How to Get Length of Polyline in AutoCAD?

Understanding Polyline Length in AutoCAD

To accurately measure the length of a polyline in AutoCAD, follow this comprehensive guide that will walk you through the various methods available.

Using the LIST Command

1. Initiate Command: Start by typing the command LIST into the command line and hit Enter.
2. Select Polyline: Click on the polyline whose length you want to measure.
3. View Results: Press Enter again. A dialog box will appear, displaying various properties of the selected polyline. Look for the “Length” entry to find the total measurement of that polyline.

Measuring Length by Layer

1. Select Layer Objects: Click on an object that resides within the layer of your interest.
2. Command Line Display: The total length of all objects on that layer will automatically appear in the command line.
3. Details Box: Additionally, a dialog box will present itself, listing the layer name along with the cumulative length of the objects, either in feet or meters, based on your settings.

Measuring Polyline Width

1. Activate Properties: Type PE in the command line and press Enter.
2. Choose Polyline: Select the polyline for which you wish to adjust the width.
3. Specify Width: From the command line options, choose the width, and enter the desired measurement.

Setting Length with Line Command

1. Open Drawing Tools: Navigate to the Home tab and select the Line tool from the Draw panel.
2. Set Starting Point: Click on the desired start location for your line.
3. Indicate Length and Direction: Move your cursor to point in the desired direction, type the length (for example, 6.5), and press Spacebar or Enter to finalize.

Method for Measuring Multiple Lines

1. Command Activation: You can utilize a specific command that allows you to select multiple lines.
2. Follow On-Screen Prompts: Proceed according to the prompts in the command line to measure the cumulative length of all selected lines.
3. Review the Results: A dialog box or command line will display the total length for your selected geometry.

Understanding Total Length in General Context

Total length usually refers to the straight-line measurement of an object from one point to another without considering any curves or deviations in shape. While this is common in contexts like surveying, it also applies effectively when measuring polylines.

Measurement of Curves

1. Select Annotation Tools: At the Home tab, navigate to the Annotation panel.
2. Pick Arc Length Tool: Choose the Arc Length tool.
3. Click on Curve: Click once on the curve you want to measure and then click a second time away from it to get the length.

Calculating Radius of Curvature

1. Access Measuring Tools: Open the Home tab and find the Utilities panel.
2. Choose Radius Measurement: Select the option to display the Radius from the Measure dialog.
3. Click Point: Click on the arc or curve point where you want to measure the radius.

Setting Up Distance Measurements

1. Open Distance Tools: Under the Analyze tab, find the Inquiry panel and click on Add Distances.
2. Specify Starting Distance: You can enter a distance directly into the command line.
3. Add Additional Distances: Continue adding distances as needed and press Enter to calculate the total.

FAQs

What command do I use to measure the length of a polyline in AutoCAD?
The LIST command is the simplest method. After selecting the polyline, it provides the dimensions via a dialog box.

How can I measure the length of multiple objects at once in AutoCAD?
Using the specific distance measurement command allows you to select multiple lines or shapes and view their combined lengths in the command line.

Is it possible to measure curves in AutoCAD?
Yes, you can measure curves using the Arc Length tool found in the Annotation panel on the Home tab. Simply select your curve to see its length.