The triangulation calculator is a useful tool for computing the angle of a corner, given the lengths of its edges. It is specifically designed for working out and drawing non right-angled walls based on measurements taken from the field, and supports several different measurement methods.

This tool can be accessed from the Insert tab in the Tools Group commands, as shown right.

The first four (4) Triangulation Types listed here are used for multi-step measurements...

1. From original to second.
2. From original to current - see Tutorial.
3. From previous to current.
4. Use a template.
5. Calculate only - used for one-off measurements, discussed next.

One-off Measurements

Calculate Only option

The 'Calculate only' type/method is for one-off calculations and is used simply to calculate the angles based on the measurements you enter.

Start by clicking on the 'Triangulation' command button, shown above right. The following window will be presented.

You must provide the calculator with the following information:

1. the length and direction of the line coming into the corner (A-B),
2. the length of the line coming out of the corner (B-C) and
3. the length of the line across the corner (A-C).

The triangulation calculator will work out the angle across the corner (at B) and the direction of the line coming out of the corner (B-C).

Example

In this example we will use the 'Clockwise' method to calculate the angle of a corner.

To use as a calculator, you will need to know the measurements of the 3 sides of the triangle.

• We know that the walls we initially created were 1800 x 4500 and we can use the Tape Measure for the 3rd side.

Type in the three distances, as shown, and when you <tab> out of the (A-C) edit box, the calculator will work out the angle.

In the above example, we have confirmed the angle using the Annotate > Angular Dimension tool.

Multi-step Measurements

Use to Draw Walls and other Shapes

You can also use the calculator to draw walls and other shapes in multiple steps using the options discussed here.

When drawing in multiple steps...

• press the Move button to move the mouse cursor (and usually draw a line or wall) after entering the required values for each step.
• the Reset button sets the current values back to the last position of the cursor.
  • Note that the wall and horizontal panel tools will automatically reset for you when you start a new wall or panel.
• to stop drawing the wall, close the Triangulation Calculator window and click on another command button.

The multi-step triangulation types are illustrated in the following diagrams and shows the difference between each type.

Original to second	Original to current	Previous to current
Uses the triangles ABC, ABD and ABE.	Uses the triangles ABC, ACD and ADE.	Uses the triangles ABC, BCD and CDE.
The line from the original to the second point (AB) is the 'Into Corner' line for each triangle.	Here, each triangle starts from the original point A and goes to the point just drawn.	In this case, the 'Out of corner' of one triangle becomes the 'Into corner' of the next.
Accuracy Note: Will result in a precise location for point E, but the individual line segments (e.g. DE) may not be as accurate because the segment lengths are calculated rather than specified.	Accuracy Note: Provides a good compromise. The following tutorial will use this method.	Accuracy Note: Will result in accurate segment lengths, but the location for point E may not be precise.

Template

This is done by placing a triangular template into a corner and recording the lengths of the three sides.

These three lengths are then used to calculate an angle.

It is this angle and the actual length of the wall (BC) that specifies the next point.

Tutorial - Drawing a Wall using Original to Current method

In this tutorial we will create a wall as shown in the following diagram, which assumes that all the relevant lengths were accurately measured on site, as per dimensions stated on diagram.

As the measurements are the individual wall lengths and the distances are from the first point, we will use the 'Original to current' triangulation method. Notice that the wall segments go in a clockwise direction from the bottom left.

Before drawing, start the Triangulation calculator and ensure you select 'From original to current' and tick the 'Clockwise' checkbox. Then follow the following steps to draw a wall as per the diagram, shown below right.

1. Draw the 1st wall using the Wall command, then...
   • Select the Wall command and click on the drawing page at the starting point for the wall.
   • Enter the length of the first wall section (2100mm) into the Set Length box; and
   • Click on the Up button on the Movement group of commands to draw the wall.

     

   • Notice that the first distance (2100mm) and angle (90°) have automatically been copied into the 'First to current' edit boxes of the Triangulation Calculator, shown above.
2. Use triangulation to draw the 2nd wall, (using the measurements stated in finished example above).
   • Enter distances  'Current to new' as 2018mm and 'First to new'as 3845mm.
     As soon as you press the  Tab key, you will see that the triangulation calculator has automatically updated the ' Current to new' and 'First to new' angles to 48 and 138 degrees respectively.
   • Click the Move button and the next wall segment will be drawn along the 'Current to new' distance and angle, as shown below left.

     

3. Use triangulation to draw the subsequent walls.
   • Re-enter distances 'Current to new' as 2255mm and 'First to new' as 4987mm.
     • This time the out of corner angle is 356.3°.
   • Press the Move button again to create the 3rd wall.
     • Continue in the same way until the entire wall sequence is drawn.

     

   • To create the final wall, re-enter distances 'Current to new' as 1950mm and 'First to new' as 4652mm.

     

To stop drawing the wall, close the Triangulation Calculator and click on another command button.