2004

240 | Chapter 15 Use Precision Tools
6 To specify the same vertical snap spacing, press ENTER. Otherwise, enter a
new distance in the Grid Y Spacing box.
7 Choose OK.
Command line
DSETTINGS
To rotate the snap angle and change its base point
1 From the Tools menu, choose Drafting Settings.
2 In the Drafting Settings dialog box, Snap & Grid tab, under Snap, enter a
rotation angle in the Angle box.
3 If you want to set the base point in order to align snap locations, enter the
X and Y coordinate values in the X Base and Y Base boxes.
4 Choose OK.
Command line DSETTINGS
Use Orthogonal Locking (Ortho Mode)
AutoCAD provides drawing and editing tools similar to the drafter's T-square.
As you create or move objects, you can use Ortho mode to restrict the cursor
to the horizontal or vertical axis. The orthogonal alignment depends on the
current snap angle, UCS, or isometric grid and snap setting. Ortho works
with commands that require you to specify a second point. You can turn
Ortho on and off at any time during drawing and editing. You can use Ortho
not only to establish vertical or horizontal alignments but also to enforce
parallelism or to create regular offsets from existing objects.
By imposing orthogonal constraints, you can draw more quickly. For
example, you can create a series of perpendicular lines by turning on Ortho
mode before you start. Because the lines are constrained to be parallel to the
horizontal and vertical axes, you know that the lines are perpendicular.
As you move the cursor, a rubber-band line that defines the displacement
follows the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on which axis is nearest to
the cursor. AutoCAD overrides Ortho when you enter coordinates on the
command line, use perspective views, or specify an object snap.
For drawing or editing objects at angles that are not parallel to the horizontal
or vertical axis, see “Use Polar Tracking and PolarSnap” on page 241.
Note Ortho mode and polar tracking cannot be on at the same time. Turning
on Ortho turns off polar tracking.