### Constructing a Cast Line

A line can be constructed by changing any given feature into a line. PC-DMIS will construct the line at the centroid of the input feature.

You can modify the length of the line; this changes the line from DEPENDENT to INDEPENDENT. This means that when the line is executed that the length will not change based on the input feature, but will be independent of the input feature, while the position and vector will remain dependent on the input feature. This allows you to have control over the line length in cases where the input feature doesn’t really have a length, such as a point. The DEPENDENT/INDEPENDENT field is a toggle field that you may change.

To change the length of a line:

1. Open the Edit window.

2. Click on the line feature.

3. Press the TAB key until the length field is selected.

4. Type in a new length.

5. Press TAB. PC-DMIS will update the length.

PC-DMIS will use this length value for all calculations instead of using a default length.

To construct a Cast Line:

1. Access the Construct Line dialog box (Insert | Feature | Constructed | Line).

2. Select the Cast option.

3. Enter in one feature of any type.

4. Click the Create button.

The Edit window command line for this option would read:
CONSTR/LINE,CAST,feat_1,length,(DEPENDENT | INDEPENDENT)

Constructing a Line from a Cylinder