AutoCAD PLINE Command: How to Draw and Use Polylines
Draws a polyline made of line and arc segments that acts as a single object.
- Command
- PLINE
- Aliases
- PL
- English name
- Polyline
The AutoCAD PLINE command draws connected line and arc segments as one object. Unlike separate LINE segments, a polyline is selected with one click, offsets in one step, and reports its area directly when it is closed.
While drawing you can switch to arc mode, give segments a start and end width, or add a segment of a given length in the same direction. That makes arrows, thick outlines and wall centerlines easy to draw in a single command.
Edit an existing polyline with PEDIT, break it into lines and arcs with EXPLODE, or turn connected lines into a polyline with JOIN.
How to use it
- Type PLINE or PL and press Enter.
- Pick the start point.
- Pick the next points; type A (Arc) to draw arcs and L (Line) to return to straight segments.
- Use W (Width) if you need a segment width other than zero.
- Press Enter to finish, or type C (Close) to close the polyline.
Options
- Arc (A)
- Switches to arc mode; arcs can be defined by angle, center, direction or radius.
- Halfwidth (H)
- Sets the width from the center of the segment to one edge, for the start and end.
- Length (L)
- Draws a segment of the given length in the same direction as the previous segment.
- Width (W)
- Sets the start and end width of the next segment; different values produce a tapered arrow.
- Close (C)
- Connects the last point to the first and creates a closed polyline.
- Undo (U)
- Removes the last segment added.
Notes and tips
- The area and length of a closed polyline appear in LIST and in the Properties palette.
- The width you set stays as the default for the next PLINE command; reset it to 0 if you don't want thick lines.
- Use Close rather than snapping to the first point; otherwise the polyline looks closed but stays open.