2004

Table Of Contents
244 | Chapter 15 Use Precision Tools
Lock an Angle for One Point (Angle Override)
You can specify an angle override that locks the cursor for the next point
entered. To specify an angle override, enter a left angle bracket (<) followed
by an angle whenever a command asks you to specify a point. The command
prompt sequence below shows a 30-degree override entered during a
LINE
command.
Command: line
Specify first point: Specify a start point for the line
Specify next point or [Undo]: <30
Angle Override: 30
Specify next point or [Undo]: Specify a point
The angle you specify will lock the cursor, overriding Grid Snap, Ortho mode,
and PolarSnap. Coordinate entry and object snaps have precedence over an
angle override.
Combine or Offset Points and Coordinates
To specify new point locations, you can combine the coordinates of several
points or you can specify offsets from existing objects.
Combine Coordinate Values (Coordinate Filters)
You can use coordinate filters to specify one coordinate value at a time while
temporarily ignoring other coordinate values. When used with object snaps,
coordinate filters can extract coordinate values from an existing object so
you can locate another point.
Specifying a coordinate filter limits the next entry to a specific coordinate
value, such as the X or the Y value, or even an X,Y value. For 3D models, you
also can specify Z values. After you specify the first value, AutoCAD prompts
you for the remaining coordinate values.
Example: Use of Coordinate Filters to Specify a Center Point
In the following illustration, the hole in the holding plate was centered in
the rectangle by extracting the X,Y coordinates from the midpoints of the
plate’s horizontal and vertical line segments.