AutoCAD - Count #10 – Specifying a Non-Rectangular “Count” Area

By Martin Phelps

This function is similar to selecting objects using the “Window Polygon” method, when using certain editing commands.

To create a “Polygonal Count” area, once the “Count” command is active, either select “Polygonal” from the command line, as shown in Figure 1.

Select “Polygonal” from the right click menu as shown in Figure 2.

Or type “P” and press enter.
A “Non-Rectangular” or “Polygonal” “Count” area can be created by picking any number of points to define the “Count” area, as shown in Figure 3.

Once all the required points have been picked, close the shape by pressing enter.

The same rules apply to the “Polygonal” shape as with the previously blogged “Rectangular” shape.

1. The “Running Object Snaps” are temporarily turned off, but can be manually turned on to accurately locate points.
2. Defining the “Count” area using this method creates the “Layer” “0-CountArea”, as shown in Figure 4.

3. This “Layer” by default has the colour 152 allocated and is set to “Non-Plot” so the created “Count” area does not appear in any print, unless the “Plot” “Property” of the “Layer” is manually changed from “Non-Plot” to “Plot”.

4. Once the “Count” command is completed, this layer is removed from the “layer” list.

5. If the “Count” area is redefined the “Layer will reappear in the “Layer” list.

6. If the “Count” table is inserted into the drawing, then the “Layer” “0-CountArea”, is automatically locked and will remain in the “Layer” list.