Drawing circles by three points

You can construct a circle by three arbitrary points that belong to its circumference and by specifying a diameter.

NOTE: The contextual edit bars, attributes and tabular presentation, as well as the procedures for modifying and repositioning of a circle are the same for all circle-drawing modes.

Control points

A circle defined by three points has four control points: the center and the three points that belong to the circumference. While you are drawing a circle by three points, the following pointers for object drawing appear:

About to draw the first point of a circle.

About to draw the second point of a circle.

About to draw the third point of a circle.

To draw a circle by three points

1. Do any of the following:

• On the Objects toolbar, click Circle by 3 Points .
• On the Objects menu, point to Circles, and then click Circle by 3 Points.
• Press CTRL+D+C+3.

2. (Optional) Snap the first point of the circle that you are about to place to another object or point.
3. In the graphical area, click to draw the first point of the circle.
4. Repeat Steps 2 (optional) and 3 to define the second point of the circle.
5. To finish the circle, do one of the following:

• Snap the third point of the circle to another object or point.
• Point to where you want the third point to be, and then click.
• On the contextual edit bar, in Diameter enter a value press ENTER, and then click anywhere in the graphical area.