Create lines

You can create lines interactively, from known coordinates, or from distance and bearing values.

Create lines interactively

To create lines interactively by clicking the map, complete the following steps:

1. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab.
2. In the Measurements group, click Distance and Direction .
3. In the Distance and Direction pane, click the Line tab.
4. In the From drop-down list, click Points.
5. Click Map Point Tool .
6. Click a location on the map to designate the starting point of the line.
7. Click a location on the map to designate the ending point of the line.

   A line is created and added to the map.

Create lines from known coordinates

To create lines using known coordinates, complete the following steps:

1. In the Distance and Direction pane, click the Line tab.
2. In the From drop-down list, click Points.
3. Enter a coordinate in the Starting Point text box.
4. Enter a coordinate in the Ending Point text box.
5. Press Enter.

   A line is created and added to the map.

Create lines using distance and bearing

To create lines using distance and bearing, complete the following steps:

1. In the Distance and Direction pane, click the Line tab.
2. In the From drop-down list, click Distance and Bearing.
3. Enter a coordinate in the Starting Point text box or click Map Point Tool and click a location on the map.
4. Enter a value in the Distance/Length text box.
5. Enter a value in the Angle text box.
6. Press Enter.

   A line is created and added to the map.

Change tool units

You can change the units the tool uses to display and label outputs.

• Use the Distance/Length drop-down list to change the unit of measure.
• Use the Angle drop-down list to change the unit of measure.
• Use the Line Type drop-down list to change the line type.

Line type

The Line Type drop-down list provides the following options:

Option	Description
Geodesic	The shortest line between two points on the earth's surface on a spheroid (ellipsoid). One use for a geodesic line is to determine the shortest distance between two cities for an airplane's flight path. This is also known as a great circle line if it's based on a sphere rather than an ellipsoid.
Loxodrome	A loxodrome distance is a line of constant bearing or azimuth. Great circles are often split into a series of loxodromes, which simplifies navigation. This is also known as a rhumb line. Unlike geodesic, it is not the shortest distance between two points.
Great Elliptic	The line on a spheroid (ellipsoid) defined by the intersection at the surface by a plane that passes through the center of the spheroid and the start and endpoints of a segment. This is also known as a great circle when a sphere is used. The great elliptic type allows you to create lines only.