Creating "Abutting" Lines

[PKG]

Hi,

I've come across a problem numerous times, and I'm sure there is a solution, as it must be a common problem.

I am drawing plans which have several polygons in different colours. Where the polygons are abutting ("touching"), I'd like the lines to be displayed exactly next to each other, with no white space between them.

The only way that I've found to do this is to use the "view lineweights" option, go into modelspace (through a viewport), zoom to the correct scale and drag the lines to look correct. This is extremely time consuming, and if I wish to print at a different scale, the whole process has to be repeated.

Ideally I'd like the lines to be lying exactly on top of one another, but somehow they'd print side by side... this could be achieved if there was a "dual colour" line of some sort (one side one colour, the other side a different colour) that I could double the lineweight of!

Anyhow, hope I've made myself clear enough, and any help would be greatly appreciated!

PKG
Using AutoCAD LT 2008

[PS_Port]

I'd like the lines to be displayed exactly next to each other, with no white space between them.


You could change the background colour to black.......sorry:lol:

[Alan Cullen]

From my experience, you can use DRAWORDER to bring one or the other to the front. Otherwise, at plot time, the line with the greatest width wins the day. Such is life. :lol:

[chulse]

Perhaps setting the segment width of the pline would help?

[PS_Port]

would this come under Annotative lineweights ....
not sure if there is such a thing.

[PKG]

What do you mean by the "segment width"?

[chulse]

Look at the properties of the pline- you can set width by segment or globally.

[PKG]

See what you're suggesting, but still doesn't solve the problem...

It seems that there is no method to make it easier...

I thought of a work around by creating a script utilizing the offset command, which might give me a quick way to print at different scales.

Will post if I get around this anyway...

[PS_Port]

PKG let me see if I understand this correctly...
you want to draw them over the top of each other 'exactly'
but you want to print them side by side.....
I think I'm missing something here...:oops: :huh:

[PKG]

Yes, that would be ideal, because I could draw the second line bang on top of the first using snap.

The way I have to do it at the moment is to draw them side by side, and the distance between them depends on the lineweight and the scale at which I print them, if either change I have to manually move every node to correct it again (there can be no "gap" between them, and preferably they won't overlap at all).

[Alan Cullen]

Here's the reality. The contractor works off drawings. If he sees a gap, it confuses him. If he sees a plot with lines overlaying each other, he is comfortable. After all, he has a superintendentent on site who can explain what is going on. So stop worrying about how you want it to appear, and start thinking about the poor old contractor. After all, it is him who we do the drawings for. :P o:)

[ReMark]

Are all the polygons the same size?

[PKG]

The drawings are not for a contractor, they're for a lease agreement, and it is the solicitors who are concerned if there are "gaps" between the lines...

and no, all the polygons are completely different shapes and sizes...

[halfcracked]

Is the drawing to show area calculations?
If so bound the area with a polly line then off set it inside by a set distance then give a width of twice the offset. when you set up the bounding polly next to it the two will touch with no gap.

I would also keep your calculation poly's on a frozen no print layer so that the next joe comming allong can figure out how you calculated area.

[PKG]

halfcracked, that's the best answer I've had yet... the drawing is not to show area calculations, simply landparcels on a map. A question related to your solution: Is there a way to "scale the lineweights" i.e. ensure that the linewidth scales up and down with the drawing?

The problem is that when I change the viewport scale (a common occurrance), the lines will no longer be correctly printed.

[halfcracked]

Umm not really, but it sounds to me like you are making a graphic representation so just exaggerate things so that they show at all scales.

For example, make your offset 10' & the polyline 20'. That should show at any common scale.

I'd be tempted to make the polyline linetype something like dot2 ( |||||||| ) or a screened lignweight (40-60%) so it's clearly a symbol and so it dosen't interfere with any propline bearrings etc.

Yeah land parcles are basically really big area calculations :)