How to fix crazy Z values?

[marisol]

Hi,

Parts of my drawing were not allowing me to distance, dimension or trim them, so I suspected that some of the lines weren't flat. I just checked a troublesome line and it has a crazy Z value. I tried changing Start Z and End Z to "0," but that just moved the line to another place. When I put it back, the Z value changed back. This is driving me crazy. If I'm able to grip points to dimension something, the dimension lines appear way below the points. Other parts of the drawing are fine.

 

I think I accidentally did something to the WCS, but I don't know what or how to fix this. Can anyone help?

 

Many thanks!

[marisol]

No, I don't know it. That will flatten the whole drawing? That would be miraculous!

[ReMark]

Different methods to flatten entities with varying Z-coordinates to Z=0. Via a macro (Source: CADforum)

 

Add a new macro (icon) to your toolbar - in fact two single-line macros (tool buttons) - one for selected objects and the second for all objects:

 

[FlattenSel]

[b][font=Arial]^C^C_UCS;;_select \_move _p;;0,0,1e99;;_move _p;;0,0,-1e99;;[FlattenAll]^C^C_UCS;;_move _all;;0,0,1e99;;_move _all;;0,0,-1e99;;_chprop;_all;;_thickness;0;;[/font][/b] 

 

(keep the macro text on a single line; the displayed format is to be used for old MNU/MNS files - if you add the macro through the new CUI dialog, use just its code starting with ^C)

Do not use it on 3D solids as it may distort them.

 

(original concept by Randy Richardson)

 

* * * * * * * * * *

Using FLATTEN.LSP as originally written by Mark Middlebrook with improvements by Vladmir Livshiz.

 

FLATTEN.LSP sets the Z-coordinates of these types of objects to 0

 

;;; in the World Coordinate System:

;;; "3DFACE" "ARC" "ATTDEF" "CIRCLE" "DIMENSION"

;;; "ELLIPSE" "HATCH" "INSERT" "LINE" "LWPOLYLINE"

;;; "MTEXT" "POINT" "POLYLINE" "SOLID" "TEXT"

 

Link: www.spaug.org/Public_Files/AutoLISP/Flatten.Lsp

 

* * * * * * * * * *

In full AutoCAD one can go to Express Tools and use the FLATTEN OBJECTS command which can be found in the Modify section.

* * * * * * * * * *

Some users have suggested using the FLATSHOT command available in full AutoCAD.

* * * * * * * * * *

And an “oldie but goodie” from “back in the day” is the CHANGE command and its ELEVATION option.

* * * * * * * * * *

Two additional options, in the form of lisp routines, have recently come to my attention. The first is called Flat.lsp (author: unknown) and the second is called Zero.lsp (author: Allen Cullen as submitted to CADTutor on 23-May-2007). Both can be accessed via this link:

 

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?13763-How-to-flatten-the-z&highlight=Extremecheese.....

Edited November 21, 2012 by SLW210
Add CODE TAGS!

[marisol]

Wow... macros are over my head. I've been using 2004 until recently. Using FLATSHOT sounds simple, or CHANGE. I'll try those. Thanks so much!

[marisol]

FLATSHOT seems to be about blocks, unless I'm missing the point.

CHANGE allowed me to change the elevation, which I changed to 0. But it still didn't work. The Z value is still very high.

I just tried to find Express Tools. It is not in my Modify menu. I'm using CAD for Mac... perhaps that's why? But I can't find FLATTEN OBJECTS.

I'm at a loss. I wish I could follow your more complicated instructions. I don't understand how to use the WCS. Any simpler ideas? I really appreciate your help!

[JD Mather]

.... But I can't find FLATTEN OBJECTS.

 

Did you install Express Tools?

[marisol]

Ah... don't think so. Is there a command I can type in the meantime?

[rkent]

remark, I would forget all of those and get superflatten.lsp instead.

[ReMark]

Attach a copy of your DWG file to your next post.

[ReMark]

remark, I would forget all of those and get superflatten.lsp instead.

 

Is that the one by Joe Burke (ver 1.2e)?

[JD Mather]

Ah... don't think so.

 

I thought it was the default setting to install Express Tools.

Who installed your software?

Go to Control Panel and do a Repair install.

[rkent]

That is the one, I think I have 1.2c.

[eldon]

I think I accidentally did something to the WCS.

 

Have you tried the command Plan, and chosen the World option?

[marisol]

@JD, I just did googled express tools and discovered they aren't included on the Mac version.

 

@eldon, what should I do after choosing the World option? I don't know what I'm doing... very rusty on CAD and slowly refreshing my memory. But so much has changed!

[marisol]

I tried to respond hours ago, but I got a message saying my post had to be approved. SO I'm giving it another try...

JD, apparently there are no Express Tools in the Mac version.

Eldon, I don't know what to do after choosing the World option. I'm really rusty on AutoCAD and would be so appreciative if someone could give me dumbed-down instructions. Thanks!

[eldon]

I had the impression that your whole drawing may have been (unintentionally) rotated a bit. I tried AutoCAD on a Mac, but was confused with the various finger movements needed for control, and everything did start to rotate about axes that I never knew existed.

 

You could try setting the UCS also to world and then try the Plan command with the World option. This should settle everything back to the X,Y planes being flat to the screen, and the Z plane being vertical out of the screen (normal 2D setup).

[marisol]

Thanks Eldon, but doing that moved some things around without changing the Z values. I gave up and redrew the whole thing. Sigh...