Linetype scale when all settings are the same?

[TARTANSPEN]

Linetype scale problem on autocad 2005. I have 2 lines on different layers. They are both set at: lts=1 in the properties options window, they have the same linetype, psltscale=1, global ltscale=8000. The lines are all drawn in model space.

 

My problem is that they appear to (but don’t) have different scales. If I try to draw a line on either layer it appears as the larger scaled line. Also, this drawing is xref’d out and in that drawing the linetypes came in as something different than the original, but both layers show the same scale as each other and look how they should.

 

If anyone has seen this before please help, otherwise I’ll just have to conclude that gremlins and ghosties have taken over my computer!

[TARTANSPEN]

I should also add that they print at the different linetype scales. So its not just a visual thing.

[spittle]

We'll assume that you're working with metric linetypes rather than imperial.

 

The problem is often that your problem linetypes are from an imperial linetype file rather than the metric file - though global scale of 8000 seem a bit much so perhaps the problem was caused when this linetype was created i.e. it was created out of proportion to the other linetypes in the .lin file.

 

Often to fix the problem, you can re-load your metric linetype file, to try and catch a few stray imperial ones in your drawing.

 

If there is still a problem, this is because the linetype has been loaded from an imperial file but there isn't a metric one in your linetype file with the same name to replace it with.

 

Solutions:

 

Change it to a metric one from your linetype file.

or

If there are a load of them, reload all of your linetypes with the imperial linetype file and change the global scale factor to 25 or similar.

 

If there's now a rogue linetype out of proportion to the rest of them then you're unlucky because it means that you also have a metric linetype loaded into your drawing that isn't in any of your linetype files.

 

So when you create your custom linetypes by editing your .lin file, it's a good idea to create one for the imperial file too with the same name so you can do the above to fix it.

 

This is also a solution when an XREF is using imperial and your parent drawing is using metric (when you can't be bothered to redo your layering) and linetypes in your xref are out of proportion to the ones in your parent drawing.

 

You also get the problem when people create their own linetypes that are out of proportion to both imperial and metric linetypes - only solution is to change the linetype scale for those objects.

 

First get linetypes to look in proportion to eachother in your XREF, then go to your main drawing.

 

XREFs using different linetypes to those in your parent drawing in Layer Properties Manager will look like 'XREF1235Centre2' Linetype or similar

[TARTANSPEN]

Thanks for the info, I looked into it, all our linetypes are imperial from autocad, not custom. As for the global scale, the drawing is a really large survey of a plant site.

[spittle]

The stuff I wrote should be opposite then. I thought with PSLTSCALE 1 - it will automatically scale you linetypes to the correct size. Still can't imagine how 8000 would work.

 

Have you tried reloading your linetypes?

 

Are all your entities setup to be 'by layer', rather than overriding linetypes in properties? You may have a metric one loaded in there?

 

Is the problem linetype in your XREF?

 

Another possibility-

Is the problem only with linetypes with text? If so - default (or atleast my default) .lin files look for STANDARD text style for the linetype font. If you then edit the standard text style (most likely text size) then this will affect the text in your linetype.

[TARTANSPEN]

I’ve tried reloading the line type, the one that isn’t working is dashed. And, so far, only on a line. The 2 layers I’m comparing have all the same setup values that would impact this, the only thing different is the layer name and whats on it. I’ve tried matching properties and that doesn’t change anything.

The dwg I’ve xref’d into, the dashed line type shows as a line and prints as a line. It did come into the drawing as a different line type that shows as I want it to. Text written on either layer comes in appropriate size in the xref on the dashed line type on both layers while the actual lines on each layer doesn’t.

Does this make sense?

[spittle]

Not really, so the problem is with a linetype in your XREF or parent drawing?

 

And the offending linetype is definately in you acad.lin file? And not one loaded in by anyone else?

[TARTANSPEN]

The problem is in the parent dwg. the line is an acad.lin file. Thanks for helping.

[spittle]

Is your PLINEGEN variable set to 1 -Generates the linetype in a continuous pattern around the vertices of the polyline.

 

Do you try and use 'sets' of linetypes together?

i.e Center, Dashed, Hidden should be used together and Center2, Dashed2, Hidden2 should be used together but they shouldn't be mixed up.

 

Well they can be but they are not in proportion to each other

 

So if all of your linetypes are from the Center2 set and you then use a Dashed line instead of Dashed 2 - it's scale will be twice (if I remember rightly) the size so if your PLINEGEN variable is set to 0 then sometimes you can't see the linetype correctly.

 

We received some pipe fittings blocks from a manufacturer and they are all using the Dashed2, Hidden2 set of linetypes apart from the centerline that uses Center. this makes some of the centrelines appear as a continuous line and the only solution is to change the linetype to Centre2.

These pipes are embeded into a menu so the linetype for this layer has to be changed everytime