topic ArchiCAD line type issue. in Modeling

ArchiCAD line type issue.

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:08:35 GMT

Hey Guys,

I've got a line type question here for ArchiCAD 9, perhaps someone can help me out? I am in the process of re-doing my firm's line types for showing rated walls (1-hr, 2-hr, etc). There is a line type in AutoCAD that we like and are trying to mimic. The problem is, ArchiCAD seems to be rounding out the line edges when I make the pen weight very heavy. The image below shows what I'm trying to do. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks much!

Alan

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Dwight — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:04:52 GMT

I sympathise - Archicad tries to make pen lines look like Rapidograph lines, not Graphos lines.

Since you see that one fat line will blob up, make a new line type with your dashes at the interval you want and then multiply ten of them laterally very close together to broaden the stroke.

When drawn with a medium pen weight, it will stay square and look solid.

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:02:58 GMT

Thanks Dwight! That worked well. I created my new line type and it plotted great!

Thanks again!

Alan

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Dennis Lee — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:49:45 GMT

For whatever it's worth, here is what I did with composite walls.

I made up some custom fills as shown in the image, used them for the fill in the composite wall dialog, and I get nice straight lines (fills) in the walls.

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:57:49 GMT

Dwight wrote:
Since you see that one fat line will blob up, make a new line type with your dashes at the interval you want and then multiply ten of them laterally very close together to broaden the stroke.

Hey! excellent tip Dwight I've been thinking about mimicking this line type for quite some time.

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:21:56 GMT

Dwight wrote:
I sympathise - Archicad tries to make pen lines look like Rapidograph lines, not Graphos lines.

Since you see that one fat line will blob up, make a new line type with your dashes at the interval you want and then multiply ten of them laterally very close together to broaden the stroke.

When drawn with a medium pen weight, it will stay square and look solid.

Dwight,

I assume you are meaning to multiply the single line in the drawing, which is a handy trick but a bit tedious. So you got me thinking...

What about applying the same trick to a symbol line type? I tried it and it works to a point. Lines have to be adjusted at corners to look their best, Polylines do their weird squeeze/taper at corners, but do a great job on tangential joins.

Not perfect but it approaches something people have been wishing for mightily for a long time.

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:42:12 GMT

Matthew wrote:
What about applying the same trick to a symbol line type?

That's how I interpreted Dwight's suggestion...and used it in a symbol line type. I agree with Matthew though that it would be a tedious job doing it purely as drawing lines....I would almost be tempted to do it as a fill offset to my liking using a very thin pen weight instead. I think the symbol line type method would be most preferred.

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Dwight — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:23:05 GMT

On reflection i can see how you might interpret what i said as suggesting separate lines, but i intended the ten lines to be assembled together in the symbolic line as you suggest.

What a difference a word makes, eh?

Re: ArchiCAD line type issue.

Da3dalus — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:48:01 GMT

Great advice, guys. I've just recently been faced with this question from an architect that wants to duplicate the zip-tape or LetraSet LetraLine patterns in ArchiCAD. They come in very handy for fire rating, as well as demarcation of phases, match lines, mark-ups, and work limits.

We've been doing it with AutoCAD for years... Polylines can have width, which forms sharp, thick dashes. They can even taper between points, though I can't say I've ever used it that way.

I've used the wall-fill trick, but unfortunately, you can't use walls in details or on layout, which is where I need them.