Stretch a circle with grips and specify the radius or change in radius

You can easily stretch a circle with grips. To specify the new radius, just enter it on the command line (or in the Dynamic Input tooltip). But suppose the information you have is the difference between the two radii?

For example, let’s say that your circle’s radius is 1.825 and you know that you have to make it 0.625 larger. Of course, you can add the two numbers, but there’s an easier way.

Select the circle and open the Properties palette. For the Radius value, insert an equal sign (=) before the current radius. After the radius value, type +.625. Then press the End key on your keyboard (not Enter). The new radius appears in the Properties palette and your circle’s radius changes.

Ragnar Thor Mikkelsen contributed an even easier way. However, note that this tip doesn’t work if Dynamic Input is on. (To turn it off, just click the Dynamic Input button on the status bar.) Here are the steps:

1. Select the circle and click one of the quadrant grips to make it “hot.”
2. At the ** STRETCH **
Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: prompt, type tk.
3. At the First tracking point: prompt, click the quadrant grip again.
4. At the Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): prompt, move the cursor in the direction you want to stretch the circle and type .625 (in our example) or the change in radius you want and press Enter.
5. At the Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): prompt, press Enter.

Scott Loadman also contributed an easier way:

1. Select the circle and click one of the quadrant grips to make it “hot.”
2. At the prompt, type b for the Base point option.
3. At the Specify base point: prompt, click the quadrant grip again.
4. At the Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: prompt, move the cursor in the direction you want to stretch the circle and type the change in radius (.625 in our example) and press Enter.

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Ellen Finkelstein

Ellen Finkelstein is the author of the best-selling AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT Bible, which started with R14. Ellen has written extensively on AutoCAD, including articles for Autodesk’s website and features for AutoCAD’s Help system. Ellen’s first book was AutoCAD For Dummies Quick Reference.

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