With the help of the Perpendicular and Tangential modes you can draw a line perpendicularly or tangentially to an object. Thus, for example, you can use Perpendicular mode to define the starting point of a line or polyline. Tangential mode additionally lets you define the radii of circles, arcs, and sectors in your drawing.

Precondition:

You have opened a project. You have opened an editor such as the graphical editor, the plot frame editor, etc.

Draw vertical lines to an object

1. Select the following commands: Tab Insert > Command group Graphic > (Line) (or (Polyline) or (Polygon)).
2. Select the Perpendicular popup menu item.
   
   The icon at the cursor indicates that the Perpendicular mode is active.
3. Click on the respective object (line, rectangle, circle etc.), to which you wish to draw a vertical line. Provided you have not defined the end point, the starting point is variable, and the line can be moved to and fro perpendicular to the selected line segment of the object.
4. Click once more to fix the end point of the line (the next corner point of the polyline).

Draw tangential lines to an object

1. Select the following commands: Tab Insert > Command group Graphic > (Line) (or (Polyline) or (Polygon)).
2. Select the Tangential popup menu item.
   
   The icon at the cursor indicates that Tangential mode is active.
3. Click on the respective object (circle, arc, sector), to which you wish to draw a tangential line. Provided you have not defined the end point, the starting point is variable, and the line can be moved to and fro on the selected line segment of the object.
4. Click once more to fix the end point of the line (the next corner point of the polyline).

Define a radius through a tangent point

1. Select the following commands: Tab Insert > Command group Graphic > (Circle) (or (Arc through center) or (Sector)).
2. Specify the center by left-clicking.
3. Select the Tangential popup menu item.
   
   The icon at the cursor indicates that Tangential mode is active.
4. Move the cursor to the object to which you wish to draw a tangent.
   
   Once you have reached a tangent point the possible arc is displayed.
5. Click again to draw the circle / arc / sector.

See also

Graphical Editor

Object snap

Displaying Insertion Points