Topic: Help:Crashing ACAD with Custom Hatch Pattern

[Krushert]

:realmad: :realmad: :realmad: :realmad:

I am trying to create my first pattern.  a simple two continuous lines for mini- ribbed siding.
After much try and error i got it to hatch for me. 

however I cannot edit the hatch and when i try to plot the file.  it crashes the ACAD.  :realmad:

if i delete the hatch it works fine and no crashes. 

I cant edit the hatch using either the hatch edit command, the AEC commands or the properties palette.

Can someone take a look at the file for me and  tell me why it is crashing #%$&#@^ Acad

[Keith™]

ARGH.... what a mess ...

Ok .. a quick hatch and subsequent look at the code figured it out ....

If you are simply looking to have a vertical pattern repeating every 10 inches at 0", 3/4" 3 1/4", and 4" intervals then use this edited pattern

The simple way to figure out how to create a hatch pattern like this is to look at the items in the line as repeating sets of coordinates. For example:

90, 0,0, 0,10

This tells AutoCAD that the hatch is rotated 90 degrees, starts at 0,0 and is repeated every 0 inches in the X direction and 10 inches in the Y direction (don't be fooled by the obvious fact that the hatch is actually spaced in the X direction, as the direction is rotated by 90 degrees

So, to have a set of matching vertical lines to create your pattern ....

We have a line at zero

90, 0,0, 0,10

at 3/4"

90, .75,0, 0,10

at 3 1/4"

90, 3.25,0, 0,10

and at 4"

90, 4,0, 0,10


Have fun with your new pattern

[Krushert]

ARGH.... what a mess ...

 
In my angry haste, I attached the wrong hatch pattern. The one I copied from and started playing with.  and this one came with ADT 2007.

I do agree it is a mess.

Attached is my version of a mess.    I haven’t compared it against you recommendations.  Of course I am right in the middle of deadline that was sprung on because of client going on vacation, so I will be jumping in and out. 
Thanks.

[Keith™]

Ok then how about this ..

[Krushert]

Ok then how about this ..

Similar with what I came up with but i got rid of the 90 deg component. 

But I cant still edit the hatch.  See attached warning for when I try to change the rotation thru Properties pallete.
Now i am going to go see if i can crash ACAD.

[Krushert]

Okay I am getting this and begining to see the problem <I think>

I can create the hatch but ACAD can not read the hatch when I try to edit the hatch.
see attached PNG when I used the Hatch Edit command and selected the hatch.  The editor comes up but says no custom hatch was selected. 

[Krushert]

 
Yeah I crashed ACAD.  Not a great accomplishment though.
When I try to plot after editing it crashes.

I think I will go back to drafting the lines the old fashion way.

[Krushert]

The simple way to figure out how to create a hatch pattern like this is to look at the items in the line as repeating sets of coordinates. For example:

90, 0,0, 0,10

This tells AutoCAD that the hatch is rotated 90 degrees, starts at 0,0 and is repeated every 0 inches in the X direction and 10 inches in the Y direction (don't be fooled by the obvious fact that the hatch is actually spaced in the X direction, as the direction is rotated by 90 degrees

Oh BTW Keith,
Thanks for putting this in context for me.

[Keith™]

Ok .. well what is it that you are looking for? I am at a loss ... you wanted the hatch pattern fixed .. which I did, but then you edited it to something else ..

Lets start from the beginning ...

You must name the hatch file the EXACT name as the name of the hatch pattern defined in the file. You cannot have more than 1 definition of a hatch pattern in a custom hatch. The custom hatch MUST be in the path specified by the support path, otherwise you will not be able to use it.

Now, you cannot rotate certain hatch patterns using the properties dialog if the hatch pattern name is over a certain number of characters long.

So, you should shorten the length of the pattern name if you want to modify it through the properties dialog.

[Jeff_M]

Now, you cannot rotate certain hatch patterns using the properties dialog if the hatch pattern name is over a certain number of characters long.

So, you should shorten the length of the pattern name if you want to modify it through the properties dialog.

Also, note this from the helpfile:

Regardless of where the definition is stored, a custom hatch pattern has the same format. It has a header line with a name, which begins with an asterisk and is no more than 31 characters long, and an optional description:

[Krushert]

Ok .. well what is it that you are looking for? I am at a loss ... you wanted the hatch pattern fixed .. which I did, but then you edited it to something else ..

Aaaahhh sorry if I upset you.       
I do (did) have two problems.  Creating the hatch pattern and the crashing of the ACAD when using said pattern.

 In my 10 years of using ACAD, I never created a hatch pattern.  My first creation was kind like doing emergency brain surgery with a dull chain saw and 15lb sledge.   Very messy as you pointed out.  You fixed that for me by both fixed the pattern itself and by explaining it to me.  I got to thinking and deciding that this pattern will be at all kinds of angles so I deleted the 90 component to make it simpler.

The crashing part is what really was upsetting me and we are against a deadline with a lot of work so we have the engines screaming over here and the Architect wants things shown exactly as they are.  So my patience yesterday was at it limits and if I said anything rash.  Sorry it was not meant that way.

Lets start from the beginning ...

You must name the hatch file the EXACT name as the name of the hatch pattern defined in the file.

Learn this the hard way yesterday.

You cannot have more than 1 definition of a hatch pattern in a custom hatch.

I don’t, if I understand you correctly.  One pattern per file.  We cannot have it like the ACAD.PAT file.  (Which kinds of answers a question in the back of my head that we cannot have a single company hatch file up on the server so all my users can pull from.)

The custom hatch MUST be in the path specified by the support path, otherwise you will not be able to use it.

It is in the same folder as the installed PAT files.

Now, you cannot rotate certain hatch patterns using the properties dialog if the hatch pattern name is over a certain number of characters long.

So, you should shorten the length of the pattern name if you want to modify it through the properties dialog.

It does look kind of long, now that you mention it.   

Thanks again and my apologies.

[Krushert]

Shorten the file name to less than 31 characters and works, can edit it and it don't crash my computer when I try to plot.
Mucho thanks guys.

[Keith™]

[Aaaahhh sorry if I upset you.     

No, you did not upset me .. perhaps I worded my response incorrectly. I was merely trying to ascertain "exactly" what it was you were looking for as far as the hatch pattern is concerned. No harm as far as I am concerned. I am very glad you managed to get it to work.

Enjoy!