This lesson describes how to use the Measuregeom command and other inquiry commands to obtain geometric information on objects in the drawing.
As you create objects, the defining points and object types are stored in the drawing database. You can use the commands on the Inquiry toolbar to retrieve this information or to obtain distances, angles, areas, object types, and other important data for objects.
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
You can calculate the distance, radius, angle, area, and volume of selected objects or a sequence of points by measuring.
Measuring is especially useful when collecting data for building and manufacturing. In the following illustration, Radius is used to obtain the brick arch radius and is mandatory for accurate construction.
Measuring is used to ascertain the extent, dimensions, and capacity of certain objects. Measuring enables you to obtain geometric information from such things as arches, room areas, polylines, and 3D solids.
The following illustration shows the results of using the Area tool to obtain the total square footage of a floor plan.
Note: The Area tool also provides perimeter data.
Measure tools are used to pull specific data from objects. They provide a quick and effective way to collect useful information such as the total amount of concrete needed for a foundation or the precise volume of an excavation area. This information is frequently necessary to communicate pertinent measurements to outside sources or to ensure that a design meets criteria. The process for obtaining such information is combined into a single command in which different measurement options are chosen.
The following illustration shows the Volume option that is used to acquire data from a 3D object.
The following illustrates the different measuring tools and what they are used for.
Option | Description |
Distance | Measures the distance between two specified points or totals the distance between multiple points. |
Radius | Measures the radius and diameter of a specified arc or circle. |
Angle | Measures the angle of a specified arc, circle, line, or vertex. |
Area | Measures the area and perimeter of an object or defined area. There are also options to keep a running total as you define areas or to subtract specified regions from total calculated area. |
Volume | Measures the volume of an object or a defined area. There are also options to keep a running total as you define volume or to subtract specified regions from total calculated volume. |
For the same reason you use object snaps to create geometry, using object snaps to select points for Inquiry commands is critical. If you estimate the point selection, the value returned will not be accurate.
The Distance option of the Measuregeom command prompts you to select two points on the drawing and then returns information about the distance between them, their angles in and from the XY plane, and their delta values (distance traveled along each axis) in both 2D and 3D planes. The information is presented to you on the command line in the format shown below. You can also see it in the Text Window by pressing F2.
Distance = 157.1924, Angle in XY Plane = 34, Angle from XY Plane = oDelta X = 130.3938, Delta Y = 87.7889, Delta Z = 0.0000
The following image illustrates the values returned with the Distance command.
The following steps give an overview for acquiring the distance between two points using the Distance option of the Measuregeom command.
The following steps give an overview for acquiring the radius using the Radius option of the Measuregeom command.
The following steps give an overview for acquiring the angle of two lines using the Angle option of the Measuregeom command.
The following steps give an overview for acquiring the area of a space using the Area option of the Measuregeom command.
With the ID Point command, you can retrieve the precise location of any point in the drawing. When you start the ID Point command, you are prompted to specify a point. This can be a point in the drawing or a point on an object. The ID Point command returns the coordinate of the point you select, as shown below.
X = 624.3266 Y = 208.1684 Z = 0.0000
As with all other Inquiry commands, the values are returned in the current units of the drawing.
Selection Accuracy is Key
For the same reason you use object snaps to create geometry, using object snaps to select points for Inquiry commands is critical. If you estimate the point selection, the value returned will not be accurate.
The following steps give an overview of identifying a precise location in the drawing.
Note: F2 will display the entire AutoCAD Text Window.
Consider the following guidelines when using the Measure tools:
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