Using Set Last Point. Autodesk AUTOSKETCH 8

Using Set Last Point

Set Last Point allows you to use any combination of snaps and lock modifiers to place a working point—a point used as a reference for placing other points.

For instance, if you want to place a bolt hole 7 mm from middle of a metal plate’s edge, type W to set this point as a working point, then you can use

Midpoint snap to position the point exactly on the edge of the plate. Using the coordinates of the working point as a reference, you can then use Relative snap to position the bolt hole precisely.

You can use a working point anytime AutoSketch prompts you to enter a point. Some operations, such as those that use the normal lock modifier, are based on two last points rather than one. In these cases, you can set the last point twice to specify both points.

To enter a point based on a Working point

1 While in a drawing mode, type W , or click the Set Last (Working) Point button on the All-In-One toolbar to specify that the next point is a working point.

2 Enter the working point(s) using any combination of snaps and lock modifiers.

Modifying a Point

Sometimes it becomes necessary to move one of the points you’ve used to construct an entity. By using the controls in the Change Coordinates dialog box, you can move a line’s startpoint or endpoint, or the centerpoint of an arc, circle, marker, and so on.

The Change Coordinate dialog box has controls that allow you to enter your new point in relative or absolute modes, using any coordinate system. There are also buttons that allow you to click the new x- and/or y-coordinate of a point. You can access the Change Coordinate dialog box by right-clicking a coordinate text box on the edit bar, then clicking Change Coordinate on the pop-up menu that appears.

To change the coordinates of an existing point using the mouse

1 Select an entity such as a line in the drawing.

2 Place the insertion point in the appropriate Coordinate text box on the edit bar, then right-click. A pop-up menu appears.

Using Set Last Point

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3 Click Change X, Change Y, or Change XY.

4 Click a new point.

To change the coordinates of an existing point using the keyboard

1 Select an entity such as a line in the drawing.

2 Place the insertion point in the appropriate Coordinate text box on the edit bar, then right-click. A pop-up menu appears.

3 Click Change Coordinate. The Change Coordinate dialog box appears.

4 (optional) Click either the Absolute Input or Relative Input button at the top of the dialog box.

5 (optional) Click a new coordinate system from the Coordinate System toolbar.

6 Enter new locations in the X and/or Y text boxes, then click OK.

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Chapter 9 Entering & Modifying Points