Chapter 15 Obtaining Drawing Information 441 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. To edit a variable, pick the variable to modify and pick the Edit Variable… button to reopen the Variable Definition dialog box. Pick the Delete button to delete the selected variable. Pick the Return Variable to Input Area button or double-click the variable name to pass the selected variable to the input box. Additional options for variables are accessed by right-clicking in the Variables area to display a shortcut menu. Pick the New Category option to create a new category for saved variables. To rename a variable, select the Rename option and type a new name. PROFESSIONAL TIP PROFESSIONAL TIP The AutoCAD help system explains the predefi ned variables and their functions. Using Drawing Values Tools available from the QuickCalc toolbar allow you to pass values from the drawing to the QuickCalc input box and from the input box to the drawing. When you select any of the buttons shown in Figure 15-24, the QuickCalc palette temporarily disappears so that you can select points from the drawing window. Pick the Get Coordinates button to select a point from the drawing window and display the XYZ coordinates in the input box. Pick the Distance Between Two Points button and select two points in the drawing area to display the distance between the points in the input box. Select the Angle of Line Defined by Two Points button and pick two points on a line to calculate the angle of the line and display the angle in the input box. Select the Intersection of Two Lines Defined by Four Points button to fi nd the intersection of two lines by picking points on the two lines. The XYZ coordinates of the intersection appear in the input box. Using QuickCalc with Commands The previous information focuses on using the QuickCalc palette to calculate unknown values while you are drafting, much like using a handheld calculator or the Windows Calculator. You can also use QuickCalc while a command is active to pass a calculated value to the command line as a response to a prompt. AutoCAD provides a few alternatives for using QuickCalc while a command is active. If the QuickCalc palette is active when you access a command, when the prompt requesting an unknown value appears, calculate the value using the QuickCalc palette and then pick the Paste value to command line button to pass the value as a response to the prompt. For example, to draw a line a distance of 14′-8″ + 26′-3″ horizontally from a start point, activate the QuickCalc palette, access the LINE command, and pick a start point. Then use polar tracking or ortho mode to move the crosshairs to the right or left of the start point so the line is at a 0° or 180° angle. At the Specify next point or [Undo]: prompt, enter 14'8" + 26'3" in the QuickCalc palette input box and pick the equal (=) button or press [Enter]. The result in the input box is 40'-11". Pick the Paste value to command line button to respond to the prompt with a 40'-11" value. Press [Enter] to draw the 40′-11″ line. Figure 15-24. Use buttons on the QuickCalc toolbar to pass values from QuickCalc to AutoCAD and retrieve values from AutoCAD to pass to QuickCalc. Get Coordinates Distance Between Two Points Intersection of Two Lines Defined by Four Points Angle of Line Defined by Two Points