Ortho

Ortho mode constrains your mouse movement and drawing to a direction parallel to the specified axis.

The view type determines the possible axes of movement; XY for plan views, YZ for side views, XZ for front and back views.

When ortho mode is inactive, objects can be drawn or moved in any direction on the workplane. You can draw diagonal lines or move objects anywhere in the working area.

To activate ortho

From the Tools menu, choose Ortho and then the axis for the allowed movement.

or

You can activate Ortho mode at any time by clicking the ortho tools on the CAD Options toolbar or by right-clicking the Ortho label on the Status bar.

or

You can also use F8 on the keyboard or double-click the Ortho label on the Status bar to enable Ortho or to toggle your last recorded Ortho setting on or off.

To select or cancel the axes with toolbar buttons

1. Click the appropriate two buttons to select both axes.

Example: To choose the XY axis, click the X and Y buttons.

To cancel and reset ortho buttons

1. From your keyboard, use F8 to disable any ortho buttons that you have chosen.
2. Use F8 again to reset the same ortho selection as that which was previously selected.

Ortho for single axis

From your keyboard, you can use Alt + F8 to enable Ortho mode for only one axis of the current view or workplane.

To enable and disable single axis ortho

1. Press Alt + F8 to enable the first axis of the current view or workplane regardless of the current Ortho state (i.e. both axes on or both axes off)
2. Press Alt + F8 for the second time to disable the first Ortho axis and enable the second Ortho axis.
3. From a single axis Ortho mode, press F8 once to disable the Ortho mode.
4. From a single axis Ortho mode, press F8 twice in sequence to enable double axes Ortho mode.