Creating Lines

Creating Single Lines

Use the Line tool to create single lines.

Single_line_modes.png 

Mode
Description

Constrained

Constrains the line to be vertical, horizontal, and 30° or 45° from vertical or horizontal in any direction

Unconstrained

Draws the line at any angle

Press and hold the Shift key to snap the line to predetermined angles

Vertex

The first click is the start point of the line

Center

The first click is the center point of the line; the line is drawn outward in both directions from the center point

Preferences

Scales the length of the line by a specific amount as it is drawn

Creating a Line from Start Point to End Point

Line_tool.png 

To create a single line from its start point to its end point:

  1. Click the Line tool from the Basic palette.

  2. Click either the Constrained or Unconstrained mode.

  3. To scale the line as you draw it, click Preferences from the Tool bar, and enter the scale factor (must be larger than zero). The created line will be the length of the line you draw multiplied by this number. For example, enter 2 to create a line twice as long as the drawn line, or enter .5 to create a line half as long as the drawn line. By default, the value is 1, which does not affect the line length.

  4. Click Vertex mode.

  5. Click at the line’s start point.

  6. Click again to set the end point of the line. If you entered a scale factor other than 1, the length of the finished line is adjusted accordingly.

Shapes100011.png 

Creating a Line from the Center Point

Line_tool00014.png 

To create a single line from its center point:

  1. Click the Line tool from the Basic palette.

  2. Click either the Constrained or Unconstrained mode.

  3. To scale the line as you draw it, click Preferences from the Tool bar, and enter the scale factor (must be larger than zero). The created line will be the length of the line you draw multiplied by this number. For example, enter 2 to create a line twice as long as the drawn line, or enter .5 to create a line half as long as the drawn line. By default, the value is 1, which does not affect the line length.

  4. Click Center mode.

  5. Click at the line’s center point.

  6. Click again to set one of the line’s end points. If you entered a scale factor other than 1, the length of the finished line is adjusted accordingly.

Shapes100015.png 

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Creating Double Lines

Creating a Break Line

Line into Segments

Create Dividing Lines

Displaying and Reversing Object Direction

Marker Attributes

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