Using Polar and Osnap Tracking....Cont..02

In this exercise, you used Polar Tracking and Ortho mode to accurately position the two lines
used for the exterior walls of the studio unit. This shows how you can take advantage of existing
geometry with a combination of tools in the status bar.
TIP If you prefer to use a standard line instead of a construction line as a construction tool, you can
use a ray (choose Draw  Ray from the menu bar). A ray is a line that starts from a point you select
and continues off to an infinite distance. You specify the start point and angle of the ray. You can
place a ray at the corner at a 45 angle and then fillet the ray to the horizontal wall line to shorten or
lengthen the line to the appropriate length.
Now, you’ll finish the balcony by adding a sliding-glass door and a rail. This time, you’ll use lines
for construction as well as for parts of the drawing. First, you’ll add the door jamb by drawing a Construction
Line. A Construction Line is a line that has an infinite length; but unlike a ray, it extends in
both directions. After drawing the Construction Line, you’ll use it to quickly position the door jambs.
Follow these steps:
1. Zoom in to the balcony area.
Click the Construction Line tool on the Draw toolbar. You can also choose Draw  Construction
Line or type XL↵. You’ll see this prompt:
Specify a point or [Hor/Ver/Ang/Bisect/Offset]:
2. Type O↵ to select Offset.
3. At the Specify offset distance or [Through] <0´-5˝>: prompt, type 4´↵. Metric users
should type 122↵.
4. At the Select a line object: prompt, click the wall line at the right of the unit.
5. At the Specify side to offset: prompt, click a point to the left of the wall to display the
Construction Line. (See the top image of Figure 6.18.)
6. At the Select a line object: prompt, click the left wall line, and then click to the right
of the selected wall to create another Construction Line. Your drawing should look like the
top image in Figure 6.18.
Next, you’ll edit the Construction Lines to form the jambs.
7. Click Trim on the Modify toolbar.
8. Select the Construction Lines and the two horizontal lines representing the wall between the
unit and the balcony, and press ↵. You can either use a crossing window or select each line
individually. You’ve just selected the objects to trim to.
TIP You can also use the Fence selection option to select the lines to be trimmed. For more information,
see Chapter 2 or Chapter 15.
9. Click the horizontal lines at any point between the two Construction Lines. Then, click the
Construction Lines above and below the horizontal lines to trim them. Your drawing looks
like the bottom image in Figure 6.18.
10. Assign the trimmed Construction Lines to the Jamb layer.