Enquiry commands are the best way to measure the geometrical features of an object such as distance, area, angle and volume. The property palette can also help you in finding some of these parameters but if you feel too lazy to find these results from property palette you can use these commands for make your work easier.
To use these commands effectively expand command line like the image below because all the results will appear in area above command line.
To find co-ordinates of a point
Command used: ID
To find out the co-ordinate of a point type ID on the command line and press enter, now click on the required point you will see all X, Y and Z co-ordinates of that point above command line.
To find distance between two points
Command used: MEA >> D
Type MEA on the command line and select Distance from sub-commands that appear on command line. Now click at the two points between which you want to find the distance. The distance between those points will appear above the command line.
You can use this command to find the length of an elongated object as well. For example a polyline containing line and arcs. To find the total length of an object type MEA on command line and select Distance from the sub-commands. Then click at first point of the segment. Now the command line will prompt specify second point or [Multiple points]. Select multiple points from sub-command and click on the next point.
If your geometry contains an arc then click on Arc which appears as a sub-command, then click on next point of the arc when you have selected all points. Press enter on the command line and you can now see the complete length of object above the command line.
To find the Radius of a curve
Command used: MEA >> R
Type MEA on command line and select Radius from sub-command which appears on the command line. Now click on the curve which has a radius like Circle, Arc and Fillet and you will see not only the radius but the diameter as well above command line.
To find the Angle between curves
Command used: MEA >> A
To find the angle between two lines, polylines or the included angle of an arc you can use this command. To find the angle between two lines or polylines type MEA on command line and select A from the sub-command menu then select two lines or polylines. You will see resultant angle above command line.
To find included angle of an arc click on the arc and you will get angle value above command line. In the image below included angle of arc is 80 degrees.
To find the Area between objects
Command used: MEA >> AR
To find the area of a closed geometric shape type MEA on command line and select the AR sub-command. Now select the object from sub-commands. Your cursor will change into a pickbox ( â–¡ ). Now click on some closed geometry like a circle, rectangle or polygon and area of that geometry will appear above command line.
If you want to find area of multiple objects then select Add area from sub-command and click on another curve, total area of all closed curves will now appear above command line. To remove added area from total area you can select subtract area from the command line.
To find volume of object
Command used: MEA >> V
Finding a volume is similar to finding the Area but in this case instead of selecting 2D geometry you will need to select 3D geometry. Type MEA on command line and select volume from teh sub-command menu. Now select object from sub-commands again and click on any 3D geometry in drawing area. The volume of that 3D geometry will appear above command line.
If you want to find out the volume of multiple objects then select add volume from command line and select all objects for which you want to find volume. Similarly to remove any added volume you can select subtract volume from sub commands as well.
