Expert: Bill DeShawn - 8/9/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I am trying to plot out a drawings that has hidden lines in it.  The lines are dashed in the model but when I print it out they are solid lines.  I made sure that they were correct in their properties but I can't figuire out what is wrong.  I basically just want the lines to be dashed whenI print it out.

I am running Autocad 2000
Answer -
This is going to require more information.  First, I see already that you are running AutoCAD 2000.  Second, are you plotting from Model or Paper Space?  Third, Do you have shademode set for something other than 2D wireframe?  4th, is the drawing a 3-D or 2-D drawing? 5th, Are you using named plot styles or color-dependent plot styles?  If you are using color-dependent plot styles have you elected to use object line type instead of continuous for the color selected?  6th Do you know that 3D polylines only display a plot continuous?  7th, Do the hidden lines reside in an XREF?

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Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

Plotting from paper space.  I checked the shademode and it is in 2D Wireframe.  It is a 2D drawing.  I do not beleive I am using any plot styles as I have it set on "none".  The hidden lines are not in an XREF...which I believe means an external reference.  Everything was drawn in model space and looks correct there but when switched over to paper space (layout 1) the hidden lines become solid lines with no dashes.

Duncan

Answer
When you create a model space viewport in a layout, the viewport needs to be BIG enough to encompass the model when the model is zoomed to a scale of 1XP.  Do that and your lines will look like they do in model space.

For example:
If you use a title block, place it in at the scale required for the paper you are going to plot on.  Or if you don't have a title block, Create a rectangle the size of the paper your are going to plot on and place that in the layout.  Now, scale the rectangle or title block times your plotting scale.  Create a viewport within the rectangle or title block.  Double-click in the model space viewport and then type _zoom, then 1XP.  Pan to adjust the view in the viewport and then type _mspace.  Right click on the viewport and select to lock the viewport so that when you work inside the viewport, you won't accidentally lose your view. If want to see your work at a different scale, type a different zoom factor in the viewport.
Let me know if you have any more questions
Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn