Can anyone tell me how to control line weight on a polyline with a global width set to something other than 0??ÿ I normally control line weight with colors and line weight set on .ctb file.?ÿ However, this doesn't seem to change on a polyline with a global width set.?ÿ I have storm pipes drawn using Carlson pipe routine.?ÿ It's basically 3 polylines: 2 polylines on outside edge of pipe set to 0 and the one in the middle is set to width of pipe.?ÿ
The catch to using thickened polylines is that you then lose the ability to control the lineweight through the CTB file. This may or may not be a problem depending if the object is shown at different scales.
I would prefer to view the lineweights as they'd print opposed to having everything be the same thickness. There is a "hack" to achieving this. It involved using an STB file, the 'other' type of plot style which while good, is something most people aren't familiar with.
I use AutoCAD, not Carlson, so there might be another workaround. I also program LISP and can envision a few solutions but it really depends what your end goal is.
I normally control line weight with colors and line weight set on .ctb file.
This gives me a chance to evangelize about .ctb files and lineweights.?ÿ I set my lineweights in my layering, then draw with lineweights BYLAYER (also linetypes and colors BYLAYER, just like everybody does). Using the monochrome.ctb file that comes with ACAD out of the box the lineweights are by entity, not according to?ÿ some lineweight setting in the ctb.?ÿ
Why in the wide, wide world of sports do we all set linetypes and colors in the layering and draw linetypes and colors BYLAYER, and then plot per the entity setting - but not do the same for lineweights??ÿ What is up with that? Well, the answer lies in the days when we used plotters with actual pens of different thicknesses in them. You know, ancient history.
What is it exactly that you are wanting to accomplish? I don't understand the polyline down the middle.?ÿ
I normally control line weight with colors and line weight set on .ctb file.
Why in the wide, wide world of sports do we all set linetypes and colors in the layering and draw linetypes and colors BYLAYER, and then plot per the entity setting - but not do the same for lineweights??ÿ What is up with that?
Sounds like you are advocating for STB files! I'm with you on that! I've never set line weights with a ctb file in use (when I'm forced to use a ctb), but you're saying it can be done? Seems like I've tried changing individual entities with no luck when I get the inevitable "make this lighter" comment when I'm already using the lightest pen in the ctb file.?ÿ
The catch to using thickened polylines is that you then lose the ability to control the lineweight through the CTB file. This may or may not be a problem depending if the object is shown at different scales.
I would prefer to view the lineweights as they'd print opposed to having everything be the same thickness. There is a "hack" to achieving this. It involved using an STB file, the 'other' type of plot style which while good, is something most people aren't familiar with.
I use AutoCAD, not Carlson, so there might be another workaround. I also program LISP and can envision a few solutions but it really depends what your end goal is.
- Yeah polyline widths are nothing but trouble if you're using different viewport scales.?ÿ
- I know it's popular to use the word hack these days, but you don't need to be using an STB file to have lwdisplay work.
- Carlson is not a cad engine. It works within AutoCad or Intellicad.?ÿ
I normally control line weight with colors and line weight set on .ctb file.
Why in the wide, wide world of sports do we all set linetypes and colors in the layering and draw linetypes and colors BYLAYER, and then plot per the entity setting - but not do the same for lineweights??ÿ What is up with that? Well, the answer lies in the days when we used plotters with actual pens of different thicknesses in them. You know, ancient history.
I've been asking this question ever since AutoCad added lineweights.
We all know the answer.
"That's the way we've always done it"?ÿ
Sounds like you are advocating for STB files! I'm with you on that! I've never set line weights with a ctb file in use (when I'm forced to use a ctb), but you're saying it can be done??ÿ
I'm not for STB's. I like the idea of divorcing the lineweight from the color, but what STBs give you is easily done with a CTB these days.?ÿ STBs became redundant & obsolete when they added the lineweight and transparency setting to the layering, IMO.?ÿ ?ÿ
Yes, I am saying it can be done, and that I do it. Also transparency, same way. So the layer color is simply the color on the screen and nothing more. Achieve what you do with .stb without having to jump through all that .stb hoopage.?ÿ
The one thing that my?ÿ ctb still changes is to plot in black regardless of the color on the screen / layer / entity. Except for a half dozen layers which I have set to plot in the screen color (colors 10, 50, 100, 160, 200 are set to plot red, yellow, green, blue, & magenta, colors 250-254 are set to plot in corresponding shades of gray)?ÿ?ÿ
Seems like I've tried changing individual entities with no luck when I get the inevitable "make this lighter" comment when I'm already using the lightest pen in the ctb file.
