flatten 3d to 2d Autocad 2009

[astitchintimesaves9]

I found this answer to the 'flatten 3d drawings to 2d' problem (re 2007 LT)...

 

This sequence of commands flattens many objects:

 

Move

All

0,0,0

0,0,1e99

move

p

0,0,0

0,0,-1e99

 

but this does nasty things in my Autocad 2009 so I changed it to....

 

Move

All

0,0,0

0,0,1e99

move

all

0,0,1e99

0,0,0

 

which seems to work. I did this on a hunch, will it create any problems?

[ReMark]

I don't understand why you wouldn't use AutoCAD 2009's own Flatten command. Is there a good reason?

[astitchintimesaves9]

Because I get an 'unknown command' message.

[ReMark]

I'm running 2009 right this very moment and checked it on my system. The command works fine. Maybe you mis-typed it.

[ReMark]

Since it is accessed via the command line and you don't seem to have it then I must assume you did not load Express Tools when you installed AutoCAD 2009. Am I correct?

[astitchintimesaves9]

I didn't install it, but yes, I think that's what happened.

[ReMark]

You can still install Express Tools by reinserting your installation disk. I believe it is a listed option. You paid for AutoCAD so take full advantage of everything it has to offer. There are some real gems in ET. Now, go find them.

[astitchintimesaves9]

OK but going back to my original question, will that method cause problems?

[ReMark]

It shouldn't. You can also try the FLATSHOT command.

[astitchintimesaves9]

tnx, the draftie that oversees the acad stuff has it on his computer but no one else does......i suspect that he'll be 'too busy' to sort out the disc but i'll try.

[ReMark]

Then try FLATSHOT. It's included in the solids editting commands.

[f700es]

I like FLATSHOT too. It does not destroy the items like FLATTEN does (unless you copy it 1st). I have gotten great results with FLATSHOT.

[Fernandobtn]

nice!!! how did you came up with that? what does the 'e' on 1e99 means?

[ReMark]

How? Either someone taught him that trick, he learned of it completely by accident or he read it somewhere (a book, magazine or on the Internet).

 

The 'e' is engineering notation. As quoted from Wikipedia:

 

Engineering notation, as used in civil and mechanical engineering (United States), uses the following notation where:

 

3.0 × 10−9

 

can be written as

 

3.0E−9 or 3.0e−9

[Fernandobtn]

did YOU knew this engeneering notation before? or did you searched the web for the meaning of 'e'? That seams like a dificult search! Any ways, thanks.

[ReMark]

I was familiar with the term so the searching part was not difficult at all.

 

You're entirely welcomed.

[astitchintimesaves9]

No, like I said, a hunch (or inspired guess?). I saw what was being used and had a stab at adapting it. I went from forum to acad without referencing other sources, and it worked. Sometimes it has difficulty with blocks but this can be overcome by exploding them before flattening.

 

How? Either someone taught him that trick, he learned of it completely by accident or he read it somewhere (a book, magazine or on the Internet).

 

The 'e' is engineering notation. As quoted from Wikipedia:

 

Engineering notation, as used in civil and mechanical engineering (United States), uses the following notation where:

 

3.0 × 10−9

 

can be written as

 

3.0E−9 or 3.0e−9