Need Some Custom Linetypes

[sparkyuk]

I have tried to make some custom linetypes, I am trying to make linetypes with ether ---Elec--- or ---Data--- etc in the line. just like the ----Gas----- and ----water--- as available as standard, can anyone help me out here and write the lines I need and tell where to save them please ?

[ReMark]

You can use the MKLTYPE command found in Express Tools to create custom linetypes. MKSHAPE is available too.

 

Other options discussed here...http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?27454-Options-for-creating-linetypes.

[sparkyuk]

Did try that but cant get my head around how to design using it, it asks for start/end point (what start and end point ?) then select object etc, do you have to draw what you want then select it ? if I do select the design it says to many points etc ?

[ReMark]

Did you check out the link I posted?

 

Another option would be to copy, then edit, an existing AutoCAD linetype. See Gas_line.

 

Using the default linetype Gas_Line keep in mind you'll have to adjust the spacing as "water", for example, have five letters while "gas" has three. Otherwise it is a simple and effective way of adding a custom linetype to your acad.lin file.

 

You do know how to find the acad.lin file don't you?

[sparkyuk]

No I do not know where the file is please do tell , and how would you alter the spacing please ?

[ReMark]

Use the FINDFILE command. It goes something like this:

 

(findfile"acad.lin")

 

This is typed at the command line just as I have shown it. Press Enter. AutoCAD will return the "path" to where the file is located.

 

The spacing is a matter of adjusting the numbers (up or down) depending on the length of the word or whether you have chosen to use a single letter like this ---G--- or ---W---.

[sparkyuk]

No go with that command ?

 

Unknown command "FINDFILE"ACAD.LIN"". Press F1 for help.

 

Unknown command "FINDFILE". Press F1 for help.

[ReMark]

You read my instructions too fast.

 

"This is typed at the command line just as I have shown it."

 

Try again. It works. I've tested it. Twice.

[nestly]

No I do not know where the file is please do tell , and how would you alter the spacing please ?

 

C:\Documents and Settings\sparkyuk\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD2008\R16.x\enu\Support

... or

Windows Key + F --> Acad.lin

 

Open in Notepad and enter the new linetype defintion at the very bottom under the line that says "User defined Linetypes" then save, then go into AutoCAD and load them via the LINETYPE command. To avoid having to load your custom linetypes, load them into your template drawing, then resave your template.

 

I'm not sure about the spacing thing Remark mentioned, I've never payed any attention to how many characters are in the text string. (shrug)

 

This is the default gas line

 

*GAS_LINE,Gas line ----GAS----GAS----GAS----GAS----GAS----GAS--
A,.5,-.2,["GAS",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25

 

Just copy it, and replace every instance of the word "Gas" with "Elec" (or Data or whatever)

 

*ELEC_LINE,Elec line ----Elec----Elec----Elec----Elec----Elec----Elec--
A,.5,-.2,["Elec",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25

 

*DATA_LINE,Data line ----Data----Data----Data----Data----Data----Data--
A,.5,-.2,["Data",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25

 

[sparkyuk]

My mistake (findfile"acad.lin") works thanks will try to edit tomorrow off home now, thanks for your help so far

[ReMark]

If the spacing is not addressed in the linetype definition then the word WATER or ELEC will end up whacking into the line that comes after it.

 

Technically it is referred to as spacing not so much as it is "pen up" and "pen down". When the pen is up there is a gap until the pen is down then your line starts and continues until a pen up is instituted.

Edited August 11, 2011 by ReMark

[nestly]

I guess I never noticed that because my linetypes with text are all either 3 or 4 letters and fit comfortably within the gap.

 

+1 to my list of things learned today.

[ReMark]

Your gap distance may be wide enough to adsorb the one letter difference. If the OP uses AutoCAD's Gas_Line definition and substitutes the word WATER for GAS I can assure you he will run into a problem. Tested it myself.

[ReMark]

sparkyuk: If you are really interested in creating linetypes from scratch you might want to read Ralph Grabowski's two part series about Working with Linetypes.

 

Here is a link to Part 1 (Lesson #15). At the bottom of the page will be a link to Part 2 (Lesson #16).

 

http://www.upfrontezine.com/tailor/tailor15.htm

[sparkyuk]

Remark & Nestly thanks for your help, I have nearly got it sorted just one last thing thats not right, even after changing the same lines as water to elect it's not spaced right as my picture attached yet the lines look the same, what have i done wrong please

 

*Pe-ELEC_line,ELEC line ----Elect----Elect----Elect----Elect----Elect---

A,1,-2,["Elect",Standard,s=2,r=0,x=-1,y=-1],-8

 

*Pe-Water,Mains Water Pipe ---- Water ---- Water ---- Wat

A,1,-2,["Water",Standard,s=2,r=0,x=-1,y=-1],-8

[nestly]

Linetypes are stored within the drawing, therefore once you load a linetype into the drawing, changing the linetype definition in acad.lin has no affect on how it's displayed in that drawing.

 

I know how to export linetypes from a drawing, but I'm a little rusty on how to overwrite an existing linetype with a new linetype definition. When I've had to do this in the past, I changed all the "Elect" lines to another linetype, then purged the "Elect" linetype from the drawing, then reloaded "Elect" from acad.lin, then switched all the lines back to that linetype.

[ReMark]

I've never seen electrical lines abbreviated as Elect. Elec is more the norm.

 

The gas line is labeled in caps but your water and electrical lines are labeled in upper/lower case. I think you should show some consistency in your labeling conventions.

 

As for the spacing in your electrical linetype are you referring to the length of the line between the line labels? Looks short.

[sparkyuk]

Remark

The only reason I used Elect is to keep the number of letters the same as water, the GAS line isnt one of mine it was already in the drawing lol

 

Yes the length of line is not the same as it is in the water version

[ReMark]

Well its entirely up to you. I may be too fixated on how things look.

 

The length of line issue is puzzling. I'd have to test it out. At first I thought it might be a kerning (letter spacing) issue but now I'm not too sure.

[nestly]

As I said before, the linetype type definition stored in the drawing is probably different than the linetype definition stored in acad.lin. Reload it, or use the RENAME command to rename Pe-ELEC_line to Pe-ELEC_line-old, then re-load Pe-ELEC_line from acad.lin. ... or post the drawing and I'll extract the linetype definitions from you drawing so you can compare it to your acad.lin.