Plot CADPIPE drawings with hidden lines
AutoCAD 2002 & 2004 offers options to display and plot objects as hidden (displayed in the Hide viewing mode). These options are controlled by several system variables set at the command line in AutoCAD 2002 and in the Hidden Line Settings dialog box in AutoCAD 2004. They are HALOGAP, OSBCUREDLTYPE, and HIDETEXT.
HALOGAP - creates a gap
in the hidden lines (so they appear dashed). This gap is set as a percentage
of an inch. We recommend you set the halogap to 5. Here's how to set the HALOGAP:
- In AutoCAD 2002 type HALOGAP at the command line. You will be prompted to
enter a new value for HALOGAP.
- AutoCAD 2004--the HALOGAP setting can be accessed in the Hidden Line Settings
dialog box.
OBSCUREDLTYPE - displays
hidden lines using a specified linetype instead of concealing them.
- In AutoCAD 2002 type OBSCUREDLTYPE at the command line. You will be prompted
to select a lintype.
The following are the linetypes available:
0-Off
1-Solid
2-Dashed
3-Dotted
4-Short Dashes
5-Medium Dashes
6-Long Dashes
7-Double Short Dashes
8-Double Medium Dashes
9-Double Long Dashes
10-Medium Long Dashes
11-Sparse Dot
Enter a number for your selected linetype
-In AutoCAD 2004 the OBSCUREDLTYPE setting can be accessed in the Hidden Line
Settings dialog box.
HIDETEXT - specifies how text appears when you use HIDE. The default setting is ON, and treats text like a 3D object and hides it. When set to OFF the text is not hidden. Type in HIDETEXT on the command line and set the variable to OFF.
Once you have set the HALOGAP, OSBCUREDLTYPE, and HIDETEXT variables, go to paperspace and double click on the paperspace view port border. In the properties dialog box set Hide plot to YES.
Plotting the drawing
To set up CADPIPE to plot hidden lines go to the Plot dialog box and do the following:
-Set up your plot style, pens, etc. Be sure you check the box hide objects on the setting page.
Once setup, you do not have to reset these variables each time you plot.
Your plots will now include hidden lines:
