drafting everything w/ polylines!?

[blumarble]

We've got a couple of drafters (both with less than 2 years CAD experience) who seem to think that everything should be drafted with polylines (they also seem to think that everything that can possibly be a block, should be). I think I tried it some years ago trying to determine for myself if this made sense, and found it didn't. That was some time ago, but I still have this intuitive sense that it doesn't and can't imagine how it would or why they think it does. IMO, polylines have their uses, but in general drafters should be using lines if there's no need for a polyline; it's more efficient to draft this way and a *lot* more efficient to edit.
I'm thinking I should find some time to ask one of these drafters to show me how they work to see why they do it this way, but haven't found the time yet. I've seen discussions on this in the past, but can't find anything offhand.
Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Polylines are better, and so are blocks

I find it easier to use those rules and alter as neeed, as opposed to vice
versa

Polylines are simply better and create more responsible geometry, IMO

Nothing beats blocks to micro manange your drawings, either refedit for
global changes or copy block and assign to create a new block for another
set of circumstances





wrote in message news:5106394@discussion.autodesk.com...
We've got a couple of drafters (both with less than 2 years CAD experience)
who seem to think that everything should be drafted with polylines (they
also seem to think that everything that can possibly be a block, should be).
I think I tried it some years ago trying to determine for myself if this
made sense, and found it didn't. That was some time ago, but I still have
this intuitive sense that it doesn't and can't imagine how it would or why
they think it does. IMO, polylines have their uses, but in general drafters
should be using lines if there's no need for a polyline; it's more efficient
to draft this way and a *lot* more efficient to edit.
I'm thinking I should find some time to ask one of these drafters to show me
how they work to see why they do it this way, but haven't found the time
yet. I've seen discussions on this in the past, but can't find anything
offhand.
Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

you are wacked yo.

paul wrote:
> Polylines are better, and so are blocks
>
> I find it easier to use those rules and alter as neeed, as opposed to
> vice versa
>
> Polylines are simply better and create more responsible geometry, IMO
>
> Nothing beats blocks to micro manange your drawings, either refedit
> for global changes or copy block and assign to create a new block for
> another set of circumstances
>
>
>
>
>
> wrote in message news:5106394@discussion.autodesk.com...
> We've got a couple of drafters (both with less than 2 years CAD
> experience) who seem to think that everything should be drafted with
> polylines (they also seem to think that everything that can possibly
> be a block, should be). I think I tried it some years ago trying to
> determine for myself if this made sense, and found it didn't. That
> was some time ago, but I still have this intuitive sense that it
> doesn't and can't imagine how it would or why they think it does.
> IMO, polylines have their uses, but in general drafters should be
> using lines if there's no need for a polyline; it's more efficient to
> draft this way and a *lot* more efficient to edit.
> I'm thinking I should find some time to ask one of these drafters to
> show me how they work to see why they do it this way, but haven't
> found the time yet. I've seen discussions on this in the past, but
> can't find anything offhand.
> Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons?
> Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Um, been awhile since I commented in here, but blocks make repetive tasks so
much easier

And polylines make finding all kinds of data about your objects that much
easier as well.

Out of curiosity, what disipline(s) is you company?

[Anonymous]

the first guy who taught me AutoCAD said the key to AutoCAD was polylines
and blocks
the ability to edit in place blocks, made it way easier

of course in all depends on what you do...........we use ADT now which in my
mine just a fancier way of using blocks.

