ELLIPSE (Command)¶

Creates an ellipse or elliptical arc. The shape is defined by two axes -- the first two points set the location and length of one axis, and a third point sets the half-length of the other axis.

Quick start

Toolbar > Draw > Ellipse, or type ELLIPSE in the Command Panel

Creation Methods¶

Method	Description
Axis Endpoints (default)	Pick two endpoints of the first axis, then the second axis distance
Center	Pick center, then one axis endpoint, then the second axis distance
Arc	Create an elliptical arc (partial ellipse)
IsoCircle	Create an isometric circle (available in isometric mode)

Keywords at First Prompt¶

Keyword	Description
Arc / Ellipse	Toggle between ellipse and elliptical arc creation
Center	Switch to center-based input
IsoCircle	Switch to isometric circle mode (only in iso drafting mode)

Method 1: Axis Endpoints (Default)¶

Prompts¶

Step	Prompt	Description
1	Specify axis end point of ellipse or [Arc/Center/IsoCircle]	First endpoint of the first axis
2	Specify other end point of axis	Second endpoint of the first axis
3	Specify distance to other axis	Half-length of the second axis (perpendicular to first)

How It Works¶

Pick point 1 -- one end of the first axis
Pick point 2 -- other end of the first axis (defines axis length and angle)
Pick point 3 or type a distance -- distance from the midpoint of the first axis to the edge of the ellipse along the second axis

Command: ELLIPSE
Specify axis end point: 0,0
Specify other end point of axis: 100,0     --> first axis is 100 units horizontal
Specify distance to other axis: 30         --> second axis half-length is 30 units

Note

The first axis can be either the major (longer) or minor (shorter) axis. The ellipse orientation is determined by the angle of the first axis.

Method 2: Center¶

Choose the Center option at the first prompt to define the ellipse from its center.

Prompts¶

Step	Prompt	Description
1	Specify center point of ellipse	Center point of the ellipse
2	Specify end point of axis	Endpoint of the first axis (distance from center = half-length)
3	Specify end point	Point defining the minor axis distance from center

Command: ELLIPSE
Specify axis end point of ellipse or [Arc/Center]: Center
Specify center point of ellipse: 50,50
Specify end point of axis: 50,80              --> first axis half-length = 30
Specify end point: 65,50                      --> minor axis distance from center

When to use Center

Use the Center method when you know the center location and want to build the ellipse outward, or when snapping the center to existing geometry (e.g., center of a room).

Method 3: Arc (Elliptical Arc)¶

Choose the Arc option to create a partial ellipse (elliptical arc).

Prompts¶

Step	Prompt	Description
1	Specify axis end point of arc	First endpoint of the first axis
2	Specify other end point of axis	Second endpoint of the first axis
3	Specify distance to other axis	Half-length of the second axis
4	Specify start point of arc	Click a point on the ellipse to define where the arc begins
5	Specify end point of arc	Click a point on the ellipse to define where the arc ends

Command: ELLIPSE
Specify axis end point of ellipse or [Ellipse/Center]: (already in Arc mode)
Specify axis end point: 0,0
Specify other end point of axis: 80,0
Specify distance to other axis: 25
Specify start point of arc: (click on ellipse)
Specify end point of arc: (click on ellipse)

Input Methods¶

All points and distances accept:

Method	Example	Result
Mouse click	Click on sheet	Point at cursor position
Absolute coordinates	`50,100`	Point at X=50, Y=100
Relative coordinates	`@80,0`	Offset from last point
Typed distance	`30`	Distance value for axis half-length
Snap to geometry	Click with Osnap enabled	Precise placement on existing entities

Precision Aids¶

Aid	Effect
Ortho	Constrains axis to horizontal/vertical
Grid Snap	Snaps points to grid intersections
Entity Snap	Snaps to Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, etc.
Entity Track	Alignment guides from reference points

Examples¶

Horizontal Ellipse (100 x 60)¶

Command: ELLIPSE
Specify axis end point: 0,0
Specify other end point of axis: 100,0    --> major axis = 100 units
Specify distance to other axis: 30        --> minor half-axis = 30 (total = 60)

Ellipse Centered at a Point¶

Command: ELLIPSE
Specify axis end point of ellipse or [Arc/Center]: Center
Specify center point of ellipse: 50,50
Specify end point of axis: @40,0              --> half-axis = 40 (total = 80)
Specify end point: @0,20                      --> minor half-axis = 20 (total = 40)

Tilted Ellipse at 45 Degrees¶

Command: ELLIPSE
Specify axis end point: 10,10
Specify other end point of axis: 60<45    --> first axis at 45 degrees
Specify distance to other axis: 15

Best Practices¶

Practice	Benefit
Use Ortho for axis-aligned ellipses	Ensures perfectly horizontal/vertical axes
Use Center method for symmetrical placement	Natural when the center is the known reference
Snap axis endpoints to existing geometry	Ellipse fits precisely within the design
Use Arc for partial shapes	Arched openings, curved transitions
Draw on the correct layer	Set layer in Format Panel before drawing

Quick Reference¶

Task	Input
Start ellipse command	`ELLIPSE` or Toolbar > Draw > Ellipse
Axis endpoints method	Pick 2 axis ends + distance for second axis
Center method	Type `Center`, pick center + axis end + minor axis point
Elliptical arc	Type `Arc`, pick axis + minor axis + start/end points
Isometric circle	Type `IsoCircle` (iso mode only), pick center + radius
Horizontal/vertical axis	Enable Ortho before picking second axis point
Exact axis length	Type coordinates or distance values