The Reference Option Part 1: The Rotate Tool

Deepen your understanding of AutoCAD with this comprehensive tutorial focused on the Rotate tool's Reference option. You will learn how to align irregular angles to the 0˚ horizon, opening up a range of possibilities for your design work.

Key Insights

The AutoCAD tutorial covers the Rotate tool's Reference option in depth, teaching users how to align an object's irregular angle to the 0˚ horizon.
The Reference option allows users to establish a reference angle line other than the 0˚ horizon angle, enabling easier alignment with a Polar Tracking line.
The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to rotating a shape using the Reference Option, including selecting all objects, establishing the Base Point, and selecting the Reference option.
It also demonstrates how to match the Reference Angle to an object's bottom edge, enabling the edge to snap to a Polar Tracking angle.
Images and diagrams are included throughout the tutorial to assist in understanding and application of the Rotate tool's Reference option.
This tutorial is perfect for those looking to advance their AutoCAD skills, particularly in handling objects and edges at irregular angles.

Learn how to use the Reference option on AutoCAD's Rotate tool to adjust objects at irregular angles, aligning them to the 0˚ horizon line for a more precise design process.

This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s past AutoCAD training materials and is compatible with Photoshop updates through 2020. To learn current skills in AutoCAD, check out AutoCAD Bootcamp and AutoCAD classes in NYC and live online.

Topics Covered in This AutoCAD Tutorial:

Intro to the Rotate Tool’s Reference Option, Using the Rotate Tool’s Reference Option

Exercise Preview

ex preview reference rotate tool

Exercise Overview

The bottom edge of this object is at an irregular angle that does not conform to Polar Tracking angles. In this exercise, you will use the Reference option on the Rotate tool to align the bottom edge to the 0˚ horizon.

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Intro to the Reference Option on the Rotate Tool

When you enter an angle for the Rotate command rotate tool , the angles are always measured from the horizon line at 0˚, so if you’re trying to rotate an object or edge that doesn’t already conform to an incremental Polar Tracking angle, rotate it to an angle that does conform. With the Reference option you can click 2 points to establish a reference angle line other than the 0˚ horizon angle, and then easily snap the reference angle line to a Polar Tracking line.

This rectangle at an irregular angle can’t be set right because the default reference angle is 0˚:
Matching the Reference Angle to the bottom edge of the rectangle allows you to snap the edge to a Polar Tracking angle, in this case 0˚:

Rotating the Shape Using the Reference Option

Open the file Rotate-Triangular Plate.dwg.
Start the Rotate command . Type ALL and press Enter to select all objects. Press Enter again to end the selection stage.
Click the left endpoint of the straight line segment of the bottom edge to establish the Base Point.
Press R Enter to select the Reference option. Click the left endpoint of the straight line segment of the bottom edge, same as the Base Point, for the first reference point, and click the right endpoint of the line segment for the second reference point.
Pull the cursor down to snap the bottom edge of the object to the 0˚ horizon line and click to end the command.

TIP: Use Polar Tracking.