Line with a specific length

[JonathanNorton]

Hello all,

I'm a new ArcGIS user and struggling here, I've been a CAD user for almost 5 years now.
I know that ArcGIS can draw a line by a length, but something has to be wrong.

I start the line click Ctrl+L and nothing happends. I right click and I get no options.

I've attached a photo of the menu I get when right clicking with the line tool activated.

Can somebody please shed some light on my problem?
Thanks,
dsm-dude

[AnnaSchwabedal]

Hi dsm-dude,

your screenshot shows me that you are not in an Edit session - therefor you can´t digitize a line. If you open an Edit session you will get this menu, please see attached screenshot menu_1.

I tried to reproduce your problem of not getting a menu while digitizing a line...I am using ArcGIS 10. I started to digitize a line, pushed CTRL+L and I could specify a length. Yes, you are right - as long as I didn´t close the Length field (see attached screenshot Length), a menu will not pop up.
If you still have the problem, I would suggest to contact your support.

I hope I could shed some light,
Anna



Anna Schwabedal
_______________
Product Marketing
Esri Germany

[JonathanNorton]

I'm a newb to ArcGIS, and honestly I hate it.

I now know why it wasnt working, because I wasnt using that line tool. I was using the graphic line i quess...does that make sense?
If not I attached a screen shot of what I'm talking about.

[BethanyHall]

dsm-dude,

I was once an AutoCAD and Microstation draftsman for over seven years before I switched to ArcGIS 8.0 years ago. I worked a lot of the tutorials before I finally switch from drafting to analysis mode. It took me a little bit to understand that data and layout views were similar to workspace and paper space along with the little things that make editing difficult at first.

Hang in there and ArcGIS 10 has finally demonstrated some CAD editing techniques like the advanced snapping that former CAD users have needed for a long time.

If you have any more questions, keep posting and the ArcGIS community will keep pointing you in the right direction.