Customized Hatches

[jason.wulff]

I'm trying to create custom hatches where the scale of the hatch actually makes some sense. Creating the hatch is not the problem, as difficult as it is. For some reason I can't get to use the pattern in existing drawing files. I tried creating my own .pat file so that the patterns would go under the custom tab, but i always get an error that way.

I modified the acad.pat and put my patterns at the end. The patterns show up when I'm working on a new drawing but don't show on an existing drawing, why?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

What Error message do you get?

Take a look at the system variables MEASUREMENT & MEASUREINIT.

MEASUREMENT is the one that will probably answer your existing drawing issue/problem.

Have a good one, Mike

[jason.wulff]

When I tried making a custom .pat file I get a message "error in pattern file"

Otherwise, when i change the acad.pat file, it doesn't show up in the list of patterns to use. Unless its a new drawing. Does the drawing somehow save the pattern file that was used when it was created?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Take a look at the results obtained from a web search -

3 Results for - "error in pattern file" AutoCAD (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=%22error+in+pattern+file%22+AutoCAD&btnG=Search)

OR

Post the Hatch Pattern definitions here so we can take a look.

Have you read up on the two system variables that I gave in my previous post?

If yes and you still can't get it to work let me know and I'll explain further.

If no, read up on them first then back to me (us) if you can't get it to work.

Have a good one, Mike

[jason.wulff]

I've read up on the variables, as i posted on the other thread. Question is how would a normal user have found these variables and their definition? We use seed files for creating drawings so implementing the measurement variable shouldn't be a problem. I just wonder how those variables will affect my custom linetypes that I've already created and implemented.

I still feel the need to create custom hatches though. Some of the hatch patterns scales still don't match up. Some scales we would use at 1 but others are off, and would like to adjust them. So the problem of this stated in this thread is still a problem.

I haven't read your link yet but will do so now and get back to you.

[Mike.Perry]

Question is how would a normal user have found these variables and their definition?.
Hi

Read the AutoCAD OnLine Help File [F1]

Searched the Autodesk Knowledge Base

Post a question within an AutoCAD Forum just like you did

....

Am not trying to be funny with the above, am just trying to point out that if "a normal user" (whatever that term really means) really wants to get to grips with a product like AutoCAD then a fair amount of learning and asking questions will be involved (just like anything in life).

Have a good one, Mike

[jason.wulff]

Point taken, but in my office there are 50 normal users and 1 me. The normal user accepts the flaws with the system and continues to use it. I like to have things consistent and look for the reasons why.

Now back to the hatch error. I can take the AR-CONC hatch and put in in my custom pattern file and get the same error. So its not the hatch definition that's wrong. The custom hatch works like I said I can place it in a new drawing not an existing one(if i put it into the acad.pat file. If there was a flaw with the custom hatch I would get an error with the line number the error is in.

[jason.wulff]

Just to keep everything related to this conversation I'm going to repeat what I posted in the other thread.

Measurement is English or Metric setting also, but is saved with the drawing. The measureint apparently sets the the measurement variable upon starting a new drawing. Changing the measurement variable didn't affect which patterns were available but did change the scale affect of the scale factor.

If I change the Measureinit setting to 0 then exit, an reopen ACAD then the measurement variable is set to 0 on the new drawing. And vice versa. But same hatch patterns appear for both.

[jason.wulff]

Correction, i only see the custom hatch in the acad.pat file when the measurement variable is set to 0. Is there another file that is seen when the measurement variable is set to 1?

The answer is yes, there is an acadiso.pat file. That's my answer. Two files depending on whether its English or Metric.

[Mike.Perry]

Correction, i only see the custom hatch in the acad.pat file when the measurement variable is set to 0. Is there another file that is seen when the measurement variable is set to 1?

The answer is yes, there is an acadiso.pat file. That's my answer. Two files depending on whether its English or Metric.
Hi

MEASUREMENT is Saved within the Drawing.

MEASUREINIT is Saved within the Registry.

MEASUREMENT = 0 -> Acad.pat & Acad.lin are loaded by default within Existing drawings

MEASUREMENT = 1 -> AcadIso.pat & AcadIso.lin are loaded by default within Existing drawings

MEASUREINIT = 0 -> Acad.pat & Acad.lin are loaded by default within New drawings

MEASUREINIT = 1 -> AcadIso.pat & AcadIso.lin are loaded by default within New drawings

Have a good one, Mike

[sifuentes]

So, for MEASUREMENT, does that mean that the acad.pat and lin are loaded every time the drawing is opened?

[Mike.Perry]

So, for MEASUREMENT, does that mean that the acad.pat and lin are loaded every time the drawing is opened?Hi

Not meaning or wishing or to sound rude or unhelpful, does the below snippet taken from THIS post not answer your above question...

<snip>
MEASUREMENT is Saved within the Drawing.

MEASUREINIT is Saved within the Registry.

MEASUREMENT = 0 -> Acad.pat & Acad.lin are loaded by default within Existing drawings

MEASUREMENT = 1 -> AcadIso.pat & AcadIso.lin are loaded by default within Existing drawings

MEASUREINIT = 0 -> Acad.pat & Acad.lin are loaded by default within New drawings

MEASUREINIT = 1 -> AcadIso.pat & AcadIso.lin are loaded by default within New drawings
</snip>

Have a good one, Mike

[madcadder]

To chime in in a different direction for a sec...

When you recieve the message:
Bad pattern definition file:
Missing parameter on line 75. (or whatever the last line number of the file is)
?

I have found that PAT files need a last RETURN down to a new blank line. (line 76 would be blank)
If the last line of the file has code on it, you will get the above error.