By Martin Phelps
The “Count” command is normally used in conjunction with counting “Blocks” within a drawing, which is probably its greatest benefit, but it can also be used to “Count” “Target Objects”, so determining the number of instances of the selected object within the defined area.
To use this option, first define the “Count” area, by using one of the methods explained in the previous blogs.
Once the “Count” area is created, the “Target Object” option becomes available, as shown in Figure 1.
No need to select the sub command, just the required geometric “Object” contained anywhere within the drawing.
All instances of the selected object will be highlighted within the defined “Count” area.
Note: - Currently, and for best results, select only one object as the target.
Below are some examples of selecting a “Target Object”. The defined area contains “Blocks”, (9 chairs and 1 table), “Lines” of various lengths, “Arcs” with various specifications of angles and lengths, and “Circles” of different diameters.
Figure 2 shows the defined “Count” area and the selected “Target Object” being a “Line”.
The “Target Object” “Line” is not restricted to its length, so all “Lines” regardless of length and angle, or whether the “Line” is part of a “Block” are highlighted.
Figure 3 shows the same defined “Count” area, in this example the selected “Target Object” is a “Circle”, again any “Circle” regardless of size or whether it is a standalone object or part of the “Block”, is highlighted.
The next example in Figure 4, again with the same defined “Count” area, this time the selected “Target Object” is an “Arc”, but only certain “Arcs” are highlighted.
The size of the “Arc” does not appear to have any relevance, it’s the angle that restricts the type of “Arc” that is emphasised, all the “Arcs” highlighted have an angle of 180 degrees.
In the final example, as shown in Figure 5, again the “Target Object” is an “Arc”, but this time all the “Arcs” have an angle of 28.5 degrees, but vary in length.