Draw and modify sketch objects in drawings

You can draw lines, polylines, polygons, rectangles, circles, arcs, and clouds in an open drawing with drawing sketching tools.

To open the properties first and then draw the sketch object, hold down Shift, and on the Drawing tab, click one of the following commands:


	Line > Draw line: Sketch a single line between two points that you pick.
	Line > Draw single lines continuously: Create multiple single lines at one go using the current line properties. Tekla Structures creates a continuous line as separate line sections. You can combine the sections into one by using the Combine command. Note that you can open the properties for the continuous single lines only after you have created the line.
	Line > Pattern line: Sketch a line containing a pattern that you select using the current pattern line properties. Tip: If you need a new pattern, use the Pattern line editor to create it (File > Editors > Pattern line editor).
	Draw rectangle: Sketch a rectangle between the points that you pick. You can create rectangles with horizontal and vertical sides.
	Draw circle by center and radius: Sketch a circle by picking the center point first and then a point on the circle that specifies the radius.
	Draw circle by three points: Sketch a circle that traverses the three points you pick, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
	Draw arc by end points and center: Sketch an arc by specifying two end points first and then a center point of the circle to which the arc belongs.
	Draw arc by three points: Sketch an arc that traverses the three points that you pick, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
	Draw polyline: Sketch a line with straight segments using the current polyline properties. Remember to set the Bulge for all lines factor if you are creating curved polylines.
	Draw polygon: Sketch a polygon by picking the corner points using the current polygon properties. To close the polygon, pick the start point again or click the middle mouse button. To stop, press Esc.
	Draw cloud: Sketch a cloud that traverses the points that you pick. To close the cloud, click the middle mouse button. Remember to set the Bulge for all lines factor for the clouds, otherwise the cloud shape is not drawn properly.

Modify the sketch properties as required. For example, you can add hatch patterns in rectangles, polygons, and circles. For details, see Drawing sketch object properties.
Sketch the objects by following the instructions below and on the status bar.
To stop sketching, press Esc.

While using sketching tools

While sketching a polyline or a polygon, you can:
- Snap to temporary graphical points and set them as reference points by holding down Ctrl and clicking a point on a temporary line.
- Set multiple reference points using DWG objects and Tekla Structures building objects.
- Delete a reference point by holding down Ctrl and clicking the point.
- Create a polygon by clicking the start point of the polyline.
- Delete the selected corner point by right-clicking and selecting Delete.
- Add handles by dragging a handle point on the polyline or polygon. You can then change the shape by dragging the handles.
- You can explode rectangles, polylines, and polygons into separate straight lines, and combine polylines into closed polygons.
To move and rotate shapes, click Move > Rotate on the Drawing tab.
To resize shapes, such as rectangles, drag the shape handles.
Object dimensions are shown while you draw the objects, and also when you select the objects. To hide the dimensions of the objects, use the Toggle graphical object dimensions command in drawings: Go to Quick Launch, start typing toggle graphical object dimensions, and select the Toggle graphical object dimensions command from the list that appears, or use the Ctrl + D shortcut. When the dimensions are visible, a small d is displayed on the status bar.
You might want to activate orthogonal snapping by pressing O while sketching to show ortho angles. You can define snapping steps and custom angles in Drawing snap settings (File > Settings > Snap settings).
The view scale is taken into account when you copy sketch objects from one view to another, which means that the scale of the object and the related numerical information adjusts to the scale of the target view.
Sketch object dimensions take into account dimension settings in drawings in general. This means, for example, that units can be controlled in the same way as for the other dimensions. For more information, see Units and decimals.
You can also change the mutual order of sketch objects (graphical objects), and the mutual order of sketch objects and building objects. You can bring sketch objects forward or in front of other sketch objects, or send them backward or behind other sketch objects. You can also send sketch objects behind building objects or bring them in front of building objects. You can also re-order DWGs and images in the same way. For more information, see Re-order sketch objects in drawings.

Modify sketch objects

Click the sketch object that you want to modify. If the property pane is not open, double-click the object.
To select several sketch objects, hold down Ctrl and click the objects.
Modify the properties.
If you selected several sketch objects, only properties common to all objects are displayed. The properties that have different values have the text Varies. You can select another value from the list.
Click Modify to apply the changes in all selected sketch objects.