Looking for an intuitive way of creating custom linetypes.

I have Autocad 2007 and already have created a few custom linetypes by creating a new .lin file that i edited with notepad.

My question is can i create a custom linetype intuitively by drawing myself the linetype on my autocad screen and then entering it somehow in Autocad without having to bother with linetype code.

I'm a lazy *******, it's beyond my control.:wink:

I don't know if this will work, but try drawing your linetype, then exporting it as a dxf. open the dxf file with notepad and use that information to create your linetype.

May not work, but I didn't realize that you could manipulate the objects in a dxf with notepad until a couple days ago and certainly don't know enough about it to tell you how. Gleaned this out of another thread, haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

Express > Tools > Make Linetype (MKLTYPE)

I've just tried it; a newly created DXF file gives me miles of code for three small dots drawn.

I was thinking maybe newer versions of Autocad offer this possibility through "express tools".

Express > Tools > Make Linetype (MKLTYPE)

I tried but can't make it work; it asks to select a name, then a description, then asks for a starting point, a finish point, and then you have to select it; i do and press enter.

But when i go to the newly created .lin file, it's empty.

I suspect that something in your linetype was invalid. Did you see any errors at the command line? Also, if you select acad.lin in your AutoCAD support file, the linetype will simply be appended to that file, despite the fact that it says it will over-write it.

http://screencast.com/t/6o4VVSZ1

I suspect that something in your linetype was invalid. Did you see any errors at the command line? Also, if you select acad.lin in your AutoCAD support file, the linetype will simply be appended to that file, despite the fact that it says it will over-write it.

 

http://screencast.com/t/6o4VVSZ1

YES !

YES !

YES ! YES ! YES ! YES !

Cheers.

Lol.

Actually, the reason i didn't work the first time was because i tried including letters; i cannot ?

Actually, the reason i didn't work the first time was because i tried including letters; i cannot ?

Yes, you can include text and shapes, but I don't know any more about it than what it says in: Express > Express Tools FAQ.

Yes, you can include text and shapes, but I don't know any more about it than what it says in: Express > Express Tools FAQ.

Have you managed to include letters/numbers ?

I just tried using the same procedure, and the newly created linetype doesn't display the letters/numbers, just the dots/ lines around it.

Never mind, i figured it out. I was using text from dimensionning; i created new text myself and now it works.

Thank you for your help.

I forgot about the express tools thing. I never have a need to make a linetype, so never bothered to try. Apparently there's something I don't know about doing it. I drew a line, then a square box, then another line. Went through the whole procedure, and it said that it worked. Made a new layer, loaded my new linetype and drew a line using it. Instead of line, square, line, it gives me line, dot, line. Didn't do something right.

You'd have to make the "square" a "shape" first.

C'mon Autodesk, it's 2011 for Pete's sake, AutoCAD should be able to turn anything on the screen into a linetype in a single operation.... ditto for Hatches

You'd have to make the "square" a "shape" first.

 

 

C'mon Autodesk, it's 2011 for Pete's sake, AutoCAD should be able to turn anything on the screen into a linetype in a single operation.... ditto for Hatches

Ah yes...thats the step I missed. Read that in the instructions, but it didn't stick apparently. This is one of those "DUH!" moments. It's a lot more fun when other people have them!