Saving a Hatch Pattern

[apanbasu]

I am running AutoCad 2008 version.

I just download a Wood Hatch pattern it say top save the file in acad.pat folder. I searched for that folder and it suggested the location of the folder to be at Autocad 2008 - userdata catch- support. when I checked the support folder I could not find the acad .pat folder. How and where do I save a hatch file in my version of AutoCad?

thanks.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> How and where do I save a hatch file in my version of AutoCad?

When you start command _OPTIONS ==> tab "Files" and look to the list of "Support File Search Paths" then

• either place your PAT file in one of that folders
• create your own folder for PAT-files and add this folder to this list here.

- alfred -

[rkmcswain]

Create a new folder (for example C:\CADSTUFF) and put your file in there. Now add this new folder to the TOP of your support file search path in AutoCAD (Command: Options). Done. Place additional custom files in this folder over time. If when you upgrade AutoCAD or machines, all you have to worry about grabbing is this folder.

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> How and where do I save a hatch file in my version of AutoCad? <<

 C:\Users\(your user name)\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017\R21.0\enu\Support .  paste all of your hatch pattern files in the previous path to notice them appeared in hatch pattern palette >> custom tab (see below image)

Regards,

Regards,

[rkmcswain]

No, that is not good advice.

Create your own folder and add it to the Support File Search Path. Much easier to manage.

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> No, that is not good advice.  <<

can we know the reasons please?

[Kent1Cooper]

---

@apanbasu wrote:

I am running AutoCad 2008 version.

I just download a Wood Hatch pattern it say top save the file in acad.pat folder. I searched for that folder and it suggested the location of the folder to be at Autocad 2008 - userdata catch- support. when I checked the support folder I could not find the acad .pat folder. How and where do I save a hatch file in my version of AutoCad?

thanks.

---

If it really said to save it in the acad.pat folder, that's incorrect -- there is no such folder.  But there is an acad.pat file, that has definitions of hatch patterns in it.  You can add any pattern(s) you want into that file, if that's your preferred approach [but see below].  You can find where it is by typing this in at the Command line:

(findfile "acad.pat")

BUT one thing you need to know is that if you add a pattern definition at the end of that file, you need to end the last line of the code with an Enter, so that the very end of the file is an empty line, not the end of a line of code.

An arguably better way to do it, for carrying over to future version upgrades, is to keep each pattern definition that doesn't come in AutoCAD's file in its own separate file.  BUT two things you need to know about that approach are 1) that each file can contain only one pattern definition, and 2) that the file name [exclusive of its .pat filetype extension] must be exactly the same as the name of the pattern defined in it.

[apanbasu]

Many thanks for the responses.

There are a few items that I need to remind you all.

First, I am running 2008 version of AUTOCAD.  Second, my OS is XP. And also I am not computer savvy. Understanding all the recommendations also hindered by my age. I am over 80 years old.

I am not sure what Alfred NESWADBA has suggested.

This is what I did.as rkmcswain suggested.

1. I created a CADSUFF folder and added that in the Autocad2008\userdatacashe\support folder with the wood.pat file. It did not work. I am not sure what it means by “Now add this new folder to the TOP of your support file search path in AutoCAD (Command: Options)”
2. I open the acad file and copy paste the code at the end of the definitions and added an ENTER at the end without luck.
3. I ran a repair of my software and also without luck.

This is the listing I have downloaded.

*WOOD4,

90, 0,0, 0,4, 3,-13

90, 1,4, 0,4, 1,-15

90, 2,6, 0,4, 1,-15

90, 3,8, 0,4, 3,-13

90, 2,12, 0,4, 1,-15

90, 1,14, 0,4, 1,-15

45, 0,3, -2.82842712,2.82842712, 1.41421356,-21.21320344

45, 1,5, -2.82842712,2.82842712, 1.41421356,-21.21320344

45, 2,7, -2.82842712,2.82842712, 1.41421356,-21.21320344

135, 3,11, 2.82842712,2.82842712, 1.41421356,-21.21320344

135, 2,13, 2.82842712,2.82842712, 1.41421356,-21.21320344

135, 1,15, 2.82842712,2.82842712, 1.41421356,-21.21320344

Is it possible this coding is meant for later version of AutoCAD than mine?

Thanks again for the suggestions.

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> Is it possible this coding is meant for later version of AutoCAD than mine?

No, the workflow how hatch patterns are defined and work exists since long time and is still unchanged.

I try to describe that once more:

1) create a CADSTUFF folder ... that does not need to be defined within an AutoCAD program folder, this can be at any position of your network or local harddisk.

As a sample: create it on C: so you can access that folder at C:\CADSTUFF

2) copy your PAT file into that folder (or follow step 2a)

2a) as you have shown in the above message how the hatch pattern is defined it has the name WOOD4, so create a new text file in C:\CADSTUFF and call it WOOD4.PAT, then copy the exact same content from your previous post into that file + add a <ENTER>.

Important: make sure the file has the extension PAT and not TXT (some text editors add this extension automatically)

3) start AutoCAD

4) start command _OPTIONS

5) change to tab files

6) select the first hierarchy item "Support File Search Path" and click on button ADD on the right side ==> you'll get a new field to type a path into the list of support-folders

7) type in the new path you created

C:\CADSTUFF

8) end this dialog with ok

9) restart AutoCAD

... now your WOOD4 should exist in the list of pattern

HTH, - alfred -

[imadHabash]

Hi,

This is the same file that you ask for,would you please try the woodtest.pat that i attache and see if it's work.

Regards,

[apanbasu]

Thank you all. I tried Alfred's method and it worked. It is so simple. You gave me the answer. However, because of lack of knowledge I could not deciper the suggested solution before. You guys are really really helpful.

Thanks a million.

[imadHabash]

it's great to hear that ... good luck for you.