sorry to spoil your point

steve



wrote in message news:5106394@discussion.autodesk.com...
We've got a couple of drafters (both with less than 2 years CAD experience)
who seem to think that everything should be drafted with polylines (they
also seem to think that everything that can possibly be a block, should be).
I think I tried it some years ago trying to determine for myself if this
made sense, and found it didn't. That was some time ago, but I still have
this intuitive sense that it doesn't and can't imagine how it would or why
they think it does. IMO, polylines have their uses, but in general drafters
should be using lines if there's no need for a polyline; it's more efficient
to draft this way and a *lot* more efficient to edit.
I'm thinking I should find some time to ask one of these drafters to show me
how they work to see why they do it this way, but haven't found the time
yet. I've seen discussions on this in the past, but can't find anything
offhand.
Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

demin,
I forgot to change my handle. 🙂

FaJarley wrote:
> you are wacked yo.
>
> paul wrote:
>> Polylines are better, and so are blocks
>>
>> I find it easier to use those rules and alter as neeed, as opposed to
>> vice versa
>>
>> Polylines are simply better and create more responsible geometry, IMO
>>
>> Nothing beats blocks to micro manange your drawings, either refedit
>> for global changes or copy block and assign to create a new block for
>> another set of circumstances
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> wrote in message news:5106394@discussion.autodesk.com...
>> We've got a couple of drafters (both with less than 2 years CAD
>> experience) who seem to think that everything should be drafted with
>> polylines (they also seem to think that everything that can possibly
>> be a block, should be). I think I tried it some years ago trying to
>> determine for myself if this made sense, and found it didn't. That
>> was some time ago, but I still have this intuitive sense that it
>> doesn't and can't imagine how it would or why they think it does.
>> IMO, polylines have their uses, but in general drafters should be
>> using lines if there's no need for a polyline; it's more efficient to
>> draft this way and a *lot* more efficient to edit.
>> I'm thinking I should find some time to ask one of these drafters to
>> show me how they work to see why they do it this way, but haven't
>> found the time yet. I've seen discussions on this in the past, but
>> can't find anything offhand.
>> Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons?
>> Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You could cancel the message

[Anonymous]

Absolutely Plines only for me! Lines are only good for use in survey data.
Simple test. (see attached). Draw it using your method with lines and arcs
and count your key stokes. Using a pline you don't even need to get out of
the command. Plines are much more robust. Just look at the options at the
command line after you invoke it. Also going from 2d to 3d is only a command
away.

[Anonymous]

" should find some time to ask one of these drafters to show me how they
work to see why they do it this way, but haven't found the time yet. "

might want to MAKE the time to do this, before deciding if there is a
problem

--
*does not care what David does not deserve*

[Anonymous]

Even with survey data I prefer Plines, it makes finding area data and
overall lengths that much easier.

[Anonymous]

Seems to me you could learn a thing or two from your new drafters.

[Anonymous]

Plus they are a must for breaklines, figures and parcels.

Allen

"Boundary Tech" wrote in message
news:5106467@discussion.autodesk.com...
Even with survey data I prefer Plines, it makes finding area data and
overall lengths that much easier.

[Anonymous]

Talking about polylines, I wrote this:

http://www.geometricad.com/app.php?id=1〈=en

I have 5 [five] free copies of GBPOLY available for any of the Cad Managers
that frecuent this ng.... Just give it a try!

The first 5 [five] interested, please send me an email - please use the
"contact us" section on my web site.


Have fun!
Luis Esquivel
--
http://www.geometricad.com



blumarble...
Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

wrote
> IMO, polylines have their uses, but in general drafters
> should be using lines if there's no need for a polyline

Pretend I know nothing about AutoCAD. No ... scratch that ... there's no
need to pretend. What's the difference between a line and a polyline? When
should I use which and why?

[Anonymous]

If there are more than two pickpoints (vertices) involved, I draw a
polyline. Less than three, I use a line.

One slight advantage that a line has over a polyline: midpoint grip.

--
Doug K

[Anonymous]

dibs on one!
"contact" sent

--
Doug K

"Luis Esquivel" wrote in message
news:5106536@discussion.autodesk.com...
Talking about polylines, I wrote this:

http://www.geometricad.com/app.php?id=1〈=en

[Anonymous]

"Pretend I know nothing about AutoCAD. No ... scratch that ... there's no
need to pretend. What's the difference between a line and a polyline? When
should I use which and why?"

