Construction Line Add

Construction Line Add ( Modeling or Drawing Editor > c a )

Tool summary :

Add a construction line by locating two points or a point and an angle. Or base multiple construction lines off a parallel item.
In the Drawing Editor , construction lines are not plotted. Adding construction lines to a drawing in no way affects the appearance of the printed drawing.
In multi-user Modeling environments, any construction lines that you add will be seen by you only. They will be retained -- also for you only -- across Modeling sessions.
Before adding construction lines in the Drawing Editor , you may want to Unshorten your current drawing if it has been shortened.
See (on this page):
- To invoke Construction Line Add
- Adding a construction line ...

Also see :

User and Site Options > General > Default color (sets color of newly added construction lines)
Construction Line Add Material (alternative to Construction Line Add )
Add Construction Grid (alternative in Modeling )

To invoke Construction Line Add :

Method 1 : Click the Add Construction Line icon, which is pictured above. The icon can be taken from the group named ' Model -- Construction Lines ' ( Modeling ) or ' Objects -- Construction Lines ' ( Drawing Editor ) and placed on a toolbar (classic) or the ribbon (lightning).

Method 2 : If " Modeling layout style " is ' Classic ', you can use the menu system to choose Model > Construction Lines > Add . When " Drawing Editor layout style " is ' Classic ', choose Objects > Construction Lines > Add .

Method 3, 4 or 5 : Construction Line Add can also be configured to be invoked using a keyboard shortcut , the context menu , or a mode . For the lightning interface, this configuration is done using Customize Interface . The default keyboard shortcut is c a .

Method 6 : With Construction Line Mode mouse bindings active, middle-click ( Add ).

Construction Line Add (by locating two points) :

The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse, that the User and Site Options > General > " Point location target " is set to ' Fancy ' ( ), and that you use mouse bindings similar to those shown in these illustrations.

To be able to see the construction lines you are adding: If you are in the Drawing Editor , the display of " Construction lines/circles " needs to be on (checked). In Modeling , the display of " Construction lines/circles " needs to be on.

This example shows EXPT only ...

1 . Invoke Construction Line Add .

2 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) snaps to the first point ( EXPT ), then left-click ( Locate ).

3 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) snaps to the second point ( EXPT ), then left-click ( Locate ).

4 . A construction line is drawn through the two points. Right-click ( Return ) if you are done.

Tip: Locating the same point in steps 2 and 3 (above) draws a construction line through that point at a 90 degree angle (vertical on the screen).

Note: Auto , INCL , INRL , EXPT , FRPT , VTPT , DXDY , MDPT , CNTR and ONLN can be used to locate points; ANGL , BSCL , BSMB and BSRL cannot. TANC and POLAR can be used to add a second point.

Construction Line Add (at an angle through a point) :

Another way that you can create construction lines in Modeling or the Drawing Editor is to locate a point through which you want the construction line to go and the angle you want the construction line to be at. The Locate option ANGL lets you designate any angle. The option PERP draws a construction line perpendicular to an existing construction line. Before adding construction lines in the Drawing Editor , use the layer selection tool to select the layer that you want to add the construction lines to. Also, Unshorten your current drawing if it has been shortened. The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse, that the User and Site Options > General > " Point location target " is set to ' Fancy ' ( ), and that you use mouse bindings similar to those shown in these illustrations.

This example shows ANGL only ...
	1 . Invoke Construction Line Add .
	2 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) is at a point you want the construction line drawn through, then left-click ( Locate ).
	3 . The status line prompts, "Locate second point ." Select ANGL , then left-click ( Locate ) anywhere in the drawing area.
	4 . Enter the angle that you want the construction line to be rotated from horizontal.
	5 . The construction line is drawn through the point at the angle you entered. Right-click ( Return ) unless you want to add more.

Construction Line Add (by basing off a parallel item) :

Both Modeling and the Drawing Editor provide Locate options for generating up to 100 construction lines that are parallel to lines or construction lines or straight grid lines or to member work lines . The Locate options you can use to do this are BSMB , BSCL and BSRL . Before adding construction lines in the Drawing Editor , use the layer selection tool to select the layer that you want to add the construction lines to. Also, Unshorten your current drawing if it has been shortened. The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse and that you use mouse bindings similar to those shown in these illustrations.

This example shows BSMB only ...
	1 . Invoke Construction Line Add .
	2 . Place the mouse pointer so the member to base off of is highlighted. Select BSMB as the Locate option. Left-click ( Locate ).
	3 . On the Base Member window, enter a dimension, then press the " Add " button.
	4 . The construction line appears on screen (1-0 foot from the member).
	5 . Either base more construction lines off the one just added, or press " Exit ."

Tip: For BSMB , BSCL and BSRL , the X-Y-Z display tells you the angle of the construction line or line or polygon side or member line or member work line .

Construction Line Add (using BSCL , BSRL , BSMB for a second point) :

You can use Construction Line Add to draw a construction line through the first point that you locate that is parallel to the item you locate using BSMB , BSCL or BSRL . This is different than using BSMB , BSCL or BSRL instead of point location, which is discussed above . The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse and that the User and Site Options > General > " Point location target " is set to ' Fancy ' ( ).

This example shows BSMB only ...
	1 . Invoke Construction Line Add .
	2 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) is at a point ( INCL ) you want the con line drawn through, then left-click ( Locate ).
	3 . Select BSMB as the Locate option. Place the mouse pointer ( ) to highlight a member, then left-click ( Locate ).
	4 . Construction Line Add draws a construction line through the point located in step 2, parallel to the member located in step 3.

This example shows EXPT only ...
	1 . Invoke Construction Line Add .
	2 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) snaps to the first point ( EXPT ), then left-click ( Locate ).
	3 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) snaps to the second point ( EXPT ), then left-click ( Locate ).
	4 . A construction line is drawn through the two points. Right-click ( Return ) if you are done.