AutoCAD PLINE command
Shortcut: PLDraw
Draws a connected sequence of straight and arc segments as one object, with an optional width. The default choice for outlines, road centrelines and hatch boundaries.
Syntax
PLINE → start point → next point / Arc / Width / CloseStep by step
- Type PL and press Enter.
- Pick the start point.
- Pick further points, or type A to switch to arc segments and L to return to straight ones.
- Type W to set a start and end width if a tapered or heavy line is needed.
- Type C to close, or Enter to leave the polyline open.
A slotted outline
PL → pick start → @600,0 → A → pick the arc end point → L → @-600,0 → C. One object, so a later OFFSET produces a single clean offset outline rather than six unrelated segments.
Common mistakes
- Setting a global width instead of a plot lineweight — width scales with the drawing and misprints at other scales.
- Forgetting that PEDIT is needed to join stray lines into an existing polyline.
- Drawing site boundaries as many short polylines, which makes AREA report only part of the plot.
Questions
What is the difference between LINE and PLINE?
LINE creates one object per segment. PLINE creates a single object containing every segment, which can be offset, filleted, area-queried and edited as one unit.
How do I convert lines into a polyline?
Run PEDIT, select one line, accept the prompt to turn it into a polyline, then use the Join option and select the remaining segments. Their endpoints must touch or fall inside the fuzz distance you supply.