Editing and Reusing Data to Work Efficiently - Mastering AutoCAD for Mac - page 200

Changing the Length of Objects
Suppose that, after finding the length of an arc, you realize you need to lengthen the arc by a
specific amount. The Lengthen tool in the expanded Modify panel on the Tool Sets palette lets
you lengthen or shorten arcs, lines, polylines, splines, and elliptical arcs. As an example, here's
how to lengthen an arc:
1. Click the arrow from the Tool Sets palette to expand the Modify panel and then click the
Lengthen tool. You can also choose Modify  Lengthen from the menu bar or enter LEN ↵
2. At the Select an object or [DElta/Percent/Total/DYnamic]: prompt, type T ↵.
3. At the Specify total length or [Angle] <1.0000)>: prompt, enter the length you
want for the arc.
4. At the Select an object to change or [Undo]: prompt, click the arc you want to
change. Be sure to click at a point nearest the end you want to lengthen. The arc increases
in length to the size you specified.
The Lengthen command also shortens an object if it's currently longer than the value you enter.
In this short example, you've learned how to change an object to a specific length. You can use
other criteria to change an object's length, using these options available for the Lengthen command:
DElta Lengthens or shortens an object by a specific length. To specify an angle rather than
a length, use the Angle suboption.
Percent Increases or decreases the length of an object by a percentage of its current length.
Total Specifies the total length or angle of an object.
DYnamic Lets you graphically change the length of an object using your cursor.
Creating a New Drawing by Using Parts from Another
Drawing
This section explains how to use the Export command. Export can be used to turn parts of a
drawing into a separate file in a way similar to the Wblock command described in Chapter 4.
Here you'll use the Export command to create a separate staircase drawing by using the stair-
case you've already drawn for the lobby.
Follow these steps:
1. If you closed the Lobby file, open it now. If you didn't create the lobby drawing, open the
Lobby.dwg (or Lobby-metric.dwg) file.
2. Choose File  Export from the menu bar, press F-E, or type Export ↵ to open the Export
Data dialog box.