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AutoCAD and Its Applications—Basics
Divide Path Method
Select the
Divide Method
button from the fl yout in the fl
Properties
ribbon panel or
choose
Divide
at the
Method
option to divide the item count equally along the path. Use
the
Item Count
ribbon text box or the
Items
option to specify the total number of items. If
you do not know an exact count, enter an equation or formula in the
Item Count
ribbon
text box, or apply the
Expression
option at the appropriate prompt of the
Items
option.
NOTE N OT OT TE
To return to the default measure path method, select the
Measure
Method
button from the flyout in the fl
Properties
ribbon panel, or
choose
Measure
at the
Method
option. To return to the default tech-
nique of filling the entire path with items a specific fi distance apart, fi
select the
Item Count
ribbon button, or choose
Fill entire path
at the
appropriate prompt of the
Items
option.
PROFESSIONAL TIP P P P R OF OFE S S S I O R O FE S SS I O N N A A L T I NA NA AL T TI P P P P
Choose the appropriate path method and specify path properties based
on the information you know about the array. Use the divide path
method to equally distribute a specifi number of items along the length fic
of the path.
Specifying the Base Point
The default base point from which objects are arrayed is the endpoint of the path
closest to where you select the curve, not a point associated with the source objects.
See Figure 12-21A. If the end of the path curve is not a suitable base point, choose
the
Base Point
button in the
Properties
ribbon panel, or use the
Base point
option
to define a different base point. Choose the fi
end of path curve
option to reselect the
default base point, or apply the
Key point
option to choose a key point for the base
point, as explained for creating a rectangular array. Figure 12-21B shows an example
of a likely base point, and Figure 12-21C shows the new base point applied to the array.
Tangent Direction and Alignment Controls
Select the
Tangent Direction
ribbon button or use the
Tangent direction
option to
change the direction of items in the array. Locate two points to specify the tangent
direction. Figure 12-21D shows an example of changing the tangent direction to align
items 20° from the base point.
Ribbon
Array Creation
Properties
Divide Method
Ribbon
Array Creation
Properties
Tangent Direction
Figure 12-21.
Creating an array of seven rectangles along a polyline path. A—Default orientation.
B—Selecting a new base point above, or offset from, the midpoint of the top side of the
rectangle. C—The result of the new base point selection made in B. D—Default base point,
20° tangent direction.
Tangent direction
New base point
Source objects
Default base
point closest
to path
selection
Path
A B C D