Using the Data bar

Use the Data bar when you draw to lock certain values for an object, such as the length of a circle radius, the angle of a wall, the length of a hemisphere radius, or the height of an extruded rectangle. The fields that are available on the Data bar depend on the active tool, the action being performed, and the current drawing view.

The location and behavior of the Data bar fields can be adjusted by options listed under Windows > Data Bar Options or from the Data Bar and Edit Group Options list (see Data bar and edit group options for details). If the floating data bar is used, it displays beside the cursor; if the fixed data bar is used, it displays on the Tool bar.

The data displayed in the bar is gathered from the feedback segment of the object being created. The coordinates are relative to a floating datum, if one exists; otherwise the coordinates are absolute. The more common Data bar fields are described in the following table; other fields that can display are described where their use is relevant.

Parameter	Description
2D Parameters
Delta X	The offset distance from the previous click or position along the X axis
Delta Y	The offset distance from the previous click or position along the Y axis
L	The length or distance from 0,0, or the radius of the object that is being drawn
A	The angle or rotation of the object that is being drawn
X	The X (horizontal) location of the cursor in the drawing window
Y	The Y (vertical) location of the cursor in the drawing window
3D Parameters
WP A	The angle or rotation of the object that is being drawn relative to the working plane X axis
X’	The absolute location of X’ in working plane coordinates
Y’	The absolute location of Y’ in working plane coordinates
Z’	The absolute location of Z’ in working plane coordinates (applies to 3D objects only)
L	The length or distance of the object that is being drawn
Z	The Z (depth) of the object being drawn
Ctr X	The center of the object along the X axis
Ctr Y	The center of the object along the Y axis
Ctr Z	The center of the object along the Z axis
Delta X’	The offset distance from the previous click or position of X’ in working plane space
Delta Y’	The offset distance from the previous click or position of Y’ in working plane space
Delta Z’	The offset distance from the previous click or position of Z’ in working plane space
Delta X	The offset distance from the previous click or position of X
Delta Y	The offset distance from the previous click or position of Y
Delta Z	The offset distance from the previous click or position of Z
Radius	The radius of the object being drawn
Height	The height of the object being drawn