320
AutoCAD and Its Applications—Basics
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Once you access the
STRETCH
command, you must use a crossing box, crossing
lasso, or crossing polygon to select only the objects to stretch. This is a very important
requirement and is different from object selection for other editing commands. See
Figure 11-25. If you select using the pick box or a window, the
STRETCH
command
works like the
MOVE
command, as described in Chapter 12.
After selecting the objects to stretch, specify the base point from which the objects
will stretch. Although the position of the base point is often not critical, you may want
to select a point on an object. For example, select the corner of a view or the center of
a circle. The selection stretches or compresses as you move the crosshairs. Specify a
second point to complete the stretch. Preview the operation before stretching.
PROFESSIONAL TIP P R OFESSIONAL TIP
Use object snap modes while editing. For example, to stretch a rectangle to make it
twice as long, use the
Endpoint
object snap to select the endpoint of the rectangle as
the base point, and another
Endpoint
object snap to select the opposite endpoint of the
rectangle as the second point.
Displacement Option
The
Displacement
option allows you to stretch objects relative to their current
location. To stretch using a displacement, access the
STRETCH
command and use
crossing selection to select only the objects to stretch. Then select the
Displacement
option instead of defi ning the base point. At the
Specify displacement 0,0,0:
prompt,
enter a coordinate or pick a point to specify the displacement. See Figure 11-26.
Using the First Point as Displacement
Another method for stretching an object is to use the fi rst point as the displace-
ment. The coordinates you use to select the base point automatically defi ne the coor-
dinates for the direction and distance for stretching the object. Access the
STRETCH
command and use crossing selection to select only the objects to stretch. Then specify
the base point, and instead of locating the second point, press
[Enter]
to accept the
use
first point as displacement
default. See Figure 11-27.
base point: The
initial reference
point AutoCAD uses
when stretching,
moving, copying,
and scaling objects.
displacement:
The direction and
distance in which an
object moves.
Figure 11-25.
Using the
STRETCH
command to edit
specific dimensions.
Preview the
operation before
making the second
pick.
Select objects using
crossing selection
Option 1, 25-Gallon Tank
Stretching
Option 2, 50-Gallon Tank
Stretch to here
(endpoint)
Base
point