Draw 2D blocks

- [Instructor] In this exercise we will take a look at how to draw a block element using AccuDraw. Continue using the file for chapter three, basic 2D commands dot dgn and using view groups, select the place block model. Using the task navigation dialog select the place block command and begin the block by issuing the first left click anywhere in the view window. I will drag the cursor in the x direction and key in two feet for the x distance of the rectangle. But do not issue a data point yet. I now need to drag the cursor in the y direction and key in a distance of one foot for the wide distance of the rectangle. Still do not issue a data point yet. I need to specify which direction I want the rectangle to be oriented from the first data point. Do I want it above or below the first data point? When the rectangle is in the correct location now I can issue a left click to accept and complete this command. Another important note to understanding AccuDraw, is when I use a command such as place block, which works primarily with x and y distances, the AccuDraw compass is automatically switched to the rectangular or square mode for the duration of this command regardless of how your default compass settings are configured. Another example is the place arc command which automatically switches to the polar mode or round compass for the duration of that command. Now let's take a look at how to draw an arc using AccuDraw. Continue using the file for chapter three, basic 2D commands dot dgn and using view groups, select the arcs model. I don't know how you feel about it but I have always thought that trimming circles is easier than drawing arcs until I used AccuDraw to draw arcs. If you've ever struggled to draw arcs and get them to swing in the right direction this exercise is for you and AccuDraw is the solution. Using the task navigation dialog, select the arc command and issue a data point anywhere in the drawing view to start the arc element. By default I need to specify the center of the arc next. So I will drag the cursor in any direction and key in a radius of one foot and left click to accept. Next I need to drag the cursor up in the y direction to sweep the arc angle in the counter clockwise direction or I can drag the cursor down to sweep the arc angle in the clockwise direction. Using AccuDraw makes it really simple to get those 90 degree and 180 degree sweep angles, don't you think? Now let's look at using the SmartLine command with AccuDraw. Continue using the file for chapter three, basic 2D commands dot dgn. And using view groups, select the SmartLine model. For this exercise I want to draw the example shown here. Using the task navigation dialog I will select the SmartLine command. And using the tool settings dialog, verify that the segment type is set to lines. Issue a data point in the drawing view and drag the cursor in the x direction and key in one foot for the distance and left click to accept. Next I will change the segment type to arcs and drag the cursor in the x direction and key in one for the radius distance and left click to accept. Next drag the cursor around the circle and swing the arc sweep angle above the line segment until you get a 180 degree arc angle and left click to accept. Next, I need to change the segment type back to lines and drag the cursor in the x direction and key in a distance of one and left click to accept. I can also use the AccuDraw shortcut tilde or backtick to toggle the tool settings dialog setting for segment type between lines and arcs. Officially this shortcut is listed as the tilde key, or the squiggle key on your keyboard. To the left of the number one key on the keyboard. But to save time and having to use the shift key to access tilde, we can also use the backtick character to perform the same function and avoid that shift key. So now let's draw the previous elements using the tilde key or backtick to avoid having to toggle anything in the tool settings dialog. I will select the SmartLine command and left click anywhere in the view and drag the cursor in the x direction and key in a value of one. And left click to accept. Now to switch the segment type to arcs I will use the backtick key on my keyboard which will switch the segment type from lines to arcs. And I will drag the cursor in the x direction and use the repeat distance indicator to select the distance of one, and left click to accept. Now I will swing the arc down from the horizontal line until I have a 180 degree arc angle and left click to accept. Again I will use the backtick key on my keyboard to switch the segment type back to line and drag the cursor in the x direction and again use the repeat distance indicator to get a distance of one and left click to accept. And then reset to complete the command. Pretty slick right? The next exercise we'll look at how to use AccuDraw to place elements using existing elements as reference points.