Any better way to convert multiple lines into one object.

I am using AutoCad 2002 to create patterns and plot them out on a Graphtec cutting plotter. I am familiar with using both pedit to make a line a polyline and then joining the other lines to it and also with using "region" to connect all the lines and arcs in my object. The problem with these two options is when I plot the object even though the object on the screen selects as one it still plots each line in pretty much the order it was drawn. I would like it to plot from one point and continuously plot the whole object without lifting and skipping around from end of one line to another on the other side of the page. I have even tried to redraw the object from one point all the way around to the last point not doing any copies or mirrors and still plots in what ever order it pleases. In the end the whole object is cut out but the time it takes going back and forth is 2-3 times longer than it should take. I hope this all makes sense.

thanks,

Brian

Get a new cutting plotter. The one you have now seems to be very much like the old pen plotters when it comes to plotting. The paper would roll back and forth and the pen move side to side but it plotted all over the place sometimes even interrupting a word or a line to go plot something else then come back later and finish what it had started. Once we switched to a inkjet plotter it was a straight-through path from one end of the paper to the other.

If I remember correctly, there used to be a "pen optimization" setting for the plotter drivers. At least we had such in the early 90's with a Roland pen plotter, it usually fixed this issue by drawing all lines set to a particular pen (all in one go) and also swapping line start-and-end-points to make them consecutive. I'm sure there should be some similar setting for yours. I can't remember if it was a driver-only setting, or if it was something in ACad itself.

Instead of using Region, have you tried using Boundary?

Instead of using Region, have you tried using Boundary?

No I have not tried Boundary. I don't think i have every used it. Is it pretty simple? I will look it up and give it a try.

thanks,

B