topic Re: Pen shapes change? in Modeling

Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:28:38 GMT

is there any way to change the pens line shape?
I want them to be square-like, like here below:

Re: Pen shapes change?

Erich — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:15:10 GMT

Sorry, this is not possible.

However, depending on why you were hoping to change pen shape, there may be other options. What was it you wanted to accomplish that requires the "square" pen?

For instance, you may want a sharp square edge for a boarder on a title block. For something like that consider using a fill with the center cut out. This will result in a clean square edged corner.

Lastly, welcome to the forum. I suggest that you fill out a signature (Click "Profile" at the top of the page) and add information about which version on ArchiCAD you are using (see mine below for an example), and some basic information about the machine you are using. This information is often essential to answering questions as the answers can often vary depending on such factors.

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:35:05 GMT

Take a look:

When I make maps etc, it always looks crayon-like:)
The fills can be done, but lines - its too hard:(

Re: Pen shapes change?

Karl Ottenstein — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:03:37 GMT

This is one of many long-standing wishes for control over line display.

See this 'wish' thread and vote:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=941

...although your example of a true heavy dashed line might be added to that wish to give a good graphic example of this issue. You'll notice that the wish thread started more than 5 years ago...

Karl

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:42:03 GMT

OK, I see.
Well I hope they will add it soon.
I was pretty sure its not possible, yet its always better to ask(and find that some people have wished for this for 5 years:D)

Can you add my drawing there? Im not sure how and where to put this:)

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:59:18 GMT

There is a workaround for this but it is not great. Lines are don't miter at the ends and the dash strictly follows its module so it may be void at one end. Polylines clean up the corners but taper them in a strange way.

Kind of a drag to be so close but no cigar on such a long standing wish.

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:04:28 GMT

If you want it despite the limitations here is an aat file...

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:30:34 GMT

There are also tricks with walls and fills but they suffer from their own set of problems.

(These use a striped fill with no outlines.)

Re: Pen shapes change?

Eduardo Rolon — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:28:58 GMT

Another option is to export the pdf and edit the line in Illustrator, there you can specify the square option. Before exporting the pdf make sure that the line has an unique color, linetype or thickness so that you can use the "select same…" menu command and then apply the change.

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:02:49 GMT

I recall Dwight offering a suggestion for square lines a while back (but a quick search hasn't found it). Basically it was a linetype created with multiple dashed lines offset from each other by the relevant pen thickness. I can't remember the intracacies but have a go, or Dwight may be able to point us to his original post.

Re: Pen shapes change?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:44:30 GMT

s2art wrote:
I recall Dwight offering a suggestion for square lines a while back (but a quick search hasn't found it). Basically it was a linetype created with multiple dashed lines offset from each other by the relevant pen thickness. I can't remember the intracacies but have a go, or Dwight may be able to point us to his original post.

That's what I used in my first example. It is limited.