Managing and Creating Line Styles


Reference Number: KB-01019
Last Modified: July 16, 2021

The information in this article applies to:

Premier



QUESTION

I need to manage or create a particular line style in my drawing. How can I do this?


ANSWER

The Line Style Specification dialog allows you to create new line styles for use in Chief Architect. Additionally, line styles can be managed in the Line Style Management dialog.

Note: The attributes of custom line styles created in Chief Architect are not retained in drawings exported to .dxf /.dwg.


Managing line styles

Line styles can easily be created, deleted, and added to the library from the Line Style Management Line Style Management tool icon dialog.

  1. Select CAD> Lines> Line Style Management  from the menu.


  2. In the Line Style Management dialog:

    Line Style Management dialog

    • Click on Edit if you would like to modify the line style you have selected.

    • Click on New to bring up a dialog to create a line style.

    • Use the Copy button to make a duplicate of the line style you have selected.

    • The Move Up and Move Down buttons will move the selected line style up or down one position in the list.

    • Purge will delete any unused line styles in the current plan file.

    • Delete will remove the selected line style from the list.

    • Click Add to Library to add the selected line style to the User Catalog to be used in future plans.


To create a custom line style

  1. Select CAD> Lines> Line Style Management  then click on New as mentioned in the section above, or right-click on the User Catalog folder located in the Library Browser and select New> Line Style

    Create a line style by right clicking on the user catalog or going to Line Style Management under CAD and Lines.

    • You can also edit an existing line style by choosing to Copy it to the User Catalog, then right-clicking on it and selecting Open Object from the contextual menu


  2. In the Line Style Specification dialog, type a short, descriptive Line Style Name for the line style. In this example, "Grey Water (large)" is used. 


  3. Next, insert a line style component: a Dash, Dot, or Text item. In this example, a total of four components are used: three Dash components and one Text component. 


  4. With each component created, the characteristics of each can now be adjusted. To select a component, click on it in the line style preview diagram or in the list of components located to the right of the Insert options. 

    Creating a new line style in the Line Style Specification dialog

    • The three Dash components in this example each have Length and Spacing values of 1/8".

    • The Text component has a Length of 5/16", which is based on its Text information. Its Spacing is 1/8", and its Text Height is 1/8". Its Text reads "G/W". 


  5. When you are satisfied with the appearance of the line style in the preview diagram, click OK to close the dialog and apply your changes.

    • You can make changes to this line style's attributes at any time by right-clicking on its name and selecting Open Object from the contextual menu.

    Note: Changes to existing line styles will not affect any objects currently using that line style; only subsequently drawn objects. 

  6. There are several ways to use your new custom line style:



    • Click on the line style in the library, move your mouse pointer into the drawing area, and then click and drag to draw a CAD line.

    • Assign the line style to any object on the Line Style panel of the object's specification dialog.

    • Assign the new line style to the Current CAD Layer and all CAD objects will be drawn using that line style.

When a line style with text is used in a drawing, its font, style, and transparency will be determined by the Text Style assigned to the layer that the object using that line style is on.