If the default line direction is not horizontal it sounds as if you have Autocad in Isometric mode. I have forgotten the commands but f8 toggles orthographic mode on and off.

Ian P

Richard,

My knowledge is of AutoCAD LT but I suspect that the basics are identical to your package so here's a suggestion.

On the toolbar at top of the screen click on 'Format' then 'Units' which brings up the 'Drawing Units' table. At the bottom is a button 'Direction' which brings up the 'Direction Control' panel. This sets up the degrees zero point, and usually shows the 'East' button lit up which sets zero at the 3 o'clock position – the ACAD default. You can change that to suit your own needs by selecting the 'Other' button but I'd suggest leaving it at East for now. Bear in mind that in AutoCAD degree entries are default set to work anticlockwise from zero; you can change that to clockwise by going back to the Drawing Units panel where you need to check the box marked 'clockwise', but see my note below as well.

It'd be worth running through the above just to confirm that the basic settings are correct.

The other question is – which direction do you want your line to go down from your line start point i.e. 30 degrees down from horizontal to the left or 30 degrees down to the right? If the first (with zero degrees at 3 o'clock) I'd be entering '@70<210' i.e 30 degrees beyond 180 degree working anti clockwise, or for the second – '@70<330' i.e. 30 degrees short of the full anti clockwise circle. The latter can also be entered as '@70<-30' – the minus sign reversing the direction of rotation (i.e. clockwise).

I too think it is most likely you have slipped into isometric view as I am sure you would know if you had set the drawing direction up at an angle.

From your screen shot I notice in the instruction window that you have the text angle set at 30 degrees also – was that intended? (I usually keep text at zero degrees to make the drawing easy to read)

I share your frustration with AutoCAD – I was trained and used it at work but now I rarely use it and forget some of the different shortcuts to reach the same end. That , the cost of updates, associated training and the increased complexity with each version release makes it more a tool for a professional draughtsman rather than something only occasionally used.

Highlight to me however was when I sent files to an engineering firm and they put them straight into their machine and out popped a laser cut, folded and machine welded component ten times. Later I sent a drawing of frames for the stainless steel window side screens of my kit car. They came back laser cut from sheet and screw holes a gentle interference fit asI slid the fixing screws on for the hinges. Fantastic. Even better the windows hung on the door pillarspot on with no need for Ferlinghetti or adjustment!

Fettling?

Martin C

Press F8 and that turns ORTHO (Horizontal and Vertical) off.

You can then draw your lines at any angle to the degrees indicated at the curser location, press F8 again to turn it back on.

F7 for GRID on and off, F9 for SNAP on and off.

F3 for OSNAP on and off.

I use them constantly, I used to put masking tape along the top of my keyboard, and print the AutoCAD functions above the 'F' keys, don't need to do it now….