Entering Numbers

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)

Distance Units

Use any of the Rhino unit measurements including fractions. You can mix fractional and decimal input.

Microns

1.2mic

1.2micron(s)

Millimeters

1.2mm

1.2millimeter(s)

Centimeters

1.2c

1.2cm

1.2centimeter(s)

Meters

1.2m

1.2meter(s)

Kilometers

1.2km

1.2kilometer(s)

Microinches

1.2microinch(es)

Mils

1.2mil(s)

Feet and Inches

1″

1in

1inch(es)

1’2-1/2(“)

1’2.2(“)

1-1/2″

1.5″

1′

1ft

1foot

1feet

Miles

1mi

1mile(s)

Other

Angstrom

Nanometer

Decimeter

Dekameter

Hectometer

Megameter

Gigameter

Yard

Printer point

Printer pica

Nautical mile

Astronomical unit

Lightyear

Parsec

Angle units

Use any of the Rhino angle unit measurements including fractions. You can mix input types.

The direction for 0 degrees is 3 o’clock. Positive angular measurement is counterclockwise.

Degrees

The “°” symbol can be used, but it is easier to just type d.

45 (If no units are specified, then degrees are assumed.)

45°

45d

39deg

22.875degs

12.345e2degree

180degrees

47.653395°

Degrees/minutes/seconds

128d37’22″

128°37’22″

99d37’45.234″

32.543′

32’30.1234″

Radians

3.1415926535897932384626433832795r  (pi radians)

1.234r

1.234rad

1.234rads

1.234radian

1.234radians

Grads

4.00g

4.00grad

4.00grads

Surveyor’s units

S47°39’08.54″E

X,Y,Z-coordinates

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 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/SangleE/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.

  2. This starts the line at the construction plane origin.

  3. At the End of line… prompt, type 12,6,10 and press Enter

    .

  4. The line is drawn from the construction plane origin to a point 12,6,10 in the construction plane coordinates.

World 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

    .

  2. This starts the line at the world coordinate origin.

  3. At the End of line… prompt, type w12,6,10 and press Enter

    .

  4. The line is drawn from the world origin to a point 12,6,10 in the world coordinates.

Relative coordinates

In commands like Line and Polyline, you can specify relative points.

Construction plane

@3,4   (Go over 3 and up 4 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

Constrain the cursor

Make the mouse cursor go where you want it to go.

Distance constraint

Locks the next point will be placed at a specified distance from the last point.

See Also: SmartTrack …

To constrain to a distance

  • Type a number at the command prompt and press Enter

    .

  • The marker

    moves around the last point at the specified distance.

Example

  1. Start the Line command and place the first line point.

  2. At the End of line prompt, type 10.

  3. The line endpoint moves around the last point 10 units away.

  4. Click to place the point, or, type an angle and press Enter

    .

Angle constraint

Locks the next point will be placed at a specified angle relative to the last point.

To constrain to an angle

  • Type an angle at the command prompt in the format <a and press Enter

    .

  • The cursor moves along a line at the specified angle.

Example

  1. Start the Line command and place the first line point.

  2. At the End of line … prompt, type <60.

  3. The line is restricted to 60 degree angle from the last point.

  4. Click to place the point, or, type a distance and press Enter

    .

Example

  1. Start the Line command and place the first line point.

  2. At the End of line … prompt, type  55<N30E.

  3. The line is restricted to 55 units in length at the angle N30E from the last point.

Unit systems