New Hatch Pattern

[heartache]

Hey, I recently downloaded new hatch pattern that were not in the AtoCAD hatch list and I really need... would you please tell me the step to install them to the hatch list so AutoCAD can recognise them ? thank you ))

[ReMark]

The new hatch pattern should be put in a folder and the path to this folder be called out in Options > Files and Folders. Then AutoCAD will be able to find it.

 

Another option would be to appended the hatch pattern definition to the acad.pat file. You'll have to find the file first. Do that by typing the following (just as you see it) on the command line followed by pressing Enter.

 

(findfile"acad.pat")

 

AutoCAD will return the path to the file's location.

 

Acad.pat can be opened using Microsoft Windows' Notepad.

 

For further information take a look at some of the Similar Threads listed below.

[heartache]

THX A LOT)))) U really saved me ))

[ReMark]

You're entirely welcomed.

[invtw]

Copy and paste the entire contents of my file hatch_pattern_code.txt into your acad.pat hatch file and your acadiso.pat hatch file (aclt.pat and acltiso.pat hatch files for LT). Make sure there is a carriage return at the end of the last line. You will then see the new hatch patterns alongside the standard AutoCAD patterns in the "Other Predefined" tab when using the BHATCH command.

 

In more detail:

You need to locate your existing two standard AutoCAD (or LT) hatch files, open them in a text editor, then copy the hatch pattern code from my file (hatch_pattern_code.txt) into them.

The standard AutoCAD hatch files are acad.pat and acadiso.pat (aclt.pat and acltiso.pat for LT). acad.pat contains the hatch patterns used in imperial drawings, and acadiso.pat contains the hatch patterns used in metric drawings. The patterns in both files are the same except for the dimensions used. Hatch pattern files (.pat) are just ordinary text files consisting mainly of numbers, which is the code AutoCAD uses to draw the hatches.

Typically you will find the hatch files in this directory (folder):

c:\Documents and Settings\(your username)\Application Data\Autodesk\(AutoCAD or LT version)\enu\support

The "Application Data" directory is a hidden one, and might not be visible on your system. To make it visible, go into Windows Explorer (for Windows XP: start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer) then browse to the c:\Documents and Settings\(your username)\ directory. click on: Tools > Folder Options... then click on the "View" tab. Under "Advanced Settings: Hidden files and folders" select "Show hidden files and folders" then hit "OK". This will make the "Application Data" directory visible, and allow you to locate the .pat hatch pattern files.

(The above example shows the drive letter "c:\". This might be different on your system, but the directory structure will be the same.)

If the hatch files are not in this directory (by default they will be) then you will need to search for them. Search for them in Windows Explorer by hitting the "Search" button, selecting "All files and folders", then entering *.pat in the file name search box. Select "My Computer" from the "Look in:" list. Then hit "Search". This will give you the locations of your hatch files.

You might have more than one acad.pat file (or more than one acadiso.pat, aclt.pat, acltiso.pat file). In which case you should use the one that is highest in the "Support File Search Path" list, or use any one and move the directory that it is in to the top of the "Support File Search Path" list (see below).

When you are happy that you have located the acad.pat and acadiso.pat files that you are working with (aclt.pat and acltiso.pat files for LT) you need to open them and paste my hatch pattern code into them. Open the files by double-clicking on them, then selecting Notepad to edit them, or any other PLAIN TEXT editor. If you use something like Word, you could end up with formatting that will have an adverse effect on the operation of the patterns. Alternatively, open Notepad then browse to the files where you previously located them, and open them that way.

You will need to open my hatch_pattern_code.txt file in Notepad also. Select everything in my file and copy it (right-click "Select All", right-click "Copy"). You will notice that a blank line has been selected at the bottom of my data. This is as it should be. This blank line (a carriage return) is to tell AutoCAD that the end of the file has been reached. Without it you will get an error when you try to hatch.

Go into acad.pat (aclt.pat for LT) then go to the last line in the file. Place the cursor at the start of the next blank line, then paste in my code (right-click "Paste"). Do the same with the acadiso.pat file (acltiso.pat for LT). In both cases, ensure there is a carriage return at the end of the last line.

You can paste my code anywhere in your original file. You can pick out my pattern codes and paste them in individually. To make it easier for people who do not do this very often, I suggest pasting everything in at the bottom. Always remembering to have that carriage return at the end of the last line. The order that the patterns appear in the hatch files, determines the displayed order you see when using the BHATCH command. If you use one particular pattern quite often, it is a good idea to move it to the top of the .pat file.

Once you have pasted my code into the relevant files, save them. Ensure that your text editor does not add the extension ".txt" to the file. If need be, you can put the file name in quotes "" when saving it, which will prevent .txt being added to it. The hatch files are NOT case sensitive, so "acad.pat" or "ACAD.PAT" are both acceptable. You will then see the new hatch patterns alongside the standard AutoCAD patterns in the "Other Predefined" tab when using the BHATCH command. You use the new patterns in the same way that you would use the standard patterns (see the note about scale in the "USING THE HATCH PATTERNS" section below). In some cases you might not see a preview swatch of the pattern. This is due to the scale it is drawn in, and does not mean there is an error in the pattern.

Finally, ensure that the directory (folder) containing the hatch files you edited is at the top of the AutoCAD "Support File Search Path" list. AutoCAD (or LT) will use the first acad.pat file it encounters (or acadiso.pat, aclt.pat, acltiso.pat as appropriate). If the hatch files were in the "c:\Documents and Settings\..." directory, then this will probably be at the top already. To check this, in AutoCAD (or LT) go into:

Tools > Options > Files

You will get the search paths dialogue box.

Double-click on "Support File Search Path". This will show a list of directories that AutoCAD searches for files such as .pat hatch pattern files. If the correct directory path is at the top, you don't need to do anything. If you need to move the correct directory path to the top of the list, click on it, then use the "Move Up" button, to move this path to the top of the list. Remember, the correct directory path is the one containing the directory that your edited .pat files were in.

[ReMark]

If the user is running a 64-bit version of AutoCAD the path to acad.pat is going to be quite a bit different. That is why I suggested using (findfile"acad.pat").

 

There is no need to amend both the imperial and metric versions of one's acad hatch pattern file unless one works with both units. Most users work with one or the other.

Edited May 11, 2012 by ReMark