hatch dash limit?

[halfcracked]

Is there a limit to the # of dashes you can use in a hatch line?

 

I'm trying to setup a hatch for a 3hr wall that has 3 small dashes separated by a long dash. but it keeps crashing AutoCAD. But before it hits the desktop the text box comes saying something about too many definitions.

 

This works fine:

*SA_2HR,HATCH FOR 2HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-.4

 

This crashes:

*SA_3HR,HATCH FOR 3HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-.4

 

Any thoughts?

[ReMark]

I don't believe so. Somewhere around here I have a linetype with four small dashes. Now, what the heck did I call it?

[rkmcswain]

Is there a limit to the # of dashes you can use in a hatch line?

 

If you mean linetype, then yes there is a limit of 12. This is documented in the customization guide.

[ReMark]

12? Good thing to know. Thanks.

[eldon]

I found this in the customization file and would explain why your second line-type crashes.

 

Patterns with Dashed Lines [AutoCAD Customization Guide: ACG]

To define dashed line patterns, you append dash-length items to the end of the line definition item. Each dash-length item specifies the length of a segment making up the line. If the length is positive, a pen-down segment will be drawn. If the length is negative, the segment is pen-up, and it won't be drawn. The pattern starts at the origin point with the first segment, and cycles through the segments in circular fashion. A dash length of 0 draws a dot. You can specify up to six dash lengths per pattern line.

 

 

 

However, rkmcswain says 12, so I am confused I reckon you had better look in your help files under "Patterns with Dashed Lines" and see which applies to you.

[halfcracked]

This is for a HATCH definition

 

So I make it 8 (see my code) which should be under the 12 limit but over 6.

 

Unfortunately the text window pops under some toolbars & the program CTD before I can make out more than a word or two of the error text.

 

Here's the series of hatches I have:

*SA_1HR,HATCH FOR 1HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5,-.4,.5,-.4

*SA_2HR,HATCH FOR 2HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-.4

*SA_3HR,HATCH FOR 3HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-.4

 

you can see it's a progression of adding a dash to each hatch the 1 & 2 hr hatch work fine the 3hr crashes AutoCAD.

 

Hrmmm maybe I'll have to define it as 2 lines overtop eachother.

[eldon]

Here's the series of hatches I have:

*SA_1HR,HATCH FOR 1HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5, -.4, .5, -.4

*SA_2HR,HATCH FOR 2HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5, -.4, .5, -.4, .5, -.4

*SA_3HR,HATCH FOR 3HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5, -.4, .5, -.4, .5, -.4, .5, -.4

 

I am not sure if you are counting the dashes correctly - the 1Hr hatch has 4 dashes, the 2hr hatch has 6 dashes and the 3hr hatch has 8 dashes which crashes AutoCAD

[rkmcswain]

However, rkmcswain says 12, so I am confused

 

I didn't say it, Autodesk did... :wink:

 

"You can enter up to 12 dash-length specifications per linetype..."

[halfcracked]

Yeah it's 8 which is over the limit of 6 for hatches.

Odd that lines can have 12 but hatches only 6.

 

Here's my work around:

*SA_3HR,HATCH FOR 3HR WALLS

0, 0,0, 0,.25, 1.5,-3.1

0, 1.9,0, 0,.25,.5,-.4,.5,-.4,.5,-2.3

[eldon]

I didn't say it, Autodesk did... :wink:

 

Ah - sorted. We were both correct.

 

You were talking about linetypes and I was talking about hatch patterns.

[eldon]

Of course another way to approach the problem would be to hatch and THEN change the linestyle of the hatch.

 

That way you could have your 12 dashes in your linestyle