Autodesk 00308-011408-9F30A - VLA AUTOSKETCH R8-MEDIA W9X/NT, User Manual, Page: 148 / 400

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Chapter 12 Polylines, Polygons, & Curves
A polyline is different from a line in several ways:
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A polyline is a single entity regardless of the number of segments. A series
of connected lines with common endpoints may look like a polyline, but
they are actually multiple entities. AutoSketch can calculate the total
length of a series of polyline segments, since they are a single entity.
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You have more control over a segment of a polyline than you do a line. As
you create polylines, controls on the edit bar allow you to specify the start
width, the end width, and a bulge factor for each segment. You can edit
these properties later using vertex editing and edit bar controls. When you
select an existing polyline, the edit bar displays a text box for editing the
width of the entire polyline segment.
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If you select and delete an entity created with a single polyline, the entire
polyline is deleted, however, you can delete individual segments of a
polyline using vertex editing. Vertex editing also allows you to change the
shape of an existing polyline. For information on vertex editing and
segment editing, see the chapter titled “Reshaping Entities,” which begins
on page 299.
You can explode polylines to lines and arcs or join connected lines and arcs
to form a polyline. Therefore, you needn’t be overly concerned with the
initial choice you make between drawing with a line or polyline. For more
information on converting polylines to lines, refer to the chapter titled
“Converting & Exploding Entity Types,” which begins on page 313.
Polygons are closed shapes bounded by three or more segments. There are
two types of polygons: regular polygons and irregular polygons. A regular
polygon must have sides that are of equal lengths. An irregular polygon can
have sides of any length.
AutoSketch defines a regular polygon by its centerpoint, radius, angle, num-
ber of sides, and whether the polygon is circumscribed or inscribed.
Individual vertices define irregular polygons.
Polygons can contain a pattern fill. A pattern can be a solid color, a hatch fill,
or bitmap fill. You specify patterns with the property bar. For information on
fills and hatches, see the chapter titled “Pen & Pattern Properties,” which
begins on page 197.
You can convert a regular polygon to an irregular polygon, however, you
cannot convert an irregular polygon to a regular polygon. Additionally, you
can convert polygons to polylines, curves, splines, or lines. For information
on converting polygons, see the chapter titled “Converting & Exploding
Entity Types,” which begins on page 313.