Difficulties with Create a line

[Anonymous]

I would like to preface this by saying that I am new to AutoCAD so dumbed-down answers are appreciated...

I am currently using Civil 3D 2014 and while using create line tool, I hover my cursor over the bearing I want and type in the desired distance (6.6m) by typing 6.6. The line is created however is only 0.046m long every time (measured using Continuous distance tool).

I have tried right clicking the active drawing under Toolsapce -> Settings and editing drawing settings and the Drawing Units are in Meters.

I am sorry if this has been answered previously but have tried numerous search inquiries and have found nothing.

Thank you for your time.

[wfberry]

Start at the beginning.

Did you use a metric template file to start the process? 

Bill

[Anonymous]

I believe I used a metric template to start but am unsure how to verify. I am using the program which the shortcut says is Civil 3D 2014 Metric. I also made sure the drawing was in metric (through drawing settings) before starting anything.

The drawing also has xrefs attached, not sure if that would be the cause of it but I have come across issues that seemed to have stemmed from it.

[Ranjit_Singh]

It will be better to help understand the problem if you post a screencast. Try the following. Start LINE command. Pick a point anywhere. At Specify next point or Undo prompt type @6,0,0 Now select the line created. What's the reported length in the properties window?

[Anonymous]

Playing around with the line function, I realize that this problem only happens when I'm not hovering over the dotted lines that appear. When typing in the distance when the dotted lines are there I get the distance I want, but when I'm hovering in the general direction or on an endpoint for instance, it doesn't work as intended.

[Anonymous]

Sorry I'm unable to screencast since my place of work has high barriers on software. I can report that typing @6,0,0 gives me a 6m long line but in the wrong bearing.

[Ranjit_Singh]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

............... when typing in the distance when the dotted lines are there I get the distance I want, but when I'm hovering in the general direction or on an endpoint for instance, it doesn't work as intended....

---

Try turning off the object snap tracking {F11}. Are you pretty new at AutoCAD? If so look at all the help on object snaps.

[Anonymous]

if you want a line, say at 6 meters and a bearing of North 45°12'35" East, then start the line command, click the start point and then type @6<n45d12'35"e      and press enter.

[Ranjit_Singh]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous....... I can report that typing @6,0,0 gives me a 6m long line but in the wrong bearing.

---

Of corse. You can specify the angle and length like @6<45 will draw 6 units long line at 45 degrees. Type LINE at command prompt and before hitting enter hit {F1} This will take you to the help for Line command.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I've only been using it for a little over a week now so my jargon isn't up to snuff. I believe I have found the source of my problem just not how to fix it.

I have a sewage pipe network which I have entered and am now trying to draw lines along the length of the pipe to measure how far the service pipes are from the manhole. When I have the cursor hovering over the sewer line and type in the desired 6m, it adds a delta z to the line which is undesired. The line itself is 6m though.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I have solved my issue. I used the create line by bearing tool and it stopped the depth problem I described in another post. Thanks everyone for your help.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

you could always draw the line, still snapping to the 3d geometry and use the properties toolbar to set the z values of the line to 0 to get the 2d length, or use the .xy filter when drawing the line to draw it in 2d.