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Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 3:49 pm
by Tim Mohr
Is there a macro out there from times gone by that will do a batch conversion of line entities to polylines? specifically I am looking for a way to hatch shapes drawn with lines ... my current (and long term) solution is to export to autocad, hatch the shapes in question and then export/import it back into datacad...

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:19 am
by caddboss
Why not just simply try the Curves->Polyline->Edit->Line to Poly command?

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 10:05 am
by Paul Nida
Or use contour search and click inside the enclosed space.

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:43 pm
by Tim Mohr
I usually avoid this as an issue by simply drawing with polylines if I know I am likely to want to hatch the result or use it as an overlay/knockout. However, sometimes it's easier to use the multi-line function with its ability to set offsets, auto-clean intersections, etc.when drawing some sort of matrix but hatching this is a different story as it's tedious to pick each space and/or to run through the "line to polyline" function - the easy fix is to simply export to dwg and bring it back in which will converted all of the (presumably closed) shapes to polylines...

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 4:49 pm
by caddboss
Not quite getting it (that AutoCAD export-import thing)... :?:

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:46 pm
by dhs
...sometimes it's easier to use the multi-line function with its ability to set offsets, auto-clean intersections, etc...


You can create offset polylines using my Offset macro (http://www.dhsoftware.com.au/offset.htm). Closed shapes will also auto-close the offset polyline.

Note that the current install file does not offer an install option for DataCAD 20 ... I'll get around to updating this in due course, but in the meantime the DataCAD 19 option should work just fine.

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 7:22 pm
by Roger D
Another option. Copy the smart walls to a new layer. You might also have to move z by say 10' so the openings do not cut the walls. Then Tools/Extract 2d/3d /Extract 2d this will change the smart wals in to 2d lines on a layer call walls_2d. Then you can hatch using that layer and Controur Search.

Re: Hatching-polylines old question?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 7:45 pm
by Tim Mohr
Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone...basically I am just dealing with a flat matrix aka winodow mull options and I did it with the multi-lines - just looking for a way to hatch without having to retrace my steps...if I export to dwg and then Hatch it in ACAD, I can then reopen in DCAD and the matrix will have been effectively converted to a polyline...point is ACAD can recognize closed shapes drawn with lines ....ie do this in one step. Just was hoping someone had written a macro that would do this...will check out the sundry suggestions but all seem like work arounds-for which I have a reasonably easy solution already...? Thanks. Tim