AutoCAD - Beyond the Basics – “Copy” # 3A “Array”

by Martin Phelps

Note: - This is an update of a previous blog. Read here. 

The previous blog looked at the “Copy” command in its basic form, however there is a useful subcommand which is often overlooked.

Once the “Copy Base Point” has been specified, view the “Command Line” and note the option “Array” is now available, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The “Array” subcommand in “Copy”.

The subcommand “Array” can be either selected from the “Command Line”, typing the letter “A”, or selection from the right click menu as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. The “Array” subcommand via the right click menu.

Once the “Array” option has been selected, the number of copies can now be specified. This number must between “2 and 32767”, so giving plenty of scope to create the required number of copies.

Note: - If the “Dynamic Input” option is turned on, the request for number of copies appears onscreen, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. On screen input via “Dynamic Input”.

Type in the required number and press enter to confirm. The number of copies including the original now appear on screen. Depending on the number specified, the user may have to “Zoom” out to display all the objects.

The direction of the “Copied” objects can be controlled by the position of the “Crosshairs” on screen. The distance between the coped objects is from the original “Base Point” to the corresponding point on the next object in the sequence. Move the “Crosshairs” and the distance between the object’s updates.

Type in the required distance and press enter. Figure 4 shows a square copied a total of five time with a distance 150 from the base point to the corresponding point on the next and subsequent objects.

Figure 4. Five copies with a specified distance of 150.

There is also another option. Once the required number of copies has been specified, instead of specifying the distance as above, an alternative option in the “Command Line” is “Fit”, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. The “Fit” sub option.

The “Fit” option can be selected from the “Command Line”, type in “F”, or select from right click menu.

Once selected, a second point can be specified, either by selection or type in a value and pressing enter. This time the specified distance is from the “Base Point” of the first object to the corresponding point on the last object, as show in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Specifying the “Fit” distance.

 The next blog in this series stays with the “Copy” command, but looks at the sub command “Displacement”.