This document provides instructions for using the LINE command in AutoCAD to draw straight line segments. There are four ways to access the LINE command: through toolbars, pull-down menus, command line, or buttons. When using LINE, points are specified by clicking in the graphics window or entering coordinates. Options like ortho mode and polar tracking can help constrain angles of lines drawn.

2. LINE
This command wil enable you to draw straight lines; each line segment
presents a single object.
There are four (4) ways to issue this command:
1. Go to Home tab, locate the Draw Panel and then select the LINE
button.
2. From the DRAW Toolbar, select the line icon.
3. From the pull-down Menu Bar, click DRAW tab then select line.
4. From the Command line, type L (or line) , then press <Enter>.

3. LINE
Specify first point: Move the cursor into the graphics window and pick a random
location with the left-click button, then move the mouse to a new position and
pick again. By continuing to pick point in the graphics area, you can add to the
line. When you are finished, press the <ESC> or <Enter> key to end the LINE
command.
Tips:
There are some helpful
options that can be used
during LINE drawings – by
right clicking the button of
your mouse.
End the LINE command
Connect the last point of line
to the first point of line.
The last point you clicked will
be undone.
Allows to view a drawing up
close or far away
Shift the view without
changing the magnification
Will be discussed on separate
lesson.

4. ORTHO MODE & POLAR TRACKING
Ortho mode aids in drawing horizontal or vertical lines. When Ortho modes is
ON, lines will snap or drawn either horizontally or vertically only.
Polar tracking is more flexible than Ortho mode, with the ability to constrain
lines to increments of a set angle. A list of common angles – 45, 90, 135, 180
and so on – is included on Polar Tracking’s context menu.
When polar tracking is set to 90, 180, 270, 360, it functions identically to Ortho
mode.

5. ORTHO MODE & POLAR TRACKING
You can also turn On and Off the Ortho mode and Polar tracking in the Status
Bar found in the lower right of your screen.
Ortho Mode Polar tracking
Press this arrow to select
the set angles in Polar
tracking
Set angles in Polar tracking

6. ORTHO MODE & POLAR TRACKING
To turn Ortho mode On and OFF
Press F8 in your keyboard (if you are using Desktop computer).
Hold Fn and press F8 in your keyboard (if you are using laptop).
To turn Polar Tracking On and OFF
Press F10 in your keyboard (if you are using Desktop computer).
Hold Fn and press F10 in your keyboard (if you are using laptop).

7. LINE
Exercise:
1. Create a freehand sketch of a
fivepoint star using the LINE
command. Do not be overly
concerned with the actual size
and accuracy of your sketch. This
exercise aims to give you a feel of
AutoCad Line command.
2. Practice drawing lines by using
Ortho Mode and Polar tracking.

8. LINE
Drawing lines in this manner to random points is easy;
drawing lines to exact points is a bit more complicated.
For this you’ll need to understand how to draw lines with
 direct entry
 absolute coordinates
 relative coordinates
 polar coordinates.
Cartesian Coordinates

9. Drawing lines by determining the direction and numerical distance.
 Type L in the command line, press <Enter>.
 Specify first point: Pick any point in the graphics area.
 Specify Next point: Move your mouse to the direction of the line. (Turn On
Ortho mode if you are drawing horizontal/vertical lines; or turn on Polar tracking
if you are drawing lines in a set angle.
 Type the length (distance) of the line. If the line is 50mm long, type 50 then
press <Enter>.
 Continue drawing lines with the same process.
 When you are finished, press the <ESC> or <Enter> key to end the LINE
command.
Drawing lines through Direct Entry

10. The Cartesian Coordinate System
To accurately draw an AutoCAD
two dimensional (2D) drawing,
you must enter XY coordinate
locations. These XY coordinates
are based on the Cartesian
Coordinate System.

11. The Cartesian Coordinate System
The Cartesian Coordinate System
consists of two numbered lines
crossing perpendicular to one
another at their zero values. The
horizontal axis is the X axis and
the vertical axis is the Y axis

12. The Cartesian Coordinate System
Each coordinate value consists of
a pair of numbers, the first is the
X coordinate and the second is
the Y coordinate, written X,Y. The
X and Y values must be separated
by a comma.

