Linetypes

[U.Rackharrow]

When are linetypes saved in the drawing? We come across useful linetypes in third party drawings which we'd like to make available to all. How can we save these to the standard .lin file?

[brandenz]

Here is a lisp routine to export line types that I found. It works pretty well, it saves the file to your default file location. I found it at this site http://www.turvill.com/t2/free_stuff/index.htm
Hope it helps!

[U.Rackharrow]

Thanx,

It sounds good but won't actually select anything either by clicking on or by crossing window in my ACAD2008 - I really want to learn AutoLisp!!

[brandenz]

Thanx,

It sounds good but won't actually select anything either by clicking on or by crossing window in my ACAD2008 - I really want to learn AutoLisp!!

I think you have to type the name of the line type you want to save. There was another lisp on that site that saved all of the line types from a drawing, perhaps that would be more useful?

file name is NEW-LIN.LSP

[rkmcswain]

When are linetypes saved in the drawing?

Always.
Note that for shape based complex linetypes, the shapes are NOT saved in the drawing.

[irneb]

Always.
Note that for shape based complex linetypes, the shapes are NOT saved in the drawing.

Yep! As soon as a linetype is loaded from any LIN file a copy of its definition is saved inside the DWG. Even the standard linetypes in ACAD.LIN / ACADISO.LIN are saved inside the DWG. If shapes you need to have the SHX files as well otherwise they won't even display correctly.

I've seen some linetype extractors before as well, butbrandenz's link seems to work just fine for me.