Topic: Water Hatch?

[JCTER]

With my standard text style set to use RomanS, I get this:

I love that .gif    I think it's his facial expression... it just MAKES the image... it really does. 

I'm sure I'll have use for this later... so thanks for the motivation to try it, Craig!  I hope that helps you... here's a legend for what each part of that deal does:

A, (key for 'alignment' which all linetype defitions must start wtih)
-0,  (the '-' specifies "PEN UP" (think of raising or lowering your pen as you draw a line) and the zero is the distance... so it's a zero width space... Not sure if it's necessary, but I think you're supposed to start a line with a dash-or-space, and not a letter.  The acad.lin examples do so, anyways)
["(",  (  The opening [ begins the definition of a text character.  Inside quotes, is the character, ( to be used )
STANDARD, this specifies the TEXT STYLE (not font name) to be used for the text character.
S=.5,  This is a factor to SCALE the text character by. 
R=90.0,  This is the degrees to ROTATE the text character. 
X=-0.188,  This is the offset in the X direction (parallel to the line) to move the characters origin.  In this case I moved it left (I think) 0.188 units.
Y=-.25],  This is the offset for Y, similar to above, but perpendicular to the direction of the line you're drawing... this ends the text character definition and so has a closed bracket ]
-0.75 This is a "PEN UP" (signified by the dash) distance of 0.75 units... just to create a buffer distance between the start of the next repetition of the pattern.  If you increase or decrease this number, it will probably be a nice place to start to space your waves closer or further. 

I never got to the point where I was any good with linetypes... I have to do a -lot- of trial and error, a lot of reloading the linetype, to get to where I'm satisfied.  It's a very archaic system.

[craigr]

Thanks for the code!!

Your example looks great!  I had to change one of your numbers to make it work for me but the bottom of my waves are Squared off instead of rounded like yours.

It looks the same if I just type the ( in SLine Text.

It even squares it off when printed.

Do you have any ideas?

[Matt__W]

Whats your standard text style using for font?  If it's TXT.shx, then thats the problem.  Try switching to something mo' bettah!

[craigr]

First off, this is GREAT!!!

I LOVE learning this stuff!!!

So, another question, is see where you are talking about and it IS using the Txt.shx.

Which one is yours set to?

[Matt__W]

First off, this is GREAT!!!

I LOVE learning this stuff!!!

So, another question, is see where you are talking about and it IS using the Txt.shx.

Which one is yours set to?

I was using SIMPLEX.shx.

[CAB]

Yes, htis worked for me after tweaking the y=  no need for -0

Code: [Select]

A,0,["(",STANDARD,S=.5,R=90.0,X=-0.188,Y=-.12],-0.75

[craigr]

Okay, here is the latest pic.

The linetype will not go to the edges of the container, so I cannot use my 'Water' hatch inside it.

Which number do I mess with?

[Matt__W]

Okay, here is the latest pic.

The linetype will not go to the edges of the container, so I cannot use my 'Water' hatch inside it.

Which number do I mess with?

I don't think you'll ever get it to be 100% exact (at least that's been my experience).  And if you do (and if you D-O-O-O-O-O-O) what will happen if your rectangle changes dimensions?  You might be better off just drawing an arc, making a block of it, and using the MEASURE command instead.  Just thinking out loud.

[craigr]

Argh!!!

We are SOOO close!!!

I'll have to keep pecking away at it - this would be tough to let go.

Thanks for all of your help!! You have helped me learn alot.

craigr

[JCTER]

Okay, here is the latest pic.

The linetype will not go to the edges of the container, so I cannot use my 'Water' hatch inside it.

Which number do I mess with?

I'll be honest with you, that's one thing I've had trouble with as well.  Text linetypes will never be truly awesome, because unless it can complete the next 'repetition' in it's entirety, it just leaves it off and ends it with either a dash, or a space, depending on how you started it ( I think )

I'm sorry, I don't know how much help I can be.

I changed the code to this:

*WATER,Water Linetype UUUUUUUUUUU
A,0,["(",STANDARD,S=.5,R=90.0,X=.27,Y=-.1],-0.75

Which helped eliminate SOME of the offset, but you can never get it to completely fill the length of the line.  If there's not enough room to fit a WHOLE parenthesis, it won't put one at all... it's unfortunate, but one of those quirks :\

Kind of like if you have a CENTER linetype... and the line is too short, it won't show ANY dashes, making it look continuous... same reason, here.

What I've done before is play with the line length and just find the best fit.  Sometimes if you make it a LITTLE longer than the box, in this case, it might "appear" better.  Gotta just find the best case.

Maybe better would be a dynamic block... got those in LT? 

[mjfarrell]

you will be happier using an arc as a compiled shx within your linetype

[craigr]

Okay, NOW I understand why it is leaving it off.

So, it looks like the linetype may not be what I want after all.

I am exploring the 'measure' command that you mentioned. Maybe that will do it for me.

Thanks

[JCTER]

you will be happier using an arc as a compiled shx within your linetype

How would that behave differently than a text character?

[Matt__W]

Okay, here is the latest pic.

The linetype will not go to the edges of the container, so I cannot use my 'Water' hatch inside it.

Which number do I mess with?

Again, thinking out loud...

Let's say you moved the U's so that they fall within the limits of your rectangle (forgetting the fact that the actual ends of the line don't) can you change the line type scale to have the U's shrink/grow to fill the space?  I haven't tried so like I said... just thinking out loud.

[mjfarrell]

you will be happier using an arc as a compiled shx within your linetype

How would that behave differently than a text character?

they finished the segments cleaner