Hatch slow in Autocad 2016

[sysadmin]

I am using Autocad 2016 on Windows(with 16GB of Ram). Sometimes when trying to hatch something, the process is really slow . Please help

[mmoolhuysen · Accepted solution]

When you use the 'Pick internal point'-method to hatch, in a crouwded drawing slowness can be caused by too many object needed to be checked as potential borders for the hatch. There are three possible ways to limit the number of borders AutoCAD has to check:

1. Zoom in as far as possibe on the area you wnat to hatch, so that all the outer limits are still in view, but not much outside that
2. Keep objects that define the borders of the area you want to hatch in view, but freeze the all layers that contain other objects
3. Restrict the number of borders AutoCAD is going to consider, by preselecting these in a Boundary Set, for this you do the following:
   - when you've started the Hatch command, press on the arrow down-key, en select SeTtings to open the Hatch dialoge.
   - if needed, expand the Hatch dialoge window by clicking on the > button in the lower right corner
   - in the field 'Boundary Set', click on the button Select new boundary set, this button has a graphical image of a green square overlapping a white circle and a cursor arrow, and it is situated between the drop down list and the word 'New'
   - this allows you to selectively choose the objects that AutoCAD will consider as borders to automaticly determine how far the hatch should extend
     it also allow you to exclude objects that cross your hatch area, so that your hatch doesn't become fragmented
   - if you accept the selection by pressing the Enter key, you'll return to the hatch dialoge.
   - click on the Add: Pick points button in the top of the center column, to continue the hatch placing

An other thing to keep in mind is to take care that you set the hatch spacing large enough. If the hatch pattern is set very dense by mistake, it can mean AutoCAD has to generate hunderds of lines, and this can be very slow as well.

[sysadmin]

Thankyou sir 

[Emmsleys · Accepted solution]

To add to this thread, 

I would recommend checking a few system variables that could add to the delay as well being mindful of the amount of geometry and data you are trying to hatch.  

I have provided links below at your convenience; 

• SELECTIONEFFECT 
• Hatch command freezes
• Change Object Selection Settings

[jeremiah]

Hi,

I am currently running autocad arch 2016 and I have recently come across a particular file that makes hatching items take forever.  For some reason all my other drawings are just fine with hatching and it is quick, but with this certain drawing it takes at least 60 seconds just to do a small area.  FYI, the file that is taking a long time is actually smaller than the other ones. Please help!

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> but with this certain drawing it takes at least 60 seconds[...]

>> Please help!

As you wrote that this issue is file dependent how should we support you without that file?

Please upload the file (and make a marker so we know what you like to hatch).

Please let us also know which type and version of AutoCAD you are using as well as the operating system your workstation has installed.

- alfred -

[jeremiah]

I am using AutoCAD Architecture 2016 with an operating system of windows 10 64 bit.   I don't think it would be the operating system if all my other plans are fine with being hatched.  It's just this one file.  I've attached the cad file.  Thanks for all your help

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

I can start hatching and do that for some objects (I don't see any marker where you tried and crash) .... but I only have AutoCAD, not AutoCAD Architecture.

Maybe someone with ACA can test it.

Sorry, - alfred -

[pcelentano]

I was having this problem with a very large and complicated XREF in the background for a very large building and then I read the post "When you use the 'Pick internal point'-method to hatch, in a crowded drawing slowness can be caused by too many object needed to be checked as potential borders for the hatch."

That triggered my mind and I decided not to pick internal points but rather to pick the object itself and that worked! Now maybe I can get something done before lunch!

Thanks to all who contributed.

(Using  AutoCAD 2017)

[Sturge68]

I was having this same issue with autocad lt 2018. I changed the gap tolerance from zero to 1in. You can obviously make it what you'd like, but now autocad is sweating these finite gaps.

To do this start the hatch command, and on the hatch ribbon that pops up select the options drop down, then type in new value for gap tolerance.

Hope this helps someone even though this post is old.

[kappanon]

Type HPQUICKPREVIEW in AutoCAD command line and press enter.Type OFF then enter again.

and type HPQUICKPREVIEWTIMEOUT to 1.

This may help reduce time when using HATCH command

[johnfinnell64]

I have been painfully struggling with slow hatch patterns for a long time.  Setting HPQUICKPREVIEW to "off" took care of it.  Thanks for the tip.

[alejandromtau]

Top solution!! 👏👏