Reference Section > Shape Library > Primitives > Line Segment (Point to Point)

The Line Segment (Point to Point) shape is a single straight line from a start point to a finish point. It is an open path, not a closed part outline. Use it for a single straight cut or mark, such as a separating cut across a plate or a scribed line, where the two end points are known by their coordinates.

It appears in the shapes library under Basic Shapes and Primitives. The shape has no alias (older) names.

Insert point and direction

The start and finish points are measured from the shape's insert point, which is the shape's own origin at 0, 0. Base X and Base Y (see Transform) then place that insert point in the drawing. With the default Start Point of 0, 0 the line starts on the insert point. The line is built from the Start Point to the Finish Point, and that is its direction as drawn.

Rotation, Scale and Mirroring X (see Transform) are applied to the whole line, so both end points move with them.

The shape has no dimensions of its own. If a Polar Array is set, its PCD dimension is drawn.

Properties

Property	Description	Default
Start Point : X	X coordinate of the start of the line, measured from the insert point (mm or inch). Negative values are allowed.	0
Start Point : Y	Y coordinate of the start of the line, measured from the insert point (mm or inch). Negative values are allowed.	0
Finish Point : X	X coordinate of the end of the line, measured from the insert point (mm or inch). Negative values are allowed.	100 mm (4 in)
Finish Point : Y	Y coordinate of the end of the line, measured from the insert point (mm or inch). Negative values are allowed.	100 mm (4 in)

The length of the line is the distance between the two points. With the metric defaults the line runs at 45° and is about 141.4 mm long.

Limits

The shape does not check its values. The four edit boxes accept negative values. If Start Point and Finish Point are the same, the line has zero length and the shape does not check for it, so check the drawing.

The shape reports Warning: Cannot build shape from these parameters only if building the line raises an error. In that case the property page shows the warning in a red bar between the shape's own properties and the Transform group, and the shape is drawn as a broken-shape marker at its insert point instead of a line.

Every 2D shape also has the Transform properties (Base X, Base Y, Rotation, Scale, Mirroring X) and the Polar Array properties, listed after the shape's own properties.