12.02.01 drawing arcs

On-Screen Takeoff makes it easy to create arcs or "curved linear segments".  Linear Conditions can be set to act as arcs (allow curving) by default or on a segment-by-segment basis.

Curving One Segment

Right-click on any Linear segment and select "Set as Curved Segment".  This and only this segment can be curved.

Defaulting to Curved Segments

When creating a linear Condition, you can configure it so every segment drawn with it is automatically set to Curved Segment.  On the Advanced Tab within the linear Condition Properties, place a checkmark in the "Set as Curved Segment (Default)" option, see Linear Conditions for more information.

All takeoff objects drawn with this Condition are automatically set to Curved Segments without having to right-click and assign each object as such.  Follow the steps below to bend any linear segment to make it an arc.

Bending a Linear Object into an Arc

To make an arc out of any linear segment:

• Click the Select tool on the main toolbar
• Select the segment to curve (notice the adjustment boxes on the end indicating the object is selected)
• If the Condition was not set to "Set as Curved Segment (Default)", right-click on the selected segment and click Set as Curved Segment

• Position the cursor near the box at the center of the segment (the cursor changes to a double-ended arrow) and drag to curve the segment

• Release the mouse or stylus the desired curvature is achieved

This is a SINGLE curved segment and is not affected by the Intelligent Curve setting discussed in the previous article.

Measuring Circumference Using arcs

To measure the circumference of a circular object, it is possible to draw a linear around the object using Continuous Mode (discussed in Drawing Linear Takeoff) which gets converted to several straighter, shorter segments or use Curved Segments to create 2 arcs:

• Using the Zoom tool , zoom into the circular object to measure
• Using any Linear Condition, draw a line dissecting the circle

   

  

   

• Grab the Selection Tool ,
• Right-click the takeoff and select Set as Curved Segment

   

  

   

• Move the cursor over the middle of the takeoff, the cursor changes from the Move cursor to the arc cursor
• Click and drag cursor up or down to form a semi-circle

• Repeat this process for the lower arc:

• Once a segment is set as 'curvable', you cannot place an Attachment on it (Straight Attachments just don't fit on a curved segment, even if the segment hasn't been adjusted).  If you need to place an Attachment, right-click and de-select the "Set as Curved Segment" option.

Applying a Drop/Run to Linear Takeoff