Expert: George Reid - 5/22/2009

Question
what version of autocad dose it have to be to be able to insert this types of degrees (n8´48´30¨)

Answer
Chris,

I'm using Autocad 2008 and LT 2009 and in both I can draw at the angle you specified. I haven't tried it in an earlier version but it probably is the same. To do this, two things must be done. First, you need to make sure the Units setting is set for degrees, minutes, and seconds. Secondly you need to type in the angle in the correct form.

To verify or set the angles at degrees, minutes, and seconds, pull down the Format menu and select Units. On the left in this small window are the settings for the LENGTH of the line and on the right are settings for the ANGLE. Under the Angle Type: select the one that says Deg/Min/Sec. Nothing else needs to be set. Click on OK to apply the setting.

Now on the main screen, type or select the LINE command and click anywhere on the screen to establish the first point. Then type in your angle with the < (less than) symbol first, like this:

<8d48'30"

then press Enter. The letter d represents the degree symbol.

Now that the angle of the line is established you can enter a number for the length or click a length on the screen. Your example number had a letter n in front and I assume this means North. In Autocad, the rotation angles always start at the right or x direction (East) and run counterclockwise from there. So starting at the right side of a rotation your angle begins AFTER adding the 90 degrees to make it at the top position.

This means your angle would be input as <98d48'30" to match your example.

I hope this helps
George Reid