A line is a discrete entity that connect to only two points. This covers
straight lines and arcs. A polyline is a single entity composed of several
line or curve segments connected.

Some advantages are that: you can only create closed regions with plines;
selecting one leg of pline selects the entire entity make moves and such
easier; switching between arc, line, or regions in the same command; and
adding line width. If you're doing any 3D solid work or 2D regions, you'll
have to use plines.

Patrick

[Anonymous]

"Patrick Berry" wrote
> Some advantages are that: you can only create closed regions with plines;
> selecting one leg of pline selects the entire entity make moves and such
> easier; switching between arc, line, or regions in the same command; and
> adding line width. If you're doing any 3D solid work or 2D regions,
> you'll have to use plines.

Sounds like polylines can do everything lines can do and more. If that's the
case, why would I need lines?

[Anonymous]

I haven't used lines in years



"Joe Blizzard" wrote in message
news:5106586@discussion.autodesk.com...
"Patrick Berry" wrote
> Some advantages are that: you can only create closed regions with plines;
> selecting one leg of pline selects the entire entity make moves and such
> easier; switching between arc, line, or regions in the same command; and
> adding line width. If you're doing any 3D solid work or 2D regions,
> you'll have to use plines.

Sounds like polylines can do everything lines can do and more. If that's the
case, why would I need lines?

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of trust that you have to put into software and polyline
creation that leaves me nervous especially the example avi on your website.
I think your product looks great and I have had good results from the map
cleanup tools as well. What happens to poorly drafted objects that have
overshoots and undershoots. Duplicate lines will cause havoc in some pline
generators. I have had too many problems with polylines that have been
griped over the top of other grips causing parcel creation problems and
hatch problems. Also worth mentioning is wrong area calculations that I
constantly find due to poor pline creation. Nobody draws row's and offsets
using the pline command in a civil drawing. From what I saw in your web
example was a finished site before the gbpoly program did its thing. The
polyline creation was an extra step. That extra step is bound to have its
issues. There are good options for hatching with boundaries, bpoly,
regions, and map cleanup tools that it would be tough to prove a payoff in
pre-polyline creations. It really comes down to an extra step for civil
drawings that provides little benefit.

Products like m-color and third part applications (GIS) benifit greatly from
having all polylines but they can be generated easily when they are needed.

Here are my objections to 'all' polyline creation in a civil plan.
-Nested copy will bring in more objects than I bargained for through
masterplans. More time spent trimming back and cleanup

-People are going to have to explode to edit faster and accurate. Fillet is
a good example. Fillet will refuse sometimes between a pline and a line.

-base drawings are usually xrefed anyway so the plines are pointless.

-Areas can be calculated just as fast by isolating the areas and generating
areas at number crunch time.

-If a project takes on 5 revisions then that is five times the polyline
recreation before area's might even be calculated or hatched.

-I have seen people spend 10 minutes trying to join something and give up
and add the fuz factor. They were not getting areas or creating hatches.
They were making plines because they said they rock. Creating linework that
will have staking and stations pulled from is risky when they are plines
that have been fuzzed.

-Its just not that cool to watch your project light up like a christmas tree
in 2006 on a roll over.

-Most times I want to offset a simple line to get a feel for a design angle
or solution. It gets confusing when half the project offsets with it.

-Just becuase you can doesn't mean you should.

--
CB






"Luis Esquivel" wrote in message
news:5106536@discussion.autodesk.com...
Talking about polylines, I wrote this:

http://www.geometricad.com/app.php?id=1〈=en

I have 5 [five] free copies of GBPOLY available for any of the Cad Managers
that frecuent this ng.... Just give it a try!

The first 5 [five] interested, please send me an email - please use the
"contact us" section on my web site.


Have fun!
Luis Esquivel
--
http://www.geometricad.com



blumarble...
Can someone explain this to me, and maybe tell me the pros & cons? Thanks.