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How to Input Bearings in AutoCAD?

Published in AutoCAD Input Methods 3 mins read

To input bearings in AutoCAD, you can use the COGO Input feature, which allows you to define points and objects based on common coordinate geometry routines, including Bearing/Distance.

Here is the step-by-step process using the referenced method:

Using the COGO Input Dialog Box

The COGO Input dialog box provides a structured way to enter coordinate data using various methods like Bearing/Distance, Azimuth/Distance, or Angle/Distance.

  1. Access the COGO Input Tool: Navigate to the Home tab on the ribbon. In the Draw panel, find the COGO drop-down menu. Click on COGO Input.
  2. Select the Routine: In the COGO Input dialog box that appears, select the Bearing/Distance routine from the available options.
  3. Specify Starting Point: For the first point of the object you are drawing (e.g., a line segment), you need to specify a starting point. This can be done by:
    • Clicking a point directly in the drawing area.
    • Typing coordinates (e.g., 100,100).
    • Using an object snap.
  4. Enter Quadrant: Define the quadrant for the bearing. This indicates the direction relative to North or South and East or West. The standard quadrants are:
    • NE (North-East)
    • SE (South-East)
    • SW (South-West)
    • NW (North-West)
  5. Enter Angle: Input the angle measured from the North or South line towards East or West, corresponding to the chosen quadrant. The angle is typically entered in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Example Bearing Input Format:

When entering the angle, you might use a format like DD.MMSS (Degrees.MinutesSeconds) or DDdMM'SS" depending on your unit settings and the specific input field format expected by the tool. For instance:

  • A bearing of North 45 degrees 30 minutes East would be N 45°30' E.
  • When entering this in the dialog box, you would first select the NE quadrant and then enter the angle value, potentially as 45.30 or 45d30'0", following the prompt's required format.

After entering the angle and specifying the distance (which is also part of the Bearing/Distance routine), the point will be calculated and placed in your drawing. You can then continue adding segments using this method for subsequent points or switch routines as needed.

Using the COGO Input dialog box for bearings helps ensure accuracy by explicitly defining the orientation based on compass directions and measured angles.

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