why do my linetypes look wrong

[cadman33619]

I have a FENCE linetype that isn't quite right. i've attached my drawing and linetype file. The corners don't always meet up and the "X" is sometimes off center...but fine in other parts.

*FENCELINE,X
A,.5,-.2,["X",STANDARD,S=.05,U=0.0,X=-0.13,Y=-0.025],.05

thanks

[Joe-Bouza]

what are we comparing too?

[cadman33619]

well..i think the linetype should look uniform all the way around...like the west side of the fence. 

but it doesn't. The "X's" on the south side are off center...and they go passed the ends on some corners. 

[troma]

Is it a line/polyline/3D polyline?
Is it all at the same elevation (z-value) or various?
Is LTGEN on or off?

[Neilw_05]

I loaded your linetype and it works fine for me. You'll need to disable the linetype generation parameter on the polyline to fix the behavior at the angle points.

I can't explain why the X's are not centered on that portion along the south side of your screen capture. Make sure the line is flat (no difference in Z coordinates). Also run LIST on the errant line(s) and look for any unusual attributes in the report.

[Jay_B]

There is definitely something wrong with the definition of the posted linetype.

If I draw a rectangle and assign your fence linetype to it it initially looks fine. If I grip edit the rectangle some of the X's begin to shift as you mention and shown on dwg jpg.

If I do the same exact grip edits with my Fence linetype it maintains the text positioning within the line gap as it should.

Tried each linetype with Linetype Generation Enabled and Disabled and text gap behavior was the same as shown for both linetypes.

Rather than try to figure out what may be wrong with your definition I've posted my definition (which is defined at a slightly different scale than yours).

Just edit sizing as needed, as long as format is maintained it should work as expected.

Linetype on left is yours and the right side uses mine (at a 0.5 object linetype scale vs. 1) scale override so the lines appear relatively same scaling. Hope this makes sense.

*FENCELINE,X

A,1.8,-.066667,["X",Standard,y=-.05,s=.1],-.133333

[sboon]

There is an option in the newer versions of ACad to have text used in linetypes automatically flip over if necessary to maintain an upright viewpoint.  It looks like the definition in the OP linetype includes both an x and y offset from the insertion point. I'm guessing that the text flips around that insertion point, so the X appears to move along the line.

Steve
Please use the Accept as Solution or Kudo buttons when appropriate

[Neilw_05]

Strange. I can't get mine to corrupt no matter what I do. I am testing using ACAD 2013, not C3D 2013. Does that make a difference for you?

Could it perhaps be due to a system setting or a variable or even the font?

[Neilw_05]

It seems to be related to the font. Try setting the Standard text style font to Arial and the behavior goes away. Set it to txt.shx and it appears.

[Neilw_05]

Further testing shows the corruption appears when a line segment is oriented right to left while using txt.shx.

[Jay_B]

cadman33619,

What version are you using?

[Jay_B]

Using Civil 3D 2012 here and don't have access to 2013 until back in office.

Text Style Standard (which linetype is using) was set to Simplex.shx font.

Yes I agree this is very strange, my posted linetype works fine but may be derived from an older version as we have somewhat of a blend of new and old in our overall custom LIN file. (We haven't experienced any issues similar to this post).

This  Being Civil Post explains the various linetype definition parameters and some of the changes from pre-2010 Sboon was referring to.

Starting with the post 2011 version shown in above Being Civil link and modifying as follows it seems to maintain the text position in line gap properly. (The biggest difference being X is set to zero which Sboon also suspected may be causing the shift). X set at zero is generally a very good thing with custom linetypes.

*Fenceline,X
A,.5,-.2,["X",STANDARD,S=.1,U=0.0,X=-0.0,Y=-.05],-.25

Hope this helps.

[Neilw_05]

While I tested using txt.shx, I expect that the behavior will occur with all .shx fonts. There doesn't seem to be a problem with True Type fonts. It seems likely the behavior is related to the the added functionality mentioned by Steve.

[Jay_B]

Neil, did you test the last line type posted using txt.shx too?
I didn't get the shift with simplex.shx with it like when using the OP's line type but didn't test with txt font.

[Neilw_05 · Accepted solution]

As I suspected, the behavior occurs with all the .shx fonts I tried. If you remove the U=0 parameter from the original LTYPE definition the behavior stops. Thus I willl conclude there is a problem with the way the new enhancement handles .shx fonts.

This should be submitted to support for review.

[Ajilal.Vijayan]

If this is the problem with the linetype definition or polyline direction , use the REVERSE command and select the lines.

So that polyline direction will change and will look similar to the other one.

[Jay_B]

This thread is not related to the REVERSE command.

[cadman33619]

Good Morning....

i thank you all for your comments/suggestions. Heres a little more info:

I'm using C3D 2011
the felceline i used is a polyline
all at the same Z elevation
the PLINEGEN was set to 1 (i think thats the 2011 version of LTGEN)
but i changed it to 0 and it still getting the same results (as Jay B mentioned)

...here is a LIST of the line

LWPOLYLINE Layer: "existing"
Space: Model space
Color: BYLAYER Linetype: "FENCELINE"
Linetype scaling = 0.5000
Handle = 228e8
Closed
Constant width 0.0000
area 2824.2500
perimeter 219.3333
at point X=16895.1923 Y=12908.3363 Z= 0.0000
at point X=16944.6923 Y=12908.3363 Z= 0.0000
at point X=16944.6923 Y=12893.5030 Z= 0.0000
at point X=16955.1923 Y=12893.5030 Z= 0.0000
at point X=16955.1923 Y=12858.6696 Z= 0.0000
at point X=16895.1923 Y=12858.6696 Z= 0.0000

i loaded Jay B's linetype and it works perfectly (thanks JAY B)
i'll go with that one...but i'd still like to know why mine does not work
(for future linetypes that i create).

EDIT:
i went back and changed the STANDARD text style font to ARIAL like NeilW suggested
and everything popped into place.(thanks NeilW) but JAY Bs linetype got thrown out
of whack...by just a hair (barely noticeable)

i then went back and made a copy of my original linetype file and then modified as
JAY Bs later post shows and it works perfectly (i used the standard text style with standard.shx font).

I also made an additional copy of my original and removed the U=0.0 parameter as NeilW shows and it
also works perfectly (using standard text style with standard.shx)

I'm looking closely at the edits from Neil and Jay and comparing them to my original to see if i can understand why my
original does not work right.

thanks so much to you all

[Neilw_05]

I strongly believe you have encountered a defect. If you are on subscription you can submit a support request and have it investigated. It would help the community if you post the results on the fourm.

[cadman33619]

I would like to have this investigated...when you say "on subscription"...do you mean thu our acad license with autodesk? (we do have many)

how would i submit a request for investigation?