A Polyline consist of two or more connected segments, created as a simple object.
These segments can be straight lines, arcs or a combination of the two.
Width can be assigned to a polyline, unlike regular line segments. After you create polylines, you can edit it using grips or PEDIT. You can use the EXPLODE command to convert a polyline to it's individual line and arc segments.
Before to start drawing the polylines in tis tutorial, turn ON the dynamic input button , at the Application Status bar.

On autoCAD you can access the rectangle command on the ribbon, to do this:

On Ribbon ► Home tab ►Draw panel ►select icon Rectangle  (Fig. 2.2.4.1).
You can also just type rectangle, press Enter and follow the instruction at Command Prompt.
In your examples, you will use the ribbon tools.

Fig.2.2.4.1 – Draw Lines using the Ribbon

Draw a polyline with straight line segments

To draw a polyline, as shown in Fig.2.2.4.2:

• Click Home tab ►Draw panel ►click Polyline (Fig.2.2.4.1)
• Specify on the screen the first point of the polyline.
• To do this pick a point on the screen near to point P1, as shown in fig.2.2.4.2, or for more accuracy type on the Command prompt: 5,5 to insert the coordinates (X, Υ) of the first point P1, and define the first point of the polyline.

Fig.2.2.4.2 – Draw Lines using the Dynamic Input

• Specify the point P2, that is the endpoint of the first straight line segment P1P2 ,
• to do this on the Command prompt: Specify next point: pick a point on the screen near to point P2, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify first point: type @5<30, where 5 m is the distance P1P2 and 30⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P1P2.
• Specify the endpoint of the second straight line (P2P3),
• to do this on the Command prompt: Specify next point: pick a point on the screen near to point P3, or for more accuracy on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type @7.50<60 , where 7.50 m is the distance P2P3 and 60⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P2P3 , to define the third point P3 of the polyline.
• Specify the endpoint of the third straight line (P3P4),
• to do this pick a point on the screen near to point P4, or for more accuracy on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type @10<0 , where 10 m is the distance P3P4 and 0⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P3P4 , to define the fourth point P4 of the polyline.
• Specify the endpoint of the fourth straight line (P4P5),
  • to do this pick a point on the screen near to point P5, as shown in fig.0.0 , or for more accuracy on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type @7<45 , where 7 m is the distance P4P5 and 45⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P4P5 , to define the fifth point P5 of the polyline (see Fig.2.2.4.2).
  • Continue specifying segment endpoints as needed
  • Press Enter to end or press c to close the polyline

  ► If you want to start a new polyline at the endpoint of the last polyline drawn, start the PLINE command and at the Command prompt Specify Start Point: press ENTER.

  Draw a polyline with straight line and arc segments

  Draw a polyline, as the one you see in Fig.2.2.4.4:

  • Click Home tab ►Draw panel ►click Polyline (Fig.2.2.4.1)
  • Specify on the screen the point P1, that is the first point of the polyline,
    • To do this pick a point on the screen near to point P1,as shown in Fig.2.2.4.4, or for more accuracy type on the Command prompt: type 10,10 (are the coordinates of the first point P1), and define the first point of the polyline.
  • Specify the point P2, that is the next point of the first straight line P1P2 ,
    • to do this pick a point on the screen near to point P2, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify first point: type @5<90 , where 5 m is the distance P1P2 and 90⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P1P2.
  • To draw the Arc P2P3, switch to Arc mode ,
  • to do this on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type a (which means Arc), and pick a point on the screen near to point P3, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify first point: type: @4<45 where 4 m is the length of the chord P2P3 and 45⁰ is the horizontal angle of the direction of the chord P2P3, to define the third point P3 of the polyline.
  • To draw the point P4 of the line P3P4, switch to Line mode ,
    • to do this on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type L (which means Line), and pick a point on the screen near to point P4, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify first point: type @2<90, where 2 m is the length P3P4 and 90⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P3P4, to define the fourth point P4 of the polyline.
  • To draw the Arc P4P5, switch again to Arc mode.
    • to do this at the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type a (which means Arc) and pick a point on the screen near to point P5, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type @6<0, where 6 m is the length of the chord P4P5 and 0⁰ is the horizontal direction of the P4P5, to define the point P5 of the polyline.

  Fig.2.2.4.3 – Draw a polyline with straight line and arc segments

  • To draw the line P5P6, switch to Line mode ,
    • to do this on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type L (which means Line), and pick a point on the screen near to point P6, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify first point: type @7.50<0 , where 7.50 mm is the length P5P6 and 0⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P5P6 , to define the point P6 of the polyline.
  • To draw the Arc P6P7, switch again to Arc mode.
    • to do this at the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type a (which means Arc) and pick a point on the screen near to point P7, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type @4<45, where 4 m is the length of the chord P6P7 and 45⁰ is the horizontal direction of the P6P7, to define the point P7 of the polyline.
  • To draw the point P8 of the line P7P8, switch to Line mode ,
    • to do this on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type L (which means Line), and pick a point on the screen near to point P8, or for more accuracy, on the Command prompt: Specify first point: type @3<0, where 3 mm is the length P7P8 and 0⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P7P8, to define the point P8 of the polyline.
  • Specify the endpoint P9 of the polyline,
    • to do this pick a point on the screen near to point P9, as shown in Fig.2.2.4.4 , or for more accuracy on the Command prompt: Specify next point or: type @4<90 , where 4 m is the length P8P9 and 90⁰ is the horizontal angle of the line P8P9 , to define the point P9 of the polyline (see Fig.2.2.4.3).
  • Press Enter to end or enter c to close the polyline

  ► If you want to start a new polyline at the endpoint of the last polyline drawn, start the PLINE command and on the Comand prompt Specify Start Point: press ENTER.

  Fig.2.2.4.4 – Polyline with straight line and arc segments