Measuring/Dimensioning Angles

Measuring/Dimensioning angles in drawings, is a fairly easy and simple operation:

-          If you want to know the value of a given angle, you go to Menu> Dimension> Angular (or Type _ANGLEDIMENSION in your command line).

-          Select the first entity, and then the second line.

-          The dimension will appear on the screen, allowing you to choose the position where you want to place it, also displaying the direction/angle you want to measure. Click when you are happy with the position for the dimension and orientation, and you are done.

This workflow is valid for most scenarios, except one: What if the angle I want to measure is bigger than 180 degrees?

Dimensioning Angles bigger than 180 degrees

If you follow the usual workflow (as above), you will notice that 180 is the maximum value that you are able to measure. This might not be something you need to use often, but when you do need it, it might leave you scratching your head: “How do I do it?”

The access is pretty much the same:

-          Go to Menu> Dimension> Angular (or Type _ANGLEDIMENSION in your command line).

-          If you now look at your command window, you will see

The options: Enter to specify vertex or Specify entity»

                So it’s here that the differences start:

-          Press enter.

Now the command works in a different way. Instead of selecting an entity, you will need to provide points (if you have problems acquiring the points, check your ESnap settings).

-          The first point you need to provide, is the angle vertex .

-          The following points are the angle start point, and angle end point.

-          Now the command resumes to the “normal” workflow, asking you to specify the position for the dimension. Click in the desired position, and the command will close automatically.

Below is a demo of the command, using both options.