LENGTHEN

LENGTHEN makes an object longer or shorter by an exact amount, without needing another object to reach. It can also tell you how long an object is.

How it works

Type LEN and press Enter. First choose how to change the length: DElta, Percent, Total or DYnamic. Then give the amount. Then click each object near the end that should move. The other end stays where it is. Press Enter when you are done.

If you click an object at the first prompt instead, Musa CAD tells you its length and asks again.

Command line

Command: LEN
Select an object to measure or [DElta/Percent/Total/DYnamic] <Total>: (pick the line)
Current length: 60.0000
Select an object to measure or [DElta/Percent/Total/DYnamic] <Total>: DE
Enter delta length or [Angle] <0.0000>: 20
Select an object to change: (pick near the right end)
Length changed from 60.0000 to 80.0000.
Select an object to change or [Undo]: Enter

DElta 20, picked near the right end: that end moves 20 further out.

Plotted by Musa CAD 0.8.0 from the example drawing cmd-lengthen.musaDownload the drawing

Options

Option	What it does
DElta (DE)	Adds a length: Enter delta length or [Angle] <0.0000>:. A negative number makes the object shorter.
Percent (P)	Sets the new length as a percentage of the old one: Enter percentage length <100.0000>:. 50 halves the object, 200 doubles it.
Total (T)	Sets the whole length: Specify total length or [Angle] <1.0000>:.
DYnamic (DY)	Pick an object, then click where its end should go: Specify new end point:. A line keeps its direction, and an arc keeps its circle.
Angle (A)	For arcs, after DElta or Total. Changes the arc’s included angle instead of its length: Enter delta angle <0>: or Specify total angle <0>:, in degrees.
Undo (U)	Puts back the last change. It appears after your first change.
Enter at the first prompt	Uses the method shown in <>.
Enter at Select an object to change	Ends the command.

Good to know

• Lines, arcs, open polylines, elliptical arcs and splines can be changed. Anything else says Lengthen: only lines, arcs, polylines, elliptical arcs and splines have an end to move. A construction line says Lengthen: a construction line is already infinite.
• On an arc, a length is measured along the curve, in drawing units. Measuring an arc also shows its angle, for example Current length: 31.4159, included angle: 90.
• On a polyline, only the end segment you click near changes, straight on or round its arc. Total and Percent still count the whole polyline.
• A spline is made longer straight on from its end, and shorter along its curve.
• A change that would leave nothing is refused with Lengthen: that would leave nothing of the object.
• Angle is only for arcs. On a line it says Lengthen: Angle is for arcs; a line has a length.
• A closed polyline has no end to move: Lengthen: a closed polyline has no end to move.
• Percent and Total need a number greater than 0, or Musa CAD says Enter a value greater than zero.
• The method and the amounts are kept for the next time, for as long as Musa CAD stays open.
• Each change is its own undo step, both inside LENGTHEN and with U afterwards.

Compared with AutoCAD

LENGTHEN follows AutoCAD’s order: choose the method, then the amount, then the objects, and the end nearer your pick is the one that moves. As in AutoCAD, a spline is lengthened straight on along the direction its end leaves by.

Next

• Lengthen objects until they meet an edge with EXTEND.
• Shorten objects back to an edge with TRIM.
• Check a length or a distance with DIST or LIST.