Line Style

[jerryc]

How do I create a new line style; I would like to Crete a line style that
> can be part of the Line Specification line -up. I need to create a fence
> line (-----x-------x--------x-------x---). How do I do this? If this
> information is in the manual/, anyone have a page #.
>
> Jerry Chapman
> Belmont, Ca

[CCC]

The MASTER Tim O'Donnell posted this for us recently. I have an Outlook Notes file for just such pearls of Chief Wisdom. I use a simular line style to represent wire mesh in drat cross-sections. Here's what Tim shared:






"Line Styles - Custom

c..the S=# controls the size of the text in your line type...to double its size set it to .125

here is what each entity in the line style description you posted is for:

*MESH,Mesh ----X----X----X----X----X----X--
A,.25,-.2,["X",STANDARD,S=.0625,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.25

* (Asterisk) Indicates the start of a new linetype definition. MESH Name of the linetype.

, (Comma) Separates the name from the description.

Mesh ----X----X----X----X----X----X-- Describes the linetype (to a maximum of 47 characters)

in the second line:

The comma is needed to separate the codes. For example: .25,-.1,0,-.1

The letter "A" forces the linetype to align between two endpoints. That's what causes the linetypes start and stop with a dash, adjusted to fit. The length of these start/stop dashes can be set in your preferences>CAD>line properties>endcap section at the bottom

a positive number indicates a dash. For example, 0.25 means a dash 0.25 units long

a negative number is for gaps. For example, -0.2 is a gap 0.2 units long.

inside the brackets

"X"
Print these letter(s) between the dashes.

STANDARD
Apply this text style to the text. This is optional; when missing, AutoCAD uses the current text style, stored in system variable TextStyle. It is ignored by Chief.

S=.1
This is the text scale factor.

the R, X, Y values are for ACAD for rotation and alignment values for the text in the line, they are not used by Chief

from Tim O'Donnell"

[Ben Palmer]

Originally posted by TIM
*MESH,Mesh ----X----X----X----X----X----X--
A,.25,-.2,["X",STANDARD,S=.0625,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.25

So copy the above two lines from Tim and open the material.dat file with notepad that is found in the chief directory, and paste it I believe at the very end of the file. You will see the other line styles. Save and close the file and restart chief, and it should be available to you.

[louis]

Just be aware that if you send the plan to others they will not have the linestyle.

[mbbailey]

This item was discussed in detail on Yahoo over the last week and several people provided detailed information on this subject. I compiled their comments and am posting a version of a compilation of that information for anyone's use. Please let me know if any of this information in not correct or incomplete.

Thanks,

How do I create a new line style; I would like to Crete a line
style that can be part of the Line Specification line -up.
I need to create a fence
line (-----x-------x--------x-------x---). How do I do this?

Go to the materials.dat file in Chief's main folder, all the line types are
stored in that file (at the end of the list).

You can open this file in notepad or WordPad, copy one of the line types in its
entirety, then paste it back in and edit the parts that you want to change.
Save the file and restart Chief. If your line type isn't there, you have
not done it correctly.............Just open the file back up and edit it
until you get it right.


Here is what each entity in the line style description is for:

*MESH,Mesh ----X----X----X----X----X----X--
A,.25,-.2,["X",STANDARD,S=.0625,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.25

FIRST LINE:
*MESH,Mesh ----X----X----X----X----X----X--

* (Asterisk) = the start of a new line style definition.

MESH = Name of the Line Style.

, (Comma) = Separates the Line Style Name from the Line Style Description.

Mesh ----X----X----X----X----X----X-- = Line Style Description
(to a maximum of 47 characters)in the second line:

SECOND LINE:
A,.25,-.2,["X",STANDARD,S=.0625,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.25

A = The letter "A" forces the Line Style to align between two
endpoints. That's what causes the Line Styles start and stop
with a dash, adjusted to fit. The length of these start/stop
dashes can be set in your preferences>CAD>line properties>endcap
section at the bottom.

, = The comma is needed to separate the codes. For example:
.25,-.1,0,-.1

.25,-.2 = CAD Line Description
A positive number indicates a dash. For example, 0.25 means a
dash 0.25 units long. A negative number is for gaps.
For example, -0.2 is a gap 0.2 units long inside the brackets

"X" = Print the letter(s), enclosed by quotes, between the groups of dashes.
The only 'character' in a Line Style is the one(s) you place between the
quotes. The dashes are actual cad lines, drawn to the length you
specify in the description(positive values) and the spaces are where the
pen is picked up(negative values). You can eliminate the positive
values in your line description to remove the lines if you want. Then
use a single negative value to space any 'text/characters' you use
inside the quotes, and you could use an equal or greater than/less
than character there if you so desire.

STANDARD = Apply this text style to the text. This is optional; when
missing, AutoCAD uses the current text style, stored in system
variable Text Style. It is ignored by Chief.

S=.0625 = This is the text scale factor or type size.
Note: The R, X, Y values are for ACAD for rotation and alignment
values for the text in the line, they are not used by Chief

EXAMPLE:
> ie here is a line to be changed;
> *SEWER_LINE,Sewer Line ----S----S----S----S----S----S--
> A,.5,-.2,["S",STANDARD,S=.125,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.5

> To change this to a line with sewer in it I did this
> *SEWER_LINE,Sewer Line ----Sewer----Sewer----Sewer----Sewer
> A,.5,-.2,["S",STANDARD,S=.125,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.5
> but there just comes up a second line or ---s----s----s----
>
>The Line Style should read as follows:
> *SEWER_LINE,Sewer Line ----Sewer----Sewer----Sewer----Sewer
> A,.5,-.2,["Sewer_Line",STANDARD,S=.125,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25,.5