Expert: Bob - 9/4/2004

Question
My hidden lines in model space appear as solid lines, but print as hidden lines. How can I make the hidden lines appear as hidden lines when viewing my drawing in model space.  Also, I created a custom design and want to offset it.  How can I make it one solid object so I can offset the complete object and not have to offset each individual line, arc, etc…?  Any help is appreciated. I am using AutoCad 2000.

Thanks
Greg


Answer
HI--
1_ Look up LTSCALE in HELP and maybe in a book. I THINK you are implying that you print from Model Space, not a layout, but I can't really be sure. There are lots of Acad books-- understanding this is a chapter.
2_ OFFSET implies you would have a second set of lines, at, say 90% of the scale, on top of the first-- Is this what you want? Or are you using the term to mean you want a repeat of the same thing? For the first, copy the whole thing off to the side, use SCALE to reduce it, and MOVE to put the small one back on top of the large one. For the second, use COPY for one, ARRAY to make a pattern of the objects. In either case, you can use BLOCK to make a single unit (NOT a solid, that is 3D) of the object.
Now, Greg-- I have to make clear nicely, and I hope,  constructively that your vagueness and lack of telling the whole story makes it hard. The type of object, your field, and the PURPOSE are needed to give an answer I can be confident in. To be blunt, no professional says "I have a design", but calls it a house, an electrical plan, an automotive part, etc. What you want is not called a solid in AutoCAD, etc--
It is OK not to know, but sometimes I cant tell if I am talking to a seasoned pro or someone who is trying to pick it up on his own, cant tell whether to give architectural or engineering advice, etc. I think I will check my All Experts profile and be sure it asks that.
-- And if my guess is right that you are new, I advise  you to buy one of the great Acad books out there and do the lessons, or take classes. As well, in design, we have certain "agreed upon terms" -- what words mean (like solid) -- it is really important to stick to them, expecially in an email, to avoid confusion.
--If you are a seasoned pro and I have taken you wrong, I apologize.
Bob