What exactly does flatten do?

[Anonymous]

Flatten is not addressed in the ADesk on-line help and before I shell out
for it, what exactly does Flatten do?
Much Thanks,
Frank

[Anonymous]

From the Express Tools help file:

Flatten creates a 2D representation of selected objects. It projects
selected objects onto the current viewing plane forcing object z elevations
and thickness to 0.

Express menu: Modify Flatten
Command line: flatten
FLATTEN.LSP

Select objects: Select objects to convert to 2D
Select objects:
Remove hidden lines? :

You can use FLATTEN to create a 2D drawing from a 3D model or you can simply
use it to force the thickness and z elevations of selected objects to 0.

Unlike many traditional methods of 3D to 2D conversion, FLATTEN preserves as
much of the drawing's original intelligence as possible. The common practice
of plotting to a dxb file and then using DXBIN to re-import, causes loss of
drawing intelligence such as loss of color and layer information. FLATTEN
gets the job done in one step and does not have this problem. Using FLATTEN
results in 2D objects that retain their original layers, linetypes, colors
and object types where possible.

FLATTEN is similar to a plot of the current view or display. FLATTEN
projects selected objects onto the current viewing plane. If your view is
not plan when you invoke FLATTEN, the current UCS will be temporarily set to
view for the duration of the operation. Resulting objects will be flat with
respect to UCS=view.

IMPORTANT: It is important to note that this command is similar in nature to
a "plot to 2D" type of operation. As with plot conversion, some degradation
of drawing precision may occur. This precision loss is generally
insignificant and it occurs mainly when the hide option is chosen, or if
perspective view is on.

"F.E. White" wrote in message
news:1FC36BACB522C073EA04BFCF7346E779@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Flatten is not addressed in the ADesk on-line help and before I shell out
> for it, what exactly does Flatten do?
> Much Thanks,
> Frank
>

[Anonymous]

Don't believe them when they say that this precision loss is
generally insignificant . See my post named "flatten inconsistancies". I use
ADT2 and have found that if I flatten a drawing the loss of precision is
totally unacceptable.

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