2D Drafting Primitives

These are basic geometric shapes that can be ‘drawn’ on a Sheet or a VIEW Layer. The primitives exist in the hierarchy as members of NOTEs, VNOTEs or SYTMs.

Primitives that exist as members of VNOTs can have their dimensions and positions defined in terms of 3D Design values

There are eleven types of geometric primitive element.

Note:
The ‘°’denotes the shape’s (default) origin and is not part of the shape itself.

The Outline (OUTL) primitive consists of a number of connected straight lines and circular arcs, that you can defined.

As a primitive element is created, its position is stored separately, with a reference to the position being stored as the primitive’s PTRF (or PTFA) attribute. An important feature of this system is that if a series of primitives is created, each primitive’s position reference (or drafting point) is (initially) the same, enabling a series of ‘connected’ shapes to be quickly and easily created. For example, the command sequence

NEW CIRCLE DIAM 100 AT @

NEW CIRCLE DIAM 150

NEW CIRCLE DIAM 200

creates a series of concentric circles. In a similar way, a series of connected straight lines can be created. (A line can have two position references, one at either end; the start position reference of one line can be set equal to the end position reference of the previous line.) A set of primitives connected in this way can be moved as a ‘group’ by using the DRAG command. Refer to Move Groups of Primitives for further information.

Draw offers you a variety of methods of defining, identifying, sizing, positioning, orienting, moving and querying drafting primitives. Many methods of carrying out these operations are common to all (or most) of the drafting primitives. Methods that apply to particular primitives (and to Symbols) are described. Refer to Create and Manipulate Drafting Primitives - Common Operations for further information.