Tangent > Object - Object (Draw Menu)

This command draws a line which ends tangential to two circles or ellipses.

Any circle or ellipse which exists independently or as part of another object can be identified as the first reference object. This can also be the arc of an ellipse segment or a circle arc within a surface.

The position at which the object is identified (the "ID point") affects the rest of the command. There are up to four possibilities when drawing a tangent between two circles. Together with a second ID point, this ID point determines which of the four possible tangents are drawn (see below).

Any circle or ellipse which exists independently or as part of another object can be identified as the second reference object. This can also be the arc of an ellipse segment or a circle arc within a surface.

The position at which the object is identified (the "ID point") affects the rest of the command. There are up to four possibilities when drawing a tangent between two circles. Together with the first ID point, this ID point determines which of the four possible tangents are drawn (see graphic).

If one circle or ellipse lies wholly inside another, it is not possible to work out a line tangent to both circles, and a corresponding error message appears.

The line is assigned to the current layer. In addition, it contains a reference to the current pen.