Hatch

Type

Selects the type of hatch pattern:

• User Defined - uses the pattern defined in this dialog box with the Angle, Spacing, and Cross Hatch options.

• Predefined - uses patterns defined in iso.pat (metric units - MEASUREMENT = ON) and default.pat (imperial units - MEASUREMENT = OFF).

• Custom - uses patterns defined in *.pat files (one pattern definition per file).

BricsCAD searches for *.pat files in the folders that are defined in the SRCHPATH (Support File Search Path) system variable.

Name

Specifies the name of the predefined hatch pattern; type a name, or else click the ... button to display the Hatch Pattern Palette dialog box.

Swatch

Click to display the Hatch Pattern Palette dialog box; choose a pattern.

Examples of patterns:

Scale

Specifies the scale factor of the pattern; choose a preset scale factor from the droplist, or else enter a custom factor.

The scale factor for hatch patterns is generally the same as that for text and linetypes.

Angle

Specifies the angle of the pattern; choose a preset angle from the droplist, or else enter a custom angle.

This angle is measured relative to the positive x-axis of the current UCS.

Spacing

(For user defined patterns only.) Specifies the spacing between lines.

ISO pen width

(For ISO hatch patterns only.) Specifies the lineweight.

Cross hatch

(For user defined patterns only.) Determines whether the pattern is crossed (repeated at 90 degrees to the original).

Hatch Origin

Use current origin

Uses the drawing's origin (0,0) as the origin of the hatch pattern.

Specified origin

Uses another point for the pattern's origin, chosen through the Pick New Origin button.

Use this option to begin the hatch pattern at the corner of a wall or other location where the placement of the pattern is critical.

Pick new origin

(For Specified origin only.) Dismisses the dialog box temporarily, and then prompts you at the command bar:

Specify origin point - pick a point in the drawing.

Boundaries

Pick points in boundaries

Specifies the closed areas (boundaries) in which to place the hatch pattern; temporarily dismisses the dialog box, and then prompts you at the command bar:

Select a point to define a boundary or hatch area - pick a point inside a closed area.

Notice that BricsCAD immediately draws the hatch, allowing you to preview its scale factor, angle, origin, and other parameters.

The prompt repeats, allowing you to choose additional areas to hatch. When done selecting areas, press Enter:

Select a point to define a boundary or hatch area - press Enter to return to the dialog box.

You cannot pick an area that already contains a hatch pattern, or areas that are not closed.

Select boundary entities

Selects the entities that make up a hatch pattern boundary; temporarily dismisses the dialog box, and then prompts you at the command bar:

Select entities - use any selection method to choose one or more entities.

The prompt repeats, allowing you to choose additional entities. When done selecting entities, press Enter:

Select entities - press Enter to return to the dialog box.

This option allows you to hatch closed areas that already contain a hatch; it does not hatch open areas.

Remove boundary entities

Prompts you to remove entities from the detected boundary set.

Boundary Set

Specifies where BricsCAD should search for entities that make up the hatch boundary:

• Current Viewport - searches all entities in the current viewport.

• Existing Set - searches only the current selection set for possible boundaries.

New

Creates a new selection set of entities that make up the pattern boundary; temporarily dismisses the dialog box, and then prompts you at the command bar:

Select entities - use any selection method to choose one or more entities.

The prompt repeats, allowing you to choose additional entities. When done selecting entities, press Enter:

Select entities - press Enter to return to the dialog box.

The next step is to click the Pick Points in Boundaries button to choose the hatch area.

If a selection exists when you launch the Hatch command, and if PICKFIRST is ON, the Hatch and Gradient dialog box immediately reopens when you click the New button.

Boundary Retention

Retain boundaries as

Toggles whether boundaries are retained:

• Yes - keeps the boundary in the drawing after this command is finished.

• No - removes the boundary after the hatch is created.

Polylines

Specifies the entity used for the boundary:

Polylines - makes the boundary from a polyline.

Islands

Nested

When a closed hatch boundary contains other boundaries, BricsCAD hatches alternating areas.

Outer

When a closed hatch boundary contains other boundaries, BricsCAD hatches only the outermost area.

Ignore

When a closed hatch boundary contains other boundaries, BricsCAD hatches all interior areas, as if they were not present.

Boundary Tolerance

Tolerance

Specifies the largest gap BricsCAD ignores when hatching a boundary that is not fully closed.

The gap tolerance is saved in the HPGAPTOL system variable.

Options

Annotative

Sets the Annotative property of the hatches.

Applies the current annotative scale (see the CANNOSCALE system variable).

Associative

Toggles the associativity of hatch patterns:

• On - associative; when the boundary is changed, the pattern automatically updates itself.

• Off - not associative; when the boundary is changed, the pattern remains as originally placed.

The Associative option is not available for annotative hatches.

Create separate hatches

If checked, creates a separate hatch entity for each boundary in the selection.

If not checked, creates a compound hatch entity.

Draw order

Specifies where the pattern should be placed relative to other entities:

• None - draw order is ignored.

• Send to Back - pattern is behind (underneath) all other entities.

• Send to Front - pattern is in front (on top) of all other entities.

• Send Behind Boundary - pattern is placed behind the boundary.

• Bring in Front of Boundary - pattern is placed in front of the boundary.

Inherit properties

Copies the properties of another, existing hatch pattern; temporarily dismisses the dialog box, and then prompts you at the command bar:

Select hatch entity to copy properties from: (Use any selection method to choose a single hatch pattern.)

The prompt repeats, allowing you to choose a different hatch entity. When done, press Enter:

Select hatch entity to copy properties from: (Press Enter to return to the dialog box.)

This button is useful for quickly setting options of a new hatch based on existing hatches.