Menu path
CAD > CAD Insert > Line
What it does: The Line Insert command enables the Line Insert sub-menu which allows the insertion of free, constrained, horizontal, vertical, angled, parallel, chord, tangential and perpendicular lines. A stream of adjoining lines, a rectangle comprising four lines and a series of lines which describe a specified number of equi-angled sectors within a selected angle can also be inserted.
Note: Not all these options are available from the Pulldown Menu. For the rest of the options, turn on the right-hand menu (Menu On/Off in the Pulldown menu) and go to CAD > Line > Insert for the complete list of line insert options.
This menu may span more than one screen depending on your menu text size, as it is very long. At the bottom of each screen menu is a Next and Last option that should take you to the appropriate screen text menu. Also, always pay attention to the Prompt area as it will tell you what to do with each function - for example "Locate Reference Line INC ENT".
CPL Reference: CPL (Current Project Level) is the current working plane in your CAD drawing. All horizontal and vertical line references are relative to this plane's X-axis and Y-axis.
🧾 Line Types Overview
Line Type | Description |
Free | Any number of adjoining lines by continuous point selection |
Horizontal | Lines parallel to the X-axis of the current CPL |
Hor-Len | Specified length horizontal lines |
Vertical | Lines parallel to the Y-axis of the current CPL |
Ver-Len | Specified length vertical lines |
Angle | Lines at a specified angle relative to a reference line |
Angle-Len | Specified length lines at a specified angle |
Constrained | Adjoining lines at specified angles or multiples |
Rectangle | Four lines forming a rectangle by defining diagonal corners |
Par | Lines parallel to a reference line |
Par-Len | Specified length lines parallel to a reference line |
Par= | Lines parallel at a specified distance from reference line |
Chord | Lines as chords to a reference circle |
T-Cir-Cir | Lines tangential to two reference circles |
T-Cir-Lin | Lines tangential to a circle and at specified angle to a line |
🛠 How to Use Each Line Type
Free
Allows the insertion of any number of adjoining lines by continuous selection of point locations.
Select the first point location (start of the line)
Select the second point location (end of that line)
Continue selecting consecutive point locations - each creates a new line where the endpoint of the preceding line becomes the start point of the next line
Click Abort to stop the current series and start another line or series
Horizontal
Allows the insertion of lines that are horizontal with respect to the current CPL (parallel to the X-axis).
Select the start point of the line
Select a second point location which defines the length and direction of the line
The actual endpoint is located at the intersection of a line projected from the start point parallel to the X-axis of the current CPL, and a line normal (perpendicular) to that line which passes through the second point location.
Hor-Len
Allows the insertion of specified length lines that are horizontal with respect to the current CPL (parallel to the X-axis).
Specify the length of the line
Select the start point of the line
Select a second point location which defines the direction of the line
The actual endpoint is located at a point projected the specified length from the start point, parallel to the X-axis of the current CPL, in the direction defined by the second point location.
Vertical
Allows the insertion of lines that are vertical with respect to the current CPL (parallel to the Y-axis).
Select the start point of the line
Select a second point location which defines the length and direction of the line
The actual endpoint is located at the intersection of a line projected from the start point parallel to the Y-axis of the current CPL, and a line normal (perpendicular) to that line which passes through the second point location.
Ver-Len
Allows the insertion of specified length lines that are vertical with respect to the current CPL (parallel to the Y-axis).
Specify the length of the line
Select the start point of the line
Select a second point location which defines the direction of the line (either up or down the Y-axis)
The actual endpoint is located at a point projected the specified length from the start point, on the same Y-axis as the current CPL, in the direction defined by the second point location.
Angle
Allows the insertion of lines at a specified angle relative to a reference line.
Select the reference line
Specify the angle
Select the start point of the new line
Select a second point location which defines the length and general direction of the new line
The angle specified is relative to the plane defined by the reference line endpoints and the start point of the new line. Its orientation is defined by the general direction of the new line relative to the reference line (start to end direction of new line).
