Work with Linetypes

A linetype is a repeating pattern of dashes, dots, and blank spaces. A complex linetype is a repeating pattern of symbols. To use a linetype you must first load it into your drawing. A linetype definition must exist in a LIN library file before a linetype can be loaded into a drawing. To load a linetype into your drawing, use the member method LoadLineTypeFile of a Database object.

For more information about working with linetypes, see “Overview of Linetypes” in the AutoCAD User's Guide.

NoteThe linetypes used internally by AutoCAD should not be confused with the hardware linetypes provided by some plotters. The two types of dashed lines produce similar results. Do not use both types at the same time, however, because the results can be unpredictable.

Load a linetype into AutoCAD

This example attempts to load the linetype “CENTER” from the acad.lin file. If the linetype already exists, or the file does not exist, then a message is displayed.

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices

<CommandMethod("LoadLinetype")> _

Public Sub LoadLinetype()

  '' Get the current document and database

  Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument

  Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database

  '' Start a transaction

  Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

      '' Open the Linetype table for read

      Dim acLineTypTbl As LinetypeTable

      acLineTypTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LinetypeTableId, _

                                       OpenMode.ForRead)

      Dim sLineTypName As String = "Center"

      If acLineTypTbl.Has(sLineTypName) = False Then

          '' Load the Center Linetype

          acCurDb.LoadLineTypeFile(sLineTypName, "acad.lin")

      End If

      '' Save the changes and dispose of the transaction

      acTrans.Commit()

  End Using

End Sub

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;

[CommandMethod("LoadLinetype")]

public static void LoadLinetype()

  // Get the current document and database

  Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

  Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;

  // Start a transaction

  using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

      // Open the Linetype table for read

      LinetypeTable acLineTypTbl;

      acLineTypTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LinetypeTableId,

                                       OpenMode.ForRead) as LinetypeTable;

      string sLineTypName = "Center";

      if (acLineTypTbl.Has(sLineTypName) == false)

          // Load the Center Linetype

          acCurDb.LoadLineTypeFile(sLineTypName, "acad.lin");

      // Save the changes and dispose of the transaction

      acTrans.Commit();

VBA/ActiveX Code Reference

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