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Visual CADD™ Precision Drawing

Precision Drawing Options

  • Direct x-y coordinate entry - use the keyboard to enter precise x-y coordinates for the placement of object construction points.
  • Direct distance entry - use the keyboard to enter precise distance when the direction is constrained by ortho mode or the direction is determined by a mouse move or arrow key.
  • Direct distance-angle entry, also called direct polar coordinate entry - use the keyboard to enter precise distance and angle.
  • Geometric snaps - use various geometric snaps for precise placement relative to existing objects, for example, snap to the end-point of a line, intersection of two curves, mid-point of an arc, center of a circle, etc.
  • Grid snaps - snap to a user-defined grid of precisely spaced snap points.
  • Incremental snaps - snap to a user-defined distance when the direction is constrained by ortho mode, similar to direct distance entry except the distance is preset and incremental.  This option is not illustrated below.

Direct x-y coordinate entry

Use the keyboard to enter precise x-y coordinates, for example, 0,18{Enter} or 0,23{Enter}.  Coordinates can be either absolute from some fixed true origin, relative to the last point placed, or relative to a user-defined base-point.  The following example illustrates both absolute and relative coordinates.


Use menus and toolbars to draw an exactly vertical line of exactly 23 feet length with direct x-y entry.  Easiest to learn for a novice user; requires more mouse moves.

Actions: left-click-and-drag to Single Line; >Snaps>Manual Entry>Absolute; type 0,18{Enter}; >Snaps>Manual Entry>Relative; type 0,23{Enter};

Total drawing time: 14 seconds.
Use shortcuts to draw an exactly vertical line of exactly 23 feet length with direct x-y entry.  Fastest for experienced users; requires fewest mouse moves.

Actions: type LS; type MO; type 5,18{Enter}; type MR; type 0,23{Enter};

Total drawing time: 5 seconds. 		Legend
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right click right mouse click
keystrokes keystrokes
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Direct distance entry

Direction can be determined by setting a user-defined angle to constrain directions, known as ortho mode, or by moving the mouse or arrow keys in any direction.  Use the keyboard to enter precise distances when the direction is determined by one of these methods, for example, 23{Enter}.  The following example illustrates using ortho mode to set 45 and 0 degree directions with direct distance entry.


Use shortcuts to draw exactly 45° and vertical lines of exactly 23 feet length with snaps, ortho constraints, and direct distance entry. 

Actions: type LS; type MO; type 0,18{Enter}; type OA45{Enter}; move mouse up and left; type 23{Enter}; type LS; move mouse near first point; type NP; type OA0{Enter}; move mouse up; type 23{Enter};

Total drawing time: 16 seconds.
Methods using menus and toolbars are also available but not illustrated here. 		Legend
left click left mouse click
right click right mouse click
keystrokes keystrokes
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Direct distance-angle entry

Use the keyboard to enter precise distance-angle or polar coordinates, for example, 23,<90 or 23,<135, where the '<' indicates an angle in degrees.  Similar to direct x-y coordinate entry, the distance-angle can be absolute, relative to the last point placed, or relative to a user-defined base-point.  The following example illustrates relative coordinates with 90 and 135 degree directions.


Use shortcuts to draw exactly 45° and vertical lines of exactly 23 feet length with direct distance-angle entry and snaps. 

Actions: type LS; type MO; type 5,18{Enter}; type MR; type 23,<90{Enter}; type LS; move mouse near first point; type NP; type 23,<135{Enter};

Total drawing time: 13 seconds.
Methods using menus and toolbars are also available but not illustrated here. 		Legend
left click left mouse click
right click right mouse click
keystrokes keystrokes
Zoom the video with Ctrl+ and Ctrl-
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Geometric Snaps

Visual CADD™ supports over a dozen geometric snaps to place construction points relative to existing objects.  The geometric snaps allow precise placement of constructions points by using the precision of the objects already placed, thereby often avoiding measuring or knowing precise distances or angles.  The following example illustrates snapping to a midpoint to precisely center a mullion in a window.


Use shortcuts to draw a perfectly centered mullion in a window. 

Actions: type LD; type SM; left-click near top-center of window; type SM or {Space}; left-click near bottom-center of window; type PU or {Esc};

Total drawing time: 5 seconds.
Methods using menus and toolbars are also available but not illustrated here. 		Legend
left click left mouse click
right click right mouse click
keystrokes keystrokes
Zoom the video with Ctrl+ and Ctrl-
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Grid snaps

The user can define a grid of precisely spaced snap points to help place construction points.  The display of the grid points can be turned on and off and automatic snapping to the grid can also be turned on and off.  The following example illustrates snapping to a grid of 0.1 inches to precisely place electronic components on a perforated prototype board.


Use shortcuts to exactly move objects with grid snaps. 

Actions: left-click near object; type MV; move mouse near first point; type NP; type SG; left-click near second point;

Total drawing time: 6 seconds.
Methods using menus and toolbars are also available but not illustrated here. 		Legend
left click left mouse click
right click right mouse click
keystrokes keystrokes
Zoom the video with Ctrl+ and Ctrl-
Your browser not playing the video?  Try downloading the video.

More Visual CADD™ Features ...