Polyline as series of arrows

[autocadstarter]

Dear forum members,

 

You helped me tremendously last time so I hope you guys can help me again.

I want to draw polylines that looks like a series of alternately arrows and stripes.

In the added picture I give an example where you can see alternately an arrow and stripe, this should continue over the whole polyline I draw in a drawing.

The direction of the arrows can just be from start to end point of the polyline.

It would be nice to change the width of the polyline but I'm just looking for the easiest solution to use.

 

Thanks in advance,

Marc

[ReMark]

Create a custom linetype using the Make Shape and Make Linetype commands found in Express Tools.

[autocadstarter]

Thanks for the quick response!

I have never worked with those tools but will look into it to see if I'm able to create this special line.

Will reply within a few days to tell if I succeeded or need some quidance on this.

[ReMark]

I think it can also be done using symbols that come as part of a font set or a dedicated symbol set (i.e. - "wingdings") but I'm not exactly sure how to go about it.

[BIGAL]

You can simply not quite what you posted get ----->------ It uses the > character maybe using Arail bold to make fat.

 

the linetype
*DRAINARIAL,Drainage pipe ----D----D----D----D----D
A,40,-5.08,["D",ARIAL,S=1.8,R=0.0,X=-1.8,Y=-.9],-3
*DRAIN_ARIAL_LEFT2,Drainage pipe ----D---->----D---->----D---->--
A,5,-0.625,["D",ARIAL,S=1.25,R=0.0,X=-0.5625,Y=-0.5625],-0.625,5,-1.25,[">",ARIAL,S=3.75,R=0.0,X=-3.75,Y=-1.875],-1.25

[autocadstarter]

Thanks for your suggestion BIGAL but it's a formal shape so I can't really deviate from it.

I have started with your suggestion of custom linetypes ReMark and gained some knowledge about it but I'm stuck now.

 

It seems I can build a custom linetype from polylines directly or by first changing them into shapes.

First I tried to save my filled polylines into a shape but the filling is not saved with the line.

Next I changed the width of the polyline to fill the entire figure and saved it to a shape but when I load the shape the linewidth is back to normal which means the shape isn't filled.

At last I tried to directly create a custom linetype from the polyline to avoid the conversion caused during the shape creation.

But when I draw a line and select the created custom linetype I only see a dashed line with the correct spacings between them from the figures, so it seems the width is very small but can't figure out why.

 

I added the dwg file with the polyline figures that have to be created into a custom line and the predefined start and endpoint of the line to have a nice transition of the figures in each drawn line. I can't add the seperate shape and custom linetype files but maybe they are still inside the dwg file.

 

I hope someone can help me forward,

Thanks in advance

pijl.dwg

[ReMark]

I won't be able to check out your drawing until tomorrow (Thursday) morning as I am on my laptop and not on my CAD computer. Maybe someone else can advise you. If not I promise to check this thread first thing in the morning and see where things stand. Best I can do at the moment.

[autocadstarter]

No problem and thanks for the effort so far, hope you can help me forward.

[ReMark]

Sorry, no luck so far. Tried a couple of times too. I've done this maybe three or four times and I always run into a problem initially but eventually figure out what I am doing wrong. Maybe that will happen here too. No promises.

 

Can't seem to fill the shapes. I'll have to sleep on it and see if I have any better luck Friday.

Edited February 25, 2016 by ReMark

[BIGAL]

Remark any idea on how to make a True type font ? We have an extensive library of traffic signs that are all TTF. Reg Signs 1 "a" = stop sign. Bit like microstation cells. Can they then be used in a line type ? Arial works.

[ReMark]

No clue here BIGAL. Like I said I only do this on a limited basis and except for one occasion it's been for people who join this forum looking for help. After I have had several cups of coffee this morning I may give it another shot.

[eldon]

I think that shapes can only be a conglomeration of lines, so a solid would actually consist of closely spaced lines.

 

To allow the shapes to follow a curve better, the arrow and the line would have to be separate shapes.

 

If there is to be no editting of the lines once drawn, I would explore the possibility of using Measure with two blocks.