Move object by specifying distance and click

[charles.langdaleUEXEH]

 

Hi, 

Is there a way to move an object by setting the base point on the object, then set the "from" snap to another location and then specify the distance away from that "from"point by clicking? Kind of like you would do just moving it from the base and then moving a certain distance away on the second click. I know you can type a distance, but I'd like to be able to set it by clicking two points, the way you can with an offset. 

So it would be like setting the distance prior to moving the object. Right now I'm moving my selction and dropping it where I would put the "from" point, then doing a "move" command and ctrl+shift+L to do the last selction and THEN moving it by base>second point.  

Thanks!

EDIT: I sketched it out to try and make more sense. @TheCADnoob @Kent1Cooper @tramber @Michiel.Valcke 

 

 

[Michiel.Valcke]

why not do the move command directly from your base point (select with object snaps) and then click the point where you want the new position to be?

If you want to put the item on your clipboard, you can use the COPYBASE command.

[tramber]

Hard to follow, I must say...

It is possible to use the FROM device and then specify by clicks....

It is possible to specify vectors (double ENTER after entering a x,y value or ENTER, x,y value then ENTER again)

Many things are possible that people sometimes ignore.

But I still find your words too complicated 🤣

Nota bene : I, myself, never use the dynamics inputs.

Can you make a sketch ?

[Kent1Cooper]

If I understand correctly:  Use Polar mode and Object-Snap Tracking and [F10 & F11]:

 

[TheCADnoob]

Have you tried using point filters? It's not exactly what you are describing, but it is using other points to set the destination of the move. The basic principle is that you select a point and extract either an x value or y value from it. This allows you to use other points as the point of reference. 

Once you are moving the object, hold down shift or ctrl and right-click to bring up the menu.

 

[Kent1Cooper]

I had thought that by "specify the distance away from that "from"point by clicking?" you meant to just click where you want it to go.  But if you meant clicking two locations to establish the distance, I don't know of a way to do your edited description/diagram without some kind of temporary helper object, and/or a few steps.  Maybe some combination will seem preferable to what you've been doing.  Some possibilities not involving actually measuring the distance between A & B:

If A is a Polyline, you could OFFSET it using the Through option, through anywhere on the left edge of B, then COPY B from corner 3 to the APParent-intersection-object-snap of the left edge of A with the bottom edge of the OFFSET result.

You could COPY B from A's upper right corner to corner 4, ROTATE the new one [C] -90° about corner 4, then ROTATE it back 90° about its [at the time] upper right corner [which will become its upper left].  No helper object needed.

You could draw a Line or a Circle involving A & B in a few possible ways, MOVE it to corner 4, ROTATE it if it's a Line, and COPY B using Osnap modes [if a Circle as below, no Rotation is needed, and use QUAdrant Osnap].

[TheCADnoob]

EDIT: I tested it on another version of AutoCAD and my suggestion doesn't work as is. You have to use the following after entering 'cal

[@dee<270]

See response below for further explanation. 

I think this can be done with a few steps. I cannot do it at the moment because of a Bug in 2022 but it looks like it was fixed after that. 

To do it, select the top corner to move your item.

Then hold ctrl (or Shift) and right click and select from option and then select the bottom left corner of the first square

This part i cant currently verify if it works because I am currently using 2022. On the command line type 'cal .

This starts the transparent calculator. Inside there you can initiate functions. type DEE to start the function to find the distance between two end points.   

It will then prompt you to select two end points. Select your squares corners and it will calculate the distance between those and return that to the 'cal function which will then input that value into the from command. 

[tramber]

No time today to treat that but pleased to see that you made a drawing... that makes it much more understandable !

[charles.langdaleUEXEH]

This is close but it holds the direction as well as the distance so it just moves along the x axis. It looks like it shifts it a little up or down the Y axis as well, not sure why that's happening. I'm using 2020.

 

[charles.langdaleUEXEH]

Thanks for the suggestions, these all work. The offset > apparent intersection might be the way to go if @TheCADnoob reply with the dee command doesn't work. 

[charles.langdaleUEXEH]

Can I ask what you use to create the gif? I've been playing around with a few ways but nothing comes out as high quality as yours. 

[Kent1Cooper]

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@charles.langdaleUEXEH wrote:

Can I ask what you use to create the gif? .... 

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I use a little freeware program called [for whatever reason] LICEcap from Cockos Inc.  You can get it >here<.

[TheCADnoob · Accepted solution]

After testing it, it look like it uses the cursor position for angle because its expecting vector input. Thats why it still uses the mouse location. When you enter just vector input from call it moves away from relative coordinates so you have to set them back in the cal functions.

So instead of just typing 'cal then dee we have to type 'cal and then [@dee<270]

The [] indicates vector data so it does not look at the position of the mouse, the @ tells it to use relative coordinates, the dee is still the dee function and the <270 tells it to add it heading in the south direction. 

So now copy (or move) and select your base point. Hit ctrl and right click and select from and then select the from point then enter 'cad and then [@dee<270] and then select the other two points. 

Seems to work now

 

[charles.langdaleUEXEH]

That works for sure. I'm going to use that and see if I can figure out a way to expedite it. 

Thanks for your help and explination!