13. The Cartesian Coordinate System
The values can be either positive
or negative. Positive numbers are
default so the plus sign is not
required. If the value is negative,
the minus sign must precede the
number.
For example if entered in a an
AutoCAD command, -3,5 is X
minus 3 and Y positive 5.

14. The Cartesian Coordinate System
Cartesian coordinates can be
entered in a AutoCAD command
as either absolute coordinates or
relative coordinates.

15. In AutoCad terminology, points that are relative to origin point 0,0 (usually identified by the
UCS icon are referred to as absolute coordinates.
When drawing a line, a drafter often defines the line’s start point by typing absolute
coordinates – for example: 2,2, and pressing <Enter>. The drafter could continue the line to
another point by typing in the absolute coordinates of the point preceded by the # symbol
– for example #7,3 and pressing <Enter>. Using this method, both endpoints of the line are
defined relative to 0,0.
It is important to note however, that while it is possible to locate the
starting and ending points of a line by entering absolute coordinates, this
method of drawing a line is seldom used as in most cases only the starting
point of a line is defined with absolute coordinates and the following points
are located using either the direct input, polar or relative coordinates
methods that will be discuss later on this course.
Drawing lines through Absolute Coordinates

16. After first points entered, your next points can be entered by specifying the next
coordinate compare/relative from the first points. The relative coordinate started
with symbol “@” tell AutoCAD it was a relative coordinates. Using relative
coordinate, points entered by typing @x,y [Enter]
Note: relative coordinates are very useful in drawing rectangle.
Drawing lines through Relative Coordinates
 Type L in the command line. <Enter>
 Specify first point: Pick any point in the
graphics area.
 Specify next point: Type @50,50
 Specify next point: Type @0,25
 Specify next point: Type @30,0
 When you are finished, press the <ESC> or
<Enter> key to end the LINE command.

17. Polar coordinates used when you need to draw the next points at specify angle.
Polar coordinates system in AutoCAD specifies distance length at which angle. Using
polar coordinate, points entered by typing @distance<angle [Enter]
Drawing lines through Polar Coordinates
 Type L in the command line. (Enter>
 Specify first point: Pick any point in the
graphics area.
 Specify next point: Type @70<45
 Specify next point: Type @25<90
 Specify next point: Type @30<0
 When you are finished, press the <ESC>
or <Enter> key to end the LINE
command.

18. How to Plot Property Bearings in Autocad
PROPERTY NO. 1
STATION BEARING DISTANCE (m)
A-B N60ᵒ21’08”W 5.639
B-C N20ᵒ40’04”E 1.796
C-D N29ᵒ29’45”E 3.793
D-E S60ᵒ30’15”E 6.145
E-A S31ᵒ51’11”W 5.587
CONVERSION
DISTANCE (mm)
5639
1796
3793
6145
5587
To plot this, points entered by typing @distance<Bearing [Enter]. Degree (ᵒ) will be
represented by letter d.
If your Drawing Units was set to Decimal, any entities that you will draw will be measured
in millimeters.
On this Property bearings, since the distance was shown in meters (m), you have to
convert and draw it in millimeters.

19. How to Plot Property Bearings in Autocad
PROPERTY NO. 1
STATION BEARING DISTANCE (mm)
A-B N60ᵒ21’08”W 5639
B-C N20ᵒ40’04”E 1796
C-D N29ᵒ29’45”E 3793
D-E S60ᵒ30’15”E 6145
E-A S31ᵒ51’11”W 5587
 Type L in the command line. <Enter>.
 Specify first point: Pick any point in the graphics area.
 Specify next point: Type @5639<N60d21’8”W
( Now stay in the line command and draw the next
segments. Always move the cursor in the direction of
compass point. Do this for every points.
 Specify next point: Type @1796<N20d40’4”E
 Specify next point: Type @3793<N29d29’45”E
 Specify next point: Type @6145<S60d30’15”E
 Specify next point: Type @5587<S31d51’11”W
 When you are finished, press the <ESC> or <Enter> key
to end the LINE command.

20. Exercise – Draw this shape.
Dimensions was shown in Millimeter (mm)

21. Exercise – Plot these bearings.
PROPERTY NO. 2
STATION BEARING DISTANCE (m)
A-B S85ᵒ43’32”W 6.059
B-C N07ᵒ10’52”E 4.009
C-D N74ᵒ24’37”E 3.835
D-E S22ᵒ00’48”E 4.919