Using numbers in Rhino for distance, angle, and coordinate entry.
There are many ways to enter points, numbers, and angles in Rhino.
Note: No spaces are permitted in a number, angle, or coordinate point.
Basic numbers
Whole numbers
123
Decimal numbers
+123.456
0.456
.456
Scientific notation
-1.23456e10
1.23456E10
Fractions
5/16
1-3/4 (1.75)
Note: You can specify units when typing lengths and point coordinates. Rhino will automatically convert the number you type into the model's units. For example, if your model units are meters and you type 27cm, Rhino automatically converts your number to 0.27.
Example
1.235millimeters
-1.234cm
+16'5" (16 feet 5 inches)
1'2-3/4" (1 foot 2.75 inches)
For an introduction to coordinate systems, see: http://www.mathopenref.com/coordintro.html.
When prompted for a point, you can click the mouse in a viewport to define the point coordinates or you can or type the coordinates in several ways:
You can type x and y coordinates or x, y and z coordinates to place points. With the w prefix you can type world coordinates, with r prefix relative coordinates, and with wr prefix world relative coordinates.
Construction plane coordinates
x,y,z
3,4,5
2,-11 (2,-11,0) When you omit the z coordinate, it is automatically set to 0.
Note: If you type only x- and y-coordinates, the point will lie on the construction plane of the active view.
Polar (radius<rotation angle)
17<45
Polar (radius<rotation angle,z)
17<45,8
Spherical (radius<rotation angle<z-elevation angle)
5<30<45
Spherical (x,y<elevation angle)
5,6<15
Surveyor (distance<N/Sangle E/W)
11<N30d22'54.43"W
To use construction plane coordinates
At a prompt for a point, type coordinates in the format x,y,z and press Enter.
Example
| 1. | Start the Line command and place the first line point at 0,0. This starts the line at the construction plane origin. |
| 2. | At the End of line... prompt, type 12,6,10 and press Enter. The line is drawn from the construction plane origin to a point 12,6,10 in the construction plane coordinates. |
Type w in front of the coordinates, to use the world coordinate system; otherwise the construction plane coordinates of the active view are used.
World x,y,x
w9,3,4
World polar
w78<32
To use world coordinates
At the command prompt, type coordinates in the format wx,y,z and press Enter.
Example
| 1. | Start the Line command and place the first line point at w0,0,0 and press Enter. This starts the line at the world coordinate origin. |
| 2. | At the End of line... prompt, type w12,6,10 and press Enter. The line is drawn from the world origin to a point 12,6,10 in the world coordinates. |
In commands like Line and Polyline, you can specify relative points.
Construction plane
@3,4 (Move 3 units in the x-direction and 4 units in the y-direction from the previous point.)
r3,4
R3,4
@5<30 (Relative points work with any point format.)
World
@w11<N30d22'54.43"W
Relative polar construction plane
r4<45
@4<45
Relative polar world
rw4<45
Rhinoceros 5 © 2010-2015 Robert McNeel & Associates. 17-Sep-2015