CadTools

Intersection (of non-intersecting linesegments)

You first have to select two line segments. The tool will always let you select two segments. If you select a third one, it deletes the first segment selection. Please bear in mind that you have appropriate snapping settings values. You can select segments either from lines or polygons.

You can now create an intersection point that will be drawn in a memory layer. It will create also a line that joins the two points furthest away with the intersection point.

Arc Intersection

This tool lets you calculate an arc intersection from two distances to two points. You have to select two points. If you select a third one, the first selection will be canceled. Please bear in mind that you have appropriate snapping settings values and the "on the fly" crs transformation should not be enabled.

When you have two points selected you can calculate the arc intersection by entering the distance (in meters) to the two selected points. The intersection point(s) will be drawn in a memory layer.

Orthogonal Line

This one is for creating a orthogonal line (and the intersection point) from a point to a linesegment. You first have to select a vertex (which has to be in the current layer) and then the segment from a background layer. The selector will toggle between vertex and segment selections. Please bear in mind that you have appropriate snapping settings values.

When you have a vertex and a segment selected you can create the orthogonal line and the intersection point. These two objects will be drawn in a memory layer.

Rectangular Points

This function lets you draw points from orthogonal measurements to a base line. You first have to select the line segment.

If you selected the base line you can simply enter the abscissa (x) and the ordinate (y).

Orthogonal Traverse

With this function you can draw/calculate an orthogonal traverse between two points which you have to select first.

After selecting the two points you can calculate the orthogonal traverse by entering the distances you measured in one line, e.g. "3.5 -2.46 -12.33 4.5". This describes an orthogonal traverse with four distances. If you want to turn left you have to use negative values.

Show Azimuth

With this function you can calculate the azimuth between two points which you have to select first.

After selecting the two points you can calculate the azimuth just by pushing the button.

Rotate Feature

This function is for rotating features. You first have to select the feature you want to rotate and a vertex which will be the centre of rotation. The vertex does not have to be on the current layer.

After selecting the feature and the vertex you can enter the angle of rotation (in degrees).

Parallel Line

With this function you can create parallel lines. First you have to select a single line segment.

After selecting the line segment you can either create a parallel line by entering a fixed length or selecting a vertex point.

Circular Arc

This function creates a segmentized circular arc. You first have to select three points which will define the circular arc; the starting point, one point on the circular arc and the end point.

After selecting the three points you can create the segmentized circular arc. You can choose the method of the segmentation (pitch or angle) and the tolerance in CadTool - Settings.

Modify Circular Arc

You can modify the circular arc you created with the function above. This tool is only available if there is a linestring layer in editing mode. You can either move one of the arc points - which will change the diameter of the circular arc - or move the starting/end point. The latter method will define the circular arc with the moving point, the mean arc point and the other starting/end point.

Circular Arc Digitizing

This function is only available if there is a polygon or a linestring layer in editing mode otherwise the button is greyed out. You have to hold the ctrl key pressed when adding the three arc points (starting point, arc points, end point). After adding the third one it will draw the circular arc. There will no attribute window pop up.

Orthogonal Digitizing

This function is only available if there is a polygon or a linestring layer in editing mode otherwise the button is greyed out. You have to press the ctrl key to draw lines or polygons with square angles. To close a polygon you have 2 alternatives:

You can release the ctrl key before closing the polygon with a right mouse click. You have to draw by eye when you want a square angle.
When you have the ctrl key pressed when closing the polygon, the first point of the polygon will be moved till the last angle is square.

There will no attribute window pop up.

Cad Console

The cad console supports six commands:

ortho on/off: Toggles ortho mode on and off so you don't need to push the ctrl-button all the time.
ortho abscissa ordinate: Adds an orthogonal vertex point with abscissa = abscissa and ordinate = ordinate.
polar angle distance: Adds a polar vertex point with angle = angle and distance = distance. The angle is always relative to the last segment.
length length/off: Sets the digitizer to a restricted digitizing length for the following segments.
close line: Close the digitized line.
close poly: Close the digitized polygon.
exit: Exits the cad console.

These commands only work if you use the orthogonal digitizer tool. For adding vertex points (No. 2, 3, 5 and 6) you need at least one digitized segment.

Screencasts

Intersection

A common problem: you cannot see all of the building's corner points which you want to measure with your total station. So you will measure some points on the facade and then get the corner point by calculating the intersection of the extension of two lines.

Arc Intersection

Or probably you have measured two distances with a measuring tape from two points to calculate a (unknown) corner point.

Orthogonal Line

Think of an annexe to an existing building: you measured the two outer points and now you want orthogonal lines from these two points to the existing building.

Rectangular Points

You are only able to measure two points from a building and for the rest you will use a measuring tape to draw the building afterwards.

Orthogonal Traverse

In this example I used an existing building but actually it does make more sense if you use it when you have two points measured with a total station and for the rest of the building you have measured some distances with a measuring tape.

Parallel Line

...

Circular Arcs

...

Orthogonal Digitizing

Sometimes you need your object really square, not just drawn by eye. E.g. when you want to digitize some buildings. It definitely looks better particularly when the building gets more complex and has more corner points.