Complex linetype descriptions are placed in LIN files along with simple
linetypes. A complex linetype specifies a single, possibly broken, line
interspersed with symbols. This linetype can denote utilities, boundaries,
contours, and so on. As with simple linetypes, complex lines are dynamically
drawn as the user specifies vertices. Shapes and text objects embedded in lines
are always displayed completely; they are never trimmed.
The syntax for complex linetypes is similar to that of simple linetypes in
that it is a comma-delimited list of pattern descriptors. Complex linetypes can
include shape and text objects as pattern descriptors, as well as the dash-dot
descriptors of simple linetypes. The syntax for both shape and text object
descriptors in a linetype description is as follows:
Shape:
[shapename,shxfilename] or [shapename,shxfilename,transform]
Text :
["string",stylename] or ["string",stylename,transform]
where transform is optional and can be any series of the following (each
preceded by a comma):
In this syntax, ## is a signed decimal number (1, -17, 0.01, and so on), the
rotation is in degrees, and the remaining options are in linetype scaled drawing
units. The preceding transform letters, if they are used, must be followed by an
equal sign and a number.
Code
Defines
R=##
Relative rotation
A=##
Absolute rotation
S=##
Scale
X=##
X offset
Y=##
Y offset
Defining a complex linetype
1. Open the Icad.lin linetype file using a text editor (e.g.Notepad)
2. Add the following two lines:
*ELECTRICAL,__ E240V __ E240V
__ E240V
A,.5,-.5,["E240V",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0,X=0,Y=-.1],-1
3. Save the Icad.lin file as an ASCII text
file.
In the example above:
ELECTRICALis
the name of the linetype
__E240V __E240V __E240V is
the ASCII description.
A,.5,-.5,["E240V",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0,X=0,Y=-.1],-1is the linetype definition
The syntax of the linetype definition is as follows:
The definitions of the fields in the syntax follow.
"string":The text to be used in the complex linetype.
You cannot use the ` or the " characters in the
text string. To use these characters, enter a control code (%%) with the ASCII
value for the character instead.
STYLE:The name of the text style to be elaborated. The
specified text style must be included. If it is omitted, use the currently
defined style.
S=scale: The scale of the style is used as a scale factor by
which the style's height is multiplied. If the style's height is 0, the S=value
alone is used as the scale. Because the final height of the text is defined by
both the S=value and the height assigned to the text style, you will achieve
more predictable results by setting the text style height to 0. Additionally, it
is recommended that you create separate text styles for text in complex
linetypes to avoid conflicts with other text in your drawing.
R=rotate or A=rotate. R= signifies
relative or tangential rotation with respect to the lines elaboration. A= signifies
absolute rotation of the text with respect to the origin; all text has the same
rotation regardless of its relative position to the line. The value can be
appended with a d for degrees (if omitted, degree is the default),
r for radians, or g for grads. If rotation is omitted, 0°
relative rotation is used. Rotation is centered between the baseline and
the nominal cap heights box.
X=xoffset: This field specifies the shift of the text in the
X-axis of the linetype computed from the end of the linetype definition vertex.
If xoffset is omitted or is 0, the text is
elaborated by using the lower-left corner of the text as the offset. Include
this field if you want a continuous line with text. This value is not scaled by
the scale factor that is defined by S=.
Y=yoffset: This field specifies the shift of the text in the
Y-axis of the linetype computed from the end of the linetype definition vertex.
If yoffset is omitted or is 0, the text is
elaborated by using the lower-left corner of the text as the offset. This value
is not scaled by the scale factor that is defined by S=.
Several sample complex linetype definitions are included with Bricsnet
IntelliCAD 2000 v2.2.
