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Manual / Modify

ROTATE

Rotate objects about a base point by dragging or typing an angle.

What it does

ROTATE rotates the selected objects about a base point.

Where to find it

  • Ribbon: Draw › Modify › Rotate
  • Command line: ROTATE (Alias RO)
  • Right-click the selected objects › Rotate

Steps

  1. Select the objects.
  2. Type RO and press Enter (ROTATE - base point).
  3. Click the base point.
  4. Drag the mouse to rotate (the preview shows the angle) and click, or type the angle in the Smart Input box and press Enter.

ROTATE rotating about the lower-left corner by 45°
ROTATE rotating about the lower-left corner by 45°

Note: A positive angle rotates counterclockwise.

Try it: Weather vane arrow

A garden weather vane arrow in 3 mm aluminium. Draw it pointing east, then ROTATE it 45° about the pivot hole to see it swing into a north-east wind.

  1. Arrow: PL, then -60,-15 @-15,0 @10,15 @-10,15 @15,0 @15,-10 @75,0 @0,8 @28,-13 @-28,-13 @0,8 @-75,0 -60,-15, and press Enter.
  2. Pivot hole: C, 0,0, 2.5, Esc.
  3. Click the arrow, type RO and press Enter.
  4. Click the centre of the pivot hole (the Center snap marker appears).
  5. Type 45 and press Enter. The arrow now points north-east.

Weather vane arrow rotated 45° about its pivot hole
Weather vane arrow rotated 45° about its pivot hole

Challenge: Run RO again on the arrow, pick the same pivot and type -90. Now it points south-east.

See also