101 Hatch Patterns

[acad]

At one time, I thought I was the only one in the world to pay $100 each year to purchase the 101 hatch pattern library. I've since found a whole host of people that used to use this. Now the product (I assume the same) is free at hatchpatterns.com.

At any rate, the old way we used to add this, and still according to the readme, was to rename the AutoCAD .slb and .pat files and then copy these files from the creators of the custom hatch to that directory. The authors had taken all the newest ACAD hatch patterns and appended theirs to the end of the file in both cases. It was great.

Now that it's free, it hasn't evolved past 2000i. Since ACAD 2004 & 2005 don't use slide libraries (thought the .slb library is still there), you now can't view the custom hatch patterns. I'm also wondering what new hatches ACAD added between 2000i and 2005. If you use the old custom .pat file, then you are essentially missing any new hatch patterns.

The readme and the website both say that you can get another program to create your own slide libraries as an option.

I'm just wondering what other methods might be available that some of our ingenious AUGI members can think of or have tried?

I'm not sure I explained this in the best manner so ask if my post sounds too confusing!

Thanks!

[mjfarrell]

Beth,

Here you go:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...linkID=2475323

In brief;

In newer releases of the software, the image generated in the Boundary Hatch dialog box is read straight from the pattern definition files (for example, acad.pat, aclt.pat and any custom hatch patterns) that are found in the support folders. Therefore, there is generally no need to create a slide library for these releases of the software.

[acad]

Thanks Michael!

The only question that remains is that if the .pat file that the custom hatch people have is based on 2000i and I copy that to my support directory (or documents and settings... directory), then what hatch patterns might I be missing that Adesk has included since that release?

The main patterns that I like are their (custom hatch) concrete hatch and rip rap. I used to use those all the time and have found that at least 3 other users liked the same thing.

Thanks!

[mjfarrell]

This falls into file management,
and directory search path manipulation.

Create a folder somewhere called 101hatches or what ever,
place that PAT file in that folder, then add that folders path
to the support directory search path.

In this manner you preserve the native hatch patterns,
and segregate the 101 Hatches into there own folder.
This also helps when it comes time to upgrade or reinstall
the product; as then you do not overwrite the 101 patterns
because they are safely tucked away in there own little safe-house.

Another option would be to open the ACAD, and 101 PAT files
side by side in two sessions of notepad, and compare, copy paste
between them and save the resultant file as MYHATCHES.PAT file
again saving it in it's own folder as above.

[acad]

You are right (as usual). That's why the forums are so great. When we have those moments when we cease to use our brains, we can come here for the "wake up call".