• AutoCAD

Polylines in AutoCAD

Discover the power of the polyline, creating any shape imaginable.


00:03

A polyline in AutoCAD is a connected sequence of line segments created as a single object.

00:09

You can create straight line segments, arc segments, or a combination of the two as a single object.

00:15

Also in AutoCAD, you can define the width for the polyline segments and taper the width across the segment.

00:22

Varying your line widths in combination with drawing lines and arcs allows for the ability to draw anything.

00:29

To begin, from the ribbon, Home tab, Draw panel, select Polyline.

00:35

In the drawing area, pick a starting point.

00:38

Then, to create a taper, right-click, and from the shortcut menu, select Width.

00:44

In the field, enter a value of 0.

00:47

Next, specify the ending width of the segment using a different value, such as 1.

00:54

Pick an ending point for the polyline segment.

00:59

Now, move your cursor as if to pick the next point.

01:03

Notice that this new polyline segment is the same width as the last value you entered.

01:09

To change this, right-click and then select Width.

01:12

Enter a different value, like, 0.5.

01:15

Then, pick an end point for the second polyline segment.

01:21

Polylines can also include arcs.

01:24

Right-click, and this time from the shortcut menu, select Arc.

01:28

Pick an end point for the arc segment of the polyline.

01:32

If you make a mistake while creating polylines, you can undo any of the segments you created.

01:37

Right-click and select Undo.

01:40

The arc is removed from the drawing.

01:42

Draw another arc segment.

01:45

Right-click, select Arc, and then place an arc into the drawing.

01:50

If you want to have arcs in different directions in your polyline object, on your keyboard, press CTRL.

01:56

Pick another point, and the arc is now drawn in the opposite direction.

02:02

Undo these newly created arcs and create an arc polyline segment with a width of 0.5 again.

02:09

Once you are satisfied with your polyline, you can complete the command by pressing ENTER.

02:15

Polylines are an easy-to-use tool to create singular objects of various shapes.

Video transcript

00:03

A polyline in AutoCAD is a connected sequence of line segments created as a single object.

00:09

You can create straight line segments, arc segments, or a combination of the two as a single object.

00:15

Also in AutoCAD, you can define the width for the polyline segments and taper the width across the segment.

00:22

Varying your line widths in combination with drawing lines and arcs allows for the ability to draw anything.

00:29

To begin, from the ribbon, Home tab, Draw panel, select Polyline.

00:35

In the drawing area, pick a starting point.

00:38

Then, to create a taper, right-click, and from the shortcut menu, select Width.

00:44

In the field, enter a value of 0.

00:47

Next, specify the ending width of the segment using a different value, such as 1.

00:54

Pick an ending point for the polyline segment.

00:59

Now, move your cursor as if to pick the next point.

01:03

Notice that this new polyline segment is the same width as the last value you entered.

01:09

To change this, right-click and then select Width.

01:12

Enter a different value, like, 0.5.

01:15

Then, pick an end point for the second polyline segment.

01:21

Polylines can also include arcs.

01:24

Right-click, and this time from the shortcut menu, select Arc.

01:28

Pick an end point for the arc segment of the polyline.

01:32

If you make a mistake while creating polylines, you can undo any of the segments you created.

01:37

Right-click and select Undo.

01:40

The arc is removed from the drawing.

01:42

Draw another arc segment.

01:45

Right-click, select Arc, and then place an arc into the drawing.

01:50

If you want to have arcs in different directions in your polyline object, on your keyboard, press CTRL.

01:56

Pick another point, and the arc is now drawn in the opposite direction.

02:02

Undo these newly created arcs and create an arc polyline segment with a width of 0.5 again.

02:09

Once you are satisfied with your polyline, you can complete the command by pressing ENTER.

02:15

Polylines are an easy-to-use tool to create singular objects of various shapes.

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