QCad User Reference Manual

# 21. Polylines

Click the polyline button in the CAD toolbar to show the polyline toolbar.

## 21.1. Creating a Polyline

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Create

Command:

    polyline

Options Toolbar:

Description:

This tool lets you draw polylines. A polyline is a continuous line formed from one or more connected line or arc segments.

Procedure:

1. Specify the startpoint of the first polyline segment. You can use the mouse or enter a coordinate in the console.
2. Specify the endpoint of the first polyline segment.
3. Specify the endpoints of additional polyline segments.

Note: If your polyline contains arc segments, you can tick the 'Arc' checkbox and enter the arc radius in the options toolbar when setting the endpoint of an arc segment. The arc will connect smoothly (tangential) to the last segment.

## 21.2. Adding Nodes to Polylines

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Add node

Description:

With this tool you can add nodes to existing polylines. Adding a new node to a polyline means to split one segment up into two segments. The two new segments are both straight, even if the original segment was an arc.

Procedure:

1. Specify the segment of the polyline in which you want to add the new node.
2. Specify the position of the new node with your mouse or by entering a coordinate.

## 21.3. Appending Nodes to Polylines

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Append node

Description:

With this tool you can append nodes to the beginning or end of existing polylines. Appending a node to a polyline means to extend it by a segment at the beginning or end.

Procedure:

1. Click the polyline somewhere near the end to which you want to append a node.
2. Specify the position of the new node(s) with your mouse or by entering a coordinate.

For appending nodes, the same options are available as when creating new polylines.

## 21.4. Deleting Nodes from Polylines

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Delete Polyline node

Description:

Use this tool to remove nodes from existing polylines. This way two segments of a polyline can be joined into one.

Procedure:

1. Specify the polyline from which you want to delete nodes.
2. Specify the position of the node that you want to remove. In most cases it is appropriate to use the endpoint snap function to specify the node. The tool automatically activates that snap function by default.

## 21.5. Deleting Segments Between Two Nodes

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Delete between two nodes

Description:

Use this function to delete all segments between two nodes of an existing polyline.

Procedure:

1. Specify the polyline from which you want to delete segments.
2. Specify the position of the first limiting node. That is the node from where you want to start deleting segments. The node itself will not be deleted. In most cases it is appropriate to use the endpoint snap function to specify the node. The tool automatically activates that snap function by default.
3. Specify the position of the node where you want to stop deleting. All segments that are between the first node and the second node are removed from the polyline. After the segments are deleted, the two limiting nodes are connected by a straight line segment so the polyline is still one continuous line string.

## 21.6. Trimming Polyline Segments

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Trim segments

Description:

Use this function to trim two polyline segments. This means to extend or shorten the two segments, in a way that they meet at one common point.

Procedure:

1. Specify the first polyline segment to trim by clicking it with the mouse.
2. Specify the second segment to be trimmed from the same polyline. All segments that are between the first segment and the second segment are removed to keep the polyline a continuous line string.

## 21.7. Creating Equidistant Polylines

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Equidistant

Options Toolbar:

Description:

This tool lets you create equidistant polylines to existing polylines.

Procedure:

1. Enter the distance of the equidistant and the number of equidistants you want to create at once in the options toolbar.
2. Click the original polyline. The equidistant will be created on the side on which you click the polyline.

## 21.8. Creating a Polyline from Existing Segments

CAD Toolbar:

Menu:

    Draw - Polyline - Create from Segments

Description:

This tool lets you create polylines from existing segments (lines and arcs that are connected).

Procedure:

1. Click one of the segments. A polyline is created from the selected entity and all entities that are connected to its end- or startpoint.