Okay, here is the answer to your question about changing the ortho direction in AutoCAD, based on the provided information.
How to Change the Ortho Direction in AutoCAD?
Based on the information provided, the core function discussed regarding AutoCAD's Ortho mode is how to activate and deactivate it, rather than changing its default directional constraints.
The most direct method mentioned for interacting with Ortho mode is by switching it on or off. Ortho mode is a drawing aid that restricts your cursor movement to be parallel to the current User Coordinate System (UCS) axes, typically horizontal and vertical (0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees).
- The provided reference states: The <F8 key toggles Ortho mode on and off.
This means you can quickly enable or disable the horizontal/vertical constraint by pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. You can also toggle Ortho mode by clicking the Ortho icon on the Status Bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
Ortho Mode vs. Polar Tracking
The reference also briefly mentions Polar Tracking as a related feature:
- "Polar tracking is similar to Ortho mode, except it simply indicates when the crosshairs are close to a vertical or horizontal angle."
Polar Tracking is another drawing aid that guides your cursor along specified angle increments. While Ortho strictly limits movement to 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees (relative to the UCS), Polar Tracking provides alignment paths at various angles you define (e.g., 45, 90, 135, 180 degrees or custom angles), snapping the cursor when you are near one of these angles.
Changing Ortho Direction Based on the Reference
The provided reference focuses on toggling Ortho mode using the F8 key and notes the similarity to Polar Tracking which indicates angles.
The information does not detail how to change the specific angular directions that Ortho mode constrains (i.e., changing the default 0, 90, etc., to other angles). The primary action discussed related to Ortho mode is enabling or disabling its standard behavior using the F8 key.
To draw at angles other than the standard horizontal or vertical constraints imposed by default Ortho mode, you would typically use Polar Tracking with different angle settings or change the User Coordinate System (UCS) to redefine what is considered horizontal and vertical. However, these methods are not explained in the provided reference, which focuses on the Ortho toggle.
In summary, according to the given information, you interact with Ortho direction by toggling the mode on or off using the F8 key, enabling or disabling the standard horizontal/vertical constraint.
