AutoCAD 12 and higher versions

Since AutoCAD 12, there is a module that will make the geometrical calculations. However, this command, which is not added to user interface and can only be accessed from the command line, has not been very popular among users. Nevertheless, AutoDESK continued to support this feature and upgraded it as tool palette together with the new versions. In article Surprise egg in AutoCAD: QUICKCALC written by Orhan Toker, he explains about calculator but he did not mention about the geometrical functions. In this article, I will explain about the geometrical functions and give an example for one of them (Fig. 1).

Figure 1

When you enter QUICKCALC command, you can see in the bottom part ‘Variables’ list. In this list, you can think of those shown with ‘k’ symbol in the list as a kind of memory. Like Kin1, Kin2 of calculators that we were using during university. And the ones that has ‘X’ symbol beside them shows the functions. AutoCAD comes with a default variable ( pi number ) and 7 number of functions. We will examine the mee function as an example. This function finds the midpoints of two end points. Its function can also be understood from the long name: Mid/End/End. Now, let’s take a look at the example drawing (Fig. 2).

Figure 2

Let’s assume that we would like to draw a new line in the middle of these two lines. In such case, we have two options. We will either connect the two ends by another line and use the mid-point of that line or use the calculator. Due to the fact that user interface of the calculator is not existing in the previous versions of AutoCAD, I will complete the example by using command line. Let’s start:

Command: LINE
LINE Specify first point: ‘cal

At this stage, we enter < ’CAL > option and enter the calculator for the first point. By entering command by using < ‘ > during another command, you can freely use the new command without exiting the old one. However, not every command can use this feature. For example, you can use < ‘REDRAW > command while drawing a line but not the < ‘CIRCLE > command. After this small tip, let’s continue with what’s happening in the command line.

>>>> Expression: mee
>>>> Select one endpoint for MEE:

Figure 3

As you can see the command line is now under control of calculator and it asks us to enter a mathematical expression. When we enter mee function (You must use ENTER to finalize the expression, not the SPACE button!), AutoCAD will wait for you to select the end points (Fig. 3).

Resuming LINE command.
Specify first point: 183.072268,136.906786,0

After you completing the selection, than you can return back to LINE command and then the first point that is calculated will be accepted as the first point. We can do the same thing for the second end too (Fig. 4).

Figure 4

Specify next point or [Undo]: ‘cal
>>>> Expression: mee
>>>> Select one endpoint for MEE:
>>>> Select another endpoint for MEE:
Resuming LINE command.
Specify next point or [Undo]: 279.398506,136.906786,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: ENTER

We are completing the drawing in this way. In my opinion this is a very useful and practical application, however because of the reasons that I have explained above, it is not known by many of the users and not being used. I hope this article will be useful for you. Finally, I will explain more about some of the other functions that you can use in the same manner as I have explained above.

dee : Finds the distance between two end points.
ille : It gives the intersection point of two imaginary or real end points of lines.
nee : It finds the vector that is perpendicular to the two points that you select.
rad : It finds the radius of a selected arc or circle.
vee : Finds the vector of two end-points that you select.
vee1 : It finds the unit vector of two end-points that you select.

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