Command Reference

PlanCAD includes a command-line interface at the bottom of the screen. Press / to focus it at any time. Type a command name (or alias) and press Enter to execute. Autocomplete suggestions appear as you type — use the arrow keys to navigate and Tab or Enter to accept.

Commands are case-insensitive.

All Commands

Command	Alias(es)	Description
LINE	L	Draw a line segment
CIRCLE	—	Draw a circle
ARC	—	Draw an arc
RECTANGLE	RECT	Draw a rectangle
POLYLINE	PL	Draw a polyline
ELLIPSE	EL	Draw an ellipse
SPLINE	—	Draw a spline curve
TEXT	—	Place single-line text
MTEXT	MT	Place multiline text
DIMENSION	DIM	Add a dimension
ANNOTATION	—	Add a leader annotation
HATCH	—	Create a hatch fill
IMAGE	—	Insert an image
MLINE	ML	Draw parallel wall lines
XLINE	XL	Draw construction line (infinite)
WIPEOUT	—	Create a wipeout area
TABLE	TB	Insert a table
MOVE	M	Move selected entities
COPY	CO	Copy selected entities
ROTATE	RO	Rotate selected entities
SCALE	SC	Scale selected entities
MIRROR	MI	Mirror selected entities
TRIM	TR	Trim entity at intersection
EXTEND	EX	Extend entity to boundary
OFFSET	O	Offset a polyline
FILLET	F	Fillet two lines
CHAMFER	CHA	Chamfer two lines
BREAK	BR	Break entity at point
STRETCH	S	Stretch entities
JOIN	J	Join lines/polylines
EXPLODE	—	Explode selected entities
ARRAY	AR	Create rectangular array
MATCHPROP	MA	Match properties between entities
ERASE	E	Delete selected entities
UNDO	U	Undo last action
REDO	—	Redo last undone action
SELECT	V	Selection tool
MEASURE	—	Measure distances
GROUP	G	Group selected entities
UNGROUP	UG	Ungroup selected entities
OVERKILL	—	Remove duplicate entities
ZOOM	ZW	Zoom to window
PURGE	PU	Purge unused layers and blocks
FENCE	FE	Fence selection mode
STAND-NUMBER	SN	Interactive stand numbering tool
FROM	—	Set base point and offset

Coordinate Input

When a drawing tool is active, the command line accepts coordinate input in addition to command names. All coordinates are in the current drawing units.

Format	Syntax	Description
Absolute	x,y	Exact position in model space. Example: 100,250
Relative Cartesian	@dx,dy	Offset from the last confirmed point. Example: @50,0
Relative polar	@d<angle	Distance and angle from the last confirmed point. Example: @100<45
Polar (short form)	d<angle	Same as relative polar — the @ prefix is optional. Example: 150<90
Bare distance	d	A plain number. Applies the given distance along the current cursor direction from the last confirmed point. Example: 200

Angles are measured in degrees, counter-clockwise from the positive X axis.

FROM — Offset from a Base Point

FROM lets you pick a snapped base point and then enter an offset relative to it. This is useful for locating a point that has a known geometric relationship to an existing feature without needing to calculate absolute coordinates.

1. Type FROM and press Enter (or activate it from the command line while a drawing tool is active).
2. Click or snap to the base point on the canvas.
3. Enter an offset in any supported format (e.g., @30,15) and press Enter.

The resulting point is placed at the base point plus the offset.

Notes

• MOVE, COPY, ROTATE, SCALE, MIRROR require at least one entity to be selected before the command is issued. If nothing is selected, the command has no effect.
• JOIN requires exactly two compatible entities to be selected.
• ARRAY opens the rectangular array dialog. For a polar array, use the Modify menu or the P canvas shortcut when entities are selected.
• OVERKILL scans the entire drawing and removes zero-length entities and exact geometric duplicates.
• PURGE removes all layers and block definitions that are not referenced by any entity in the drawing.