Angle Input¶
Angles are used throughout VektorCAD — for rotating objects, setting line direction, defining arc sweep, and more. You can specify angles by keyboard (type a value) or mouse (use Ortho, snaps, and tracking).
Angle conventions
| Convention | Value |
|---|---|
| Zero direction | 0° along +X (right) |
| Positive rotation | Counter-clockwise |
| Negative rotation | Clockwise (e.g., -30) |
| Default unit | Degrees |
Keyboard¶
Plain angle (commands that ask “Angle”)¶
Type a number in degrees:
30→ rotate/aim by +30°.-45→ rotate/aim by −45° (clockwise).90→ right angle.
Reference/Baseline
- For Rotate: baseline is the object’s current orientation; you can also set a reference angle by picking two points, then type the new angle.
- For directional commands (e.g., Line): baseline is global +X unless you type the angle lock (<θ) during point placement.
Angle Lock (<θ)¶
During point input or distance input, type <θ to lock the cursor direction, then type a distance or click.
Specify next point: <45 → locks direction to 45°
Specify distance: 100 → places point 100 units at 45°
| Input sequence | Result |
|---|---|
<0 then 120 |
120 units to the right |
<90 then click |
Vertical upward segment at previewed length |
<135 then 40 |
40 units at 135° (upper-left) |
Two-step precision
Angle lock is powerful when you know the direction but want to decide the distance visually or type it separately.
Units and Formats¶
| Format | Syntax | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Degrees (default) | Number | 30, -45, 120.5 |
| DMS | Dd M' S" |
30d15'20" (= 30°15′20″) |
Calculator (Virtual Keyboard)¶
VektorCAD does not support arithmetic expressions directly in the angle prompt. Use the built-in virtual keyboard calculator to compute angle values:
- Open the virtual keyboard and switch to calculator mode
- Calculate the angle (e.g.,
360 / 5,90 - 15) - Press Enter — the result is sent to the command panel as the angle value
Tip
Useful for dividing a full circle into equal parts (e.g., 360 / 5 = 72° for a pentagon) or computing complementary angles.
Mouse Input¶
Free Angle (Dynamic)¶
After specifying a base point or pivot, move the cursor to preview the angle:
- The rubber‑band shows the tentative direction
- The status bar displays the live angle and distance
- Click to accept the current angle
Ortho Mode¶
Constrains the cursor to 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° only.
- Toggle from the status bar
- Essential for rectilinear drafting and exact 90° rotations
Entity Snap (Angle by Geometry)¶
Use Object Snaps to derive angles from existing geometry:
| Snap | Angle constraint |
|---|---|
| Perpendicular | 90° to an entity |
| Tangent | Tangent direction to a circle or arc |
| Endpoint / Midpoint / Center | Accurate reference points for two-point angle picking |
Two‑Point Reference Angle¶
When a command supports reference angles (e.g., Rotate with Reference):
- Pick base point (pivot)
- Pick reference direction — two clicks define the starting angle
- Pick new direction — two clicks define the target angle, or type a number
When to use reference
Use the reference method when you want to rotate an object from its current angle to a new measured angle — no mental math needed.
Entity Tracking (Otrack)¶
Use Otrack to align angles with existing geometry:
- Hover over a snap point to acquire it
- Tracking lines extend along horizontal/vertical directions
- Click or type a distance to place a point along the tracked direction
Context Menu¶
Right‑click during angle input:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Toggles | Ortho, Snap, Entity Snaps |
| Angle Lock | Enter <θ to lock direction |
| Reference | Pick two points to define a reference angle |
| Use Last Angle | Reapply the previous angle value |
| Cancel / Repeat | End or restart the current operation |
Quick Reference¶
| Task | Input | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rotate by exact angle | 30 |
30° CCW; use -30 for CW |
| Lock direction for a line | <45 |
Then type distance or click |
| Horizontal / vertical only | Ortho on | Or use <0, <90, <180, <270 |
| Perpendicular / tangent | Use Osnap | Guarantees 90° or tangent constraint |
| Match an edge direction | Hover edge → track | Acquires the edge’s angle via Otrack |
| Rotate to a measured angle | Reference method | Pick current direction, then new direction |
| Calculated angle | Virtual keyboard calculator | e.g., 360 / 5 for pentagon angles |
| Repeat previous angle | Enter | If the command supports “last angle” |
Fast workflow
Click base point → type <θ to lock angle → type distance → Enter. Full control over both direction and length in two quick inputs.
Clockwise vs counter-clockwise
Use negative angles for clockwise rotations. When unsure, use the reference method to define angles visually without sign confusion.
See also: Point Input · Distance Input · Entity Input