Linetype definition Home

In LiteCAD's functions the Linetype data is manifested as a plotter-style instruction based upon simple ASCII text code. Linetypes can have dashes, blank spaces, dots and symbols. Each component of the line's symbology is delimited by a comma in the text code string. The Dash characteristic is written as a positive number. The blank space characteristic is written as a negative number. A dot characteristic is written as a zero.

For example, the string "1.5, -0.5, 0, -0.5" describes the following linetype:

Symbol based linetypes (complex linetypes) deviate from the previous definition in their inclusive content. Complex linetypes contain symbols and/or text strings, along with blank spaces, dots, and dashs as desired. Symbol descriptions are enclosed in brackets [ ]. The bracketed description has several components, once again, delimited by commas. The syntax of the info within the brackets are the next:

[char code or name, font file, parameter=value, parameter=value, ...]
or
[text, style, parameter=value, parameter=value, ...]

All possible parameters are described in the following table:

Parameter Value
X Horizontal offset from insertion point.
Default value is 0.0
Y Vertical offset from insertion point.
Default value is 0.0
S Scale of symbol, relative to the size of a symbol as it is defined in a font file. Usually default symbol's size is 1 drawing unit.
Default value is 1.0
R Rotation angle, in degrees, counter-clockwise, relative to the direction of line.
Default value is 0.0

There are a sample definitions:

6.35, -3.175, 6.35, -3.175, 0, -3.175
6.35,-2.54,[BOX,ltypeshp.shx,x=-2.54,s=2.54],-2.54,25.4
12.7,-5.08,["GAS",STANDARD,S=2.54,R=0.0,X=-2.54,Y=-1.27],-6.35

Examine the acadiso.lin file that comes with the LiteCAD package to see other examples of linetypes definitions.