Autocad offset with through option is not accurate, also cursor is not square.

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I am having this issue for around 2 months i think. I am using AutoCAD 2015 student version. I command OFFSET with the option "through" and then choose the line i wanna work on, then give a specific number like 500 for instance. When i check the distance with MEASUREGEOM, it turns out to be 325.5560 in reality. The result is always different even when i give the same number. I don't think it has any connection with the position of my cursor either. Also the offset command works fine if i give the number at the beginning, instead of choosing through option and then giving the number later. But of course, that way can be very inefficient and time consuming sometimes.

Another problem is when i command OFFSET with through option and then choose the line, it is not showing the distance in the box next to the cursor but only showing the coordinates, i think. 

Also the square in the middle of my cursor is not a square any more but more of rectangle. I don't know if it has anything to do with any of these.

I am adding a screenshot in case somebody wants to see my general setting of the work space. Also i am sure that my drawing is flat and these issues happen even when i open a fresh new drawing.

I would greatly appreciate any help to solve these issues, it has been giving hard time to me. Looking forward to some solutions!

Dilan

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

welcome @Anonymous!

>> I command OFFSET with the option "through" and then choose the line i wanna work on,

>> then give a specific number like 500 for instance. When i check the distance with

>> MEASUREGEOM, it turns out to be 325.5560 in reality.

If you run command _OFFSET you can do that EITHER using option _THROUGH OR using a distance. If you want an offset with a distance of 500 then don't use option THROUGH

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

I wanna use it with "through" option and give different distances to one line. I don't wanna start the command every time i give different distances to one line. Or if i want to see how it looks like with a distance of 500 or 700 without finalizing the command, i wouldn't be able to see it in your option. Thanks for the answer but in the end the command is still not functioning properly...

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I wanna use it with "through" option and give different distances to one line.

Then you need a track vertical to the base-line and use 500 for the track distance. I have not seen that in your description.

Can you please:

• create a new drawing, one line, then start screen-recording (e.g. free >>>Autodesk Screencast<<<)
• run your workflow with _OFFSET
• save the drawing
• upload the drawing and show us the link to the video

So we have your data + see what you are exactly doing, that gives us the option to see why you get an incorrect distance.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

I hope this helps...

[Anonymous]

also here is the screencast

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

thank you for your screencast ... and it makes clear why it does not work for you, as you don't use otrack perpendicular to your base geometry.

Your distance of 500 is measured from the point you selected the first geometry along the vector to your cursor position when you enter 500 (and commit the value).

But in your video this vector you show is not 90° and so the distance of 500 is measured in that none-90° angle resulting in a "through-point" which is not 500 away from the base-object.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter if the line is not 90°, I am measuring from the end points which are perpendicular to each other. If you'd like, here is another video with a 90° line. The problem stays the same.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I am measuring from the end points which are perpendicular to each other

You are measuring the result, and yes, that is correct measured

... but I'm speaking about the definition of the distance. The vector from the point you select the base object upwards to the cursor position when you enter the distance is not 90° to the base object.

- alfred -

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks for leading me, I figured it out! So, as you mentioned that i don't have any track line, I searched around the polar tracking. In the side menu of polar tracking, there is "Tracking Settings...". It opens up a window called "Drafting Settings". In the "Dynamic Input" tab, there is a check box to "Enable Dimension Input where possible" which was unchecked for me. So i put the check mark and the problem is solved! That was a huge relief... thanks!

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> So i put the check mark and the problem is solved! 

Great, good to know it's now working for you!

- alfred -

[andrei.mare33]

Lots of thanks my man!! I was having the same problem but ticking the box ''Enable Dimension Input where possible'' was all that I needed to fix the issue. Thanks again!

[ab1]

Hi.. same problem is coming with me.. but i did same as you did to solve it but my problem is not solve yet ...

[ab1]

Can you help me?