The actual endpoint is located at the intersection of a line projected from the start point at the specified angle, and a line normal (perpendicular) to that line which passes through the second point location.
Angle-Len
Allows the insertion of specified length lines at a specified angle relative to a reference line.
Constrained
Allows the insertion of any number of adjoining lines at a specified angle or multiple of that angle relative to the X-Y plane of the current CPL by continuous selection of point locations.
Specify the angle
Select the first point location (start of the line)
Select the second point location (defines length and general direction)
Continue selecting consecutive point locations for additional lines
The actual endpoint of each line is located at the intersection of a line projected from the start point at the specified angle or multiple of that angle and a line normal (perpendicular) to that line which passes through the second point location selected.
Further lines will be inserted for each consecutive point location selected, where the endpoint of the preceding line is the start point of the next line.
Rectangle
Allows the insertion of four lines which form a rectangle by defining two diagonal corners.
Select a point location defining one corner of the rectangle
Move the cursor to visualise the rectangle - a rectangular window is displayed with its diagonal corners being the first point location and the cursor
Select the opposite corner position
Four lines are then inserted forming a rectangle with the selected corner positions.
Par
Allows the insertion of lines parallel to a reference line.
Select the reference line
Select a point location which defines the distance and position of the parallel line with respect to the reference line
Select second and third point locations which define the relative start and end points of the parallel line
The actual start and end of the parallel line are located at the intersections of a line parallel to the reference line, passing through the first selected point location, and two normals (perpendicular lines) which pass through the second and third point locations respectively.
Par-Len
Allows the insertion of specified length lines parallel to a reference line.
Select the reference line
Specify the length of the line
Select a point location which defines the distance of the parallel line with respect to the reference line
Select second and third point locations which define the relative start and end of the parallel line
The endpoint of the parallel line is located at the specified length from the start point in the direction defined by the third point location.
Par=
Allows the insertion of lines parallel to, and a specified distance from, a reference line.
Select the reference line
Specify the distance that is to be between it and the parallel line
Select a point location which defines the general position of the parallel line with respect to the reference line
Select second and third point locations which define the relative start and endpoint of the parallel line
The actual start and end of the parallel line are located at the intersections of a line parallel to the reference line at the specified distance from it, and two normals (perpendicular lines) which pass through the second and third point locations respectively.
Chord
Allows the insertion of lines as chords to a reference circle.
Specify the length of the chord
Select the reference circle
Select the start location of the chord on the circumference of the reference circle
Select a location which defines the direction of the chord
The chord is inserted with the specified length and its end location exactly on the circumference. If the start location is not exactly on the circumference, the actual start location is the intersection of the radial line passing through the selected location with the circumference.
⚠️ Arc Note: An arc may be selected as a reference with this command but it will be regarded as a circle. The chord will be calculated for insertion using the imaginary circle and its start and end locations may not be situated on the arc.
T-Cir-Cir
Allows the insertion of a line that is tangential to two reference circles.
Select the first reference circle near the approximate tangency point
Select the second reference circle near the approximate tangency point
The line is inserted tangential to both circles between their respective tangency points near the approximate tangency points selected.
⚠️ Arc Note: Arcs may be selected as references with this command, but they will be regarded as circles. The tangency points for inserting the line are calculated using the imaginary circle and therefore the start and end locations may not be situated on those arcs themselves.
T-Cir-Lin
Allows the insertion of a line that is tangential to a reference circle and at a specified angle to a reference line.
Select the reference circle near the approximate tangency point
Select the reference line at the appropriate location relative to the tangency point
Specify the angle between the reference line and the line tangential to the reference circle
The line is inserted from the tangency point on the reference circle nearest to the approximate tangency point selected to its point of intersection with the reference line at the specified angle to that line.
⚠️ Arc Note: An arc may be selected as a reference with this command, but it will be regarded as a circle. The tangency point for inserting the line is calculated using the imaginary circle and therefore that endpoint may not be situated on the arc.
⚠️ Line Extension Note: This command regards the reference line as having infinite endpoint extensions. Therefore, the line inserted may have its endpoint lying on the extension of this line.