How can I move an object a specific distance from another line in AutoCAD

[Anonymous]

Hi I am very new to AutoCAD. I am attempting to move an object a specific distance from two lines that represent an exterior wall. Specifically, it has to be 2' from the top wall and 1' from the side wall.

What I have been doing is extending lines of these lengths from the walls and then putting the object touching those lines. This is tedious and I feel like there may be a better way. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Version is 2016. 

[Patchy]

Click base point and use @x,y

Ex: @3,4

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

Perhaps you are interested in using snap tracking. It can be useful if you have enough geometry to work from.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Tracking is an option, but this old dog, finds it a bit odd at times.  

I use the FROM osnap in conjunction with "point filters", mostly because that's how I learned to do it prior to Tracking.

Assuming you're placing some component 3' East of an intersection and 2' North of the same intersection.  When AutoCAD prompts for a point, enter FROm and press enter, you'll be prompted for a "Base Point", osnap to the INTersection, then enter @3',2' and press enter.  Autocad will find a point from that intersection a positive 3' on the X-axis and a positive 2" on the Y-axis.

Point filters are your friend, and come in real handy when you're working 3D.  Imagine the same scenario only there is no intersection, just two other objects from which the new object is relative.  .X retrieves the X coordinate of the next selected point and  .Y retrieves the Y coordinate of the next selected point.  A command line might look like.

Command: L
LINE
Specify first point: from
Base point: .x
of mid
of (need YZ): _cen of <Offset>: @2',1'

Specify next point or [Undo]: @Anonymous,0

The above starts a line at 2'x1' from the X coord. of the  midpoint of a line and the Y coord. of the center of a circle and draws it 12" long in the positive X direction.  After obtaining the X coord, it prompted (need YZ), that means it has an X value and is looking for the rest, you can build a new point by extracting each coord. (.X .Y .Z) from three different locations. (Notice the "point" in front of the .X .Y .Z)

Tracking is sort of an automated point filter for lack of a better description.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@Patchy wrote:

@Anonymous base point and use @x,y

@Anonymous: @3,4

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... if [in the OP's description] you first Move whatever it is to the corner, then Move it again using that kind of designation.  It's at least easier than the method they've been using.  Using Object Snap Tracking as @john.vellek suggests is the single-Move-command way, though it does take some getting used to.  Here's one way to go about it:

Have End and/or Intersection running Object Snap on, and also turn on both Object Snap Tracking [F11 key] and Polar Tracking [F10] on.  Start the Move command, select the object(s) and give it the base point for the displacement.

Type from to get the 1'-from-the-side-wall reference position; hover over the corner for Osnap to find it, and pause briefly for the little green cross to appear, meaning it's reading off that location; drag the cursor to the side of the direction you want that 1' measured from the side wall, close enough to horizontally from there that Polar will latch onto the horizontal direction, and type in 12 or 1'.  It will then be reading from that location along the top wall [or in line with it if you're going outward from the corner] to get the final location in relation to.

Drag the cursor in the direction you want the 2' measured from the top wall until Polar latches onto the vertical direction, and type 24 or 2'.  That will give it the end point of the displacement for the Move command.

You can, of course, go vertically first and then horizontally, using the same technique and giving the distances in the other order.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this explanation that really helped me get the hang of it!