With my method you can set any weight you like on the entity. With yours, if the ctb doesn't have a pen and color defined lighter you just aren't going to have that freedom. If your lightest pen is 0.18mm (or maybe 0.13mm) you probably should go any lighter than that anyway.?ÿ It won't scan.?ÿ?ÿ
It??s how field to finish draws a storm pipe. ?ÿI??ve done it manually the same way before field to finish.?ÿ
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- Yeah polyline widths are nothing but trouble if you're using different viewport scales.?ÿ
- I know it's popular to use the word hack these days, but you don't need to be using an STB file to have lwdisplay work.
- Carlson is not a cad engine. It works within AutoCad or Intellicad.?ÿ
?ÿ
2: The lwdisplay doesn't work in model space in every version of AutoCAD I've ever used (unless I'm using a STB file). And believe me I've tried everything to get it to work. I'm curious though... mind trying it for yourself? Do you use AutoCAD or something else? Although it does work in Paperspace, I absolutely hate working through Paperspace layouts, so not a solution (for me at least).
3: I know. But they sell iCAD (with a perpetual license) as a complete package. They actually call it "Carlson iCAD": https://www.carlsonsw.com/product/carlson-icad. So yes it works within AutoCAD, but IntelliCAD is a platform which people build on top of and sell in their own flavor. It looks like it's improved immensely over the years but unfortunately it's just lacking a few features that I can't live without 🙁
Yeah I know it doesn't work in model space. You didn't specify a particular space. I personally don't ever turn on line weights.?ÿ
I use AutoCad. I agree with you about Intellicad. For those that find it suits their purpose, more power to them. It just doesn't work for me. Same with Carlson.
I'm mistaken. And my lineweight nightmares are coming back (it's common to get consultant drawings with this issue, hence why I had to figure it out way back in the day). lwdisplay does work if you set the layer (or object's) lineweight to something other than default. The catch is that this method also scales the lineweight based on your zoom level. Thicker line weights blot out everything else when you zoom out. The stairs I'm working on demonstrates this well:
I tried to find a workaround/solution as this seemed like undesirable behavior (I would prefer the lineweight to be driven by the annotation scale, as it is in paper space, and Revit does it that way as well). For whatever reason, using an STB file fixes this issue completely. Lineweights can be driven by layer and will be 'fixed' in size.
Using an STB file, and the "display plot styles" in the page setup dialog checked, I'm able to get the desired behavior:
No matter how far I zoom out my lineweights stay a consistent thickness and don't adjust to the zoom level (and therefore no blotting). The catch is that I would have to re-vamp all my standards. And I would probably have to work with a white (or off-white), or toggle between plot styles (one for working, one for actually printing). A lot of work... Not to mention very few people are familiar with STB files which can throw people off.
It's been a while since I went down this rabbit hole. Experimenting in AutoCAD (2022) just to make sure my info was still current has shown me that the program has some obvious bugs in this regard. The lineweights will work (how I want) for a second then just revert to thin lines again. This may or may not be exclusive to CTB files only (I haven't spent a lot of time working with the STB file). I have two different CAD clones on my PC and I'll see how they behave. It also wouldn't surprise me if Carlson/iCAD handles this better than AutoCAD.
I know there's only a remote chance this will help with the original issue so just sharing as an FYI/ save others some time.
@keithscadservices Just a thoght, and I don't have time to experiment with this right now, but have you looked into the different interactions of LTSCALE and MSLTSCALE when plotting from model space.
@bobwesterman I'll have a look when I have time but as far as I know at this time, any LT (Line Type) variable only controls the "type" of line, not the thickness. The "type" being hidden, centerline, etc... It's not unheard of for one variable to affect another (but rare).
