There has to be a more elligant solution...

[dpaulku]

Greetings Acad Experts.

I'm making this a bit of a rant and a cry for help or illumination... I'm in a new job learning a civil design software app that is not anything like I've ever used before. The package does export directly to dwg so any drafting short falls that it possesses can theoretically be made whole in AutoCAD.

In my quest to streamline this eventual exportation I've simplified the line styles that I use in the alien software so that exportation to Acad might be mapped easier. However, there are a few useful line styles that Acad does not possess that I was hoping to develop reasonable matches for the incoming line styles.

I turned to my friendly AutoCAD vendor for assistance, thinking something like this might fall under the heading of "support". I asked them to produce for me the following pattern lines: Tree line, retaining wall, a set of arrows (drainage flow), silt fence, and corporate limits. From what I know, all but the tree line could be defined by straight lines as a simple shape and would be somewhat compact.

Well, this was 6 weeks ago and I just got the .lin, .shp and .shx files. The .shp file is over 3kb which in my eye is large for a small text file. Looking at the definitions it appears to me that everything was generated by Express tools because that was my experience in my early attempts... lots of "elements" for a very simple pattern.

I guess my question is, is this (in my opinion) bloated code going to impact my file size much? None of them will take up the bulk of any drawing I'm producing but just the thought that something more tightly coded might be available/possible makes me not want to use these.

Any thoughts? TIA

[alanjt]

I think you'll be safe. I wouldn't sweat it.

[Freerefill]

Be careful! Using linetypes and whatnot from an external shape file, one that is not an AutoCAD default, is a lot like using an external reference: if someone tries to open the drawing and does not have access to the shape file, they will receive an error. Bear this in mind, as I've run into this situation a LOT.

[CarlB]

Wow I'm surprised a vendor woud do that, that doesn't fall under software support in my opinion.

 

The shp file can probably be made much smaller if coded rather than generated by ET, but probably an unnoticed effect on the file size.

[dpaulku]

Be careful! Using linetypes and whatnot from an external shape file, one that is not an AutoCAD default, is a lot like using an external reference: if someone tries to open the drawing and does not have access to the shape file, they will receive an error. Bear this in mind, as I've run into this situation a LOT.

 

Freerefill, I was thinking the same thing when I saw the shape files. I guess there's no getting around them unless I can merge them in with my acad.shp/shx files. Even then, I'd have to send those along to third parties if they needed to see my lines.

 

What I wish Acad could do is simply apply a block to a line/poly line on a defined spacing... I think that would take a pretty involved lisp routine and all I want to do is streamline my initial translation between programs.

 

I'll see how these work. Thanks for the comments thus far.

[BIGAL]

Our non acad civil software allows you create any type of line type and its so simple!!!!!!

 

It may be that its easier to write a lisp for complex line types it least then you have no links to external custom files.

 

Revcloud does a pretty good tree/vegetation outline.

 

Our linetype that have letters in them say gas main use a standard Autocad font say iso.shx hence no problems if sent to someone else.

 

Our drain with an arrow is just the > text symbol but you could make it bigger if this helps.

 

*DRAIN_RIGHT,Subsoil drain right ---->---->---->---->---->---->--

A,40,-5.08,[">",STANDARD,S=1.8,R=0.0,X=-1.8,Y=-.9],-3

just change the s=1.8 which is text ht, Standard = standard text style.

[CJJ]

There are definately linetypes available out there somewhere for most of what you're doing, but as has been mentioned, you should always think twice before sending out drawings with linetypes and fonts that don't come with AutoCAD for compatability purposes. I've found too many websites to mention that have linetypes you can download on google.com.

 

However, there are a few little tricks I use to avoid using linetypes that I may not actually need in the first place...

 

Use a revision cloud for your treelines. Personally I think the revcloud looks better than the treeline linetype I have used. The treelyne linetype I have doesn't always connect up at the ends or at intersections, which could theoretically cause confusion in the field if you're staking or looking for survey markers. Instead, try doing a Pline where you want your treeline to go, then convert it to a REVCLOUD. Also, you can just trace the revclouds with your cursor at different intervals, which look cooler for illustrative/artistic renderings, and you can mess around with the lineweights and stuff a lot more than with a single linetype. This takes a little longer than just modifying your line properties, but it looks a lot better.

 

There's also a trick I use for that to avoid using the shape file for drainage ditches. I will create a block of an arrow and use the MEASURE command along an existing Pline. You'll have to do some manual placement or tweak it to make sure it looks the way you want to, but this ensures that you'll have better results than trying to use a linetype. I'll admit, it took me about 30 minutes of experimenting to get handy with the Measure command, but after a few practice tries I got pretty proficient with it.The help file explains everything.

 

If you're still interested in the treeline/drainage shape files I have, just let me know and I'll upload them. (Can't do this now, not at work and don't have access to the files.)

[dpaulku]

CJJ/BigAl, I fell into the revCloud after I posted and like you it's probably the best solution. I'm a little fuzzy on the concept of replacing a pline with revcloud, however. Sounds like the clear ticket. I was trying to remember the measure command as I typed up my last reply... I knew there was something out there that allowed placing blocks at measured distances but I think I recall it being some what cumbersome. The use of the in a "normally" defined line type completely escaped my short term memory and I'll employ that ASAP. Thanks for the Dope Slap! (On a related point, in my prior life, our admin had developed either a line type or a small piece of lisp that placed an arrow or ">" at the end of a line drawn to represent sanitary sewer as opposed to a repeating arrow along the full extent. We used the repeating pattern to represent storm sewer but a single line terminating with an arrow at a manhole was good for sanitary. Is that something someone could whip together for me or point me to? )

 

As to the dangers of incorporating non-standard linetypes/styles and sharing with third parties, I'm well aware of the pitfalls. Our use is 99.9% internal and any file sharing is apt to be via PDF renditions of the data.

 

Thanks for all the input, it's like brushing away cobwebs...