  I restarted my computer to see if that would solve the problem but it did not help.  Any other suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Here is a screen shot that shows what happens when i try and use the offset command

[gotphish001 · Accepted solution]

Try this. Don't put the foot mark. Just put 65. I'm guessing you are used to working with units set to inches where to get 65 feet you need to put the foot mark in or you get 65 inches and this drawing is set to feet. So just typing 65 will give you 65' offset. 

I'm guessing this drawing is set to decimal feet from a civil engineer. So if you want 4'-6" offset you need to type 4.5 

[Anonymous]

GOOD GRIEF!

You are all brilliant - IT WORKS

Thanks so much for your help!

Sue

[gotphish001]

Glad it was an easy fix. You are not alone on the charlie brown feeling. Just a week or 2 ago I asked a question here that ended up being just as simple of a solution about a site plan I got from a civil engineer. I'm always face palming on drawings I get from engineers. I waste an hour trying to get something I do every 10 minutes every day to work and it's always something so silly why it won't work on their drawings.