Creates a 2D polyline, a single object that is composed of line and arc segments.
Access Methods
Button
Toolbar: Drafting tool set 
Open Shapes tool group Polyline Menu:
Draw
Polyline
Summary
A 2D polyline is a connected sequence of segments created as a single planar object. You can create straight line segments, arc segments, or a combination of the two.
The PLINEGEN system variable controls the linetype pattern display around and the smoothness of the vertices of a 2D polyline. Setting PLINEGEN to 1 generates new polylines in a continuous pattern around the vertices of the completed polyline. Setting PLINEGEN to 0 starts and ends the polyline with a dash at each vertex. PLINEGEN does not apply to polylines with tapered segments.
List of Prompts
The following prompts are displayed.
Specify start point: Specify a point
Current line-width is <current>
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: Specify a point or enter an option
Next Point
Draws a line segment. The previous prompt is repeated.
Arc
Adds arc segments to the polyline.
Specify endpoint of arc or
[Angle/CEnter/CLose/Direction/Halfwidth/Line/Radius/Second pt/Undo/Width]: Specify a point (2) or enter an option
Endpoint of Arc
Draws an arc segment. The arc segment is tangent to the previous segment of the polyline. The previous prompt is repeated.
Angle
Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.
Specify included angle:
Entering a positive number creates counterclockwise arc segments. Entering a negative number creates clockwise arc segments.
Specify endpoint of arc or [Center/Radius]: Specify a point or enter an option
- Endpoint of Arc
-
Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.
- Center
-
Specifies the center of the arc segment.
Specify center point of arc:
- Radius
-
Specifies the radius of the arc segment.
Specify radius of arc: Specify a distance
Specify direction of chord for arc <current>: Specify a point or press Enter
Center
Specifies the center of the arc segment.
Specify center point of arc: Specify a point (2)
Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle/Length]: Specify a point (3) or enter an option
- Endpoint of Arc
-
Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.
- Angle
-
Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.
Specify included angle:
- Length
-
Specifies the chord length of the arc segment. If the previous segment is an arc, the new arc segment is drawn tangent to the previous arc segment.
Specify length of chord:
Close
Draws an arc segment from the last point specified to the starting point, creating a closed polyline. At least two points must be specified to use this option.
Direction
Specifies a starting direction for the arc segment.
Specify the tangent direction from the start point of arc: Specify a point (2)
Specify endpoint of arc: Specify a point (3)
Halfwidth
Specifies the width from the center of a wide polyline segment to one of its edges.
Specify starting half-width <current>: Enter a value or press Enter
Specify ending half-width <starting width>: Enter a value or press Enter
The starting half-width becomes the default ending half-width. The ending half-width becomes the uniform half-width for all subsequent segments until you change the half-width again. The starting and ending points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
Line
Exits the Arc option and returns to the initial PLINE command prompts.
Radius
Specifies the radius of the arc segment.
Specify radius of arc: Specify a distance
Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle]: Specify a point or enter a
- Endpoint of Arc
-
Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.
- Angle
-
Specifies the included angle for the arc segment.
Specify included angle:
Specify direction of chord for arc <current>: Specify an angle or press Enter
Second Pt
Specifies the second point and endpoint of a three-point arc.
Specify second point on arc: Specify a point (2)
Specify end point of arc: Specify a point (3)
Undo
Removes the most recent arc segment added to the polyline.
Width
Specifies the width of the next arc segment.
Specify starting width <current>: Enter a value or press Enter
Specify ending width <starting width>: Enter a value or press Enter
The starting width becomes the default ending width. The ending width becomes the uniform width for all subsequent segments until you change the width again. The starting and ending points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments, very acute angles, or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
Close
Draws a line segment from the last point specified to the starting point, creating a closed polyline. At least two points must be specified to use this option.
Halfwidth
Specifies the width from the center of a wide polyline line segment to one of its edges.
Specify starting half-width <current>: Enter a value or press Enter
Specify ending half-width <current>: Enter a value or press Enter
The starting half-width becomes the default ending half-width. The ending half-width becomes the uniform half-width for all subsequent segments until you change the half-width again. The starting and ending points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
Length
Draws a line segment of a specified length at the same angle as the previous segment. If the previous segment is an arc, the new line segment is drawn tangent to that arc segment.
Specify length of line: Specify a distance
Undo
Removes the most recent line segment added to the polyline.
Width
Specifies the width of the next line segment.
Specify starting width <current>: Enter a value or press Enter
Specify ending width <starting width>: Enter a value or press Enter
The starting width becomes the default ending width. The ending width becomes the uniform width for all subsequent segments until you change the width again. The starting and ending points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.