is there a better way to create hatched shapes?

[cadman33619]

I'm hoping to find a better/faster way to create hatched shapes. Specifically, 2' wide 'rectangles' but with varying lengths and most with a turn or angle jog. 

(see attached image)

the hatched area outlined in blue is my proposed cable bridge. Each drawing needs to have one of these of varying lengths. The way i do it now is to draw a P-line from point A to point B then offset 2' then connect the ends...forming a closed area... then i hatch, then i adjust the hatch scale/angle. Theres gotta be a better way to do this. 

Any ideas?

thanks. 

[tcorey]

I am not sure exactly what you're hatching, but, in general terms, this might help.

Use ISOLATEOBJECTS on the hatch boundary objects that are to be offset 2'. 

Use BOUNDARY command to create a closed polyline.

Offset the new polyline.

Hatch the offset polyline, or between the two polylines (if that's what you're going for).

[MMcCall402]

Not ideal, but here's and idea.

Instead of drawing a PLine from A to B, draw a Multiline with a style that has a 1' left and right line and 90 degree closed ends.  After creation the multiline can be hatched. The grips of the multiline can be moved but not added to or deleted. (as far as I know) The hatching can be associative to the mline and will update as it changes shape.

Commands involved:

MLSTYLE - to define the mline style

MLINE - to create the line.

[AllenJessup]

Can you share a portion of your drawing so we can try it? Is this just for one drawing or do you have to do this often across multiple drawings> If that's the case, a Dynamic Block might be a solution. Or even make an annotative block of that general shape, insert it exploded and use the grips of the enclosing polylines to snap to the new area.

[cadman33619]

this has to be done for many, many drawings. Each one is a different length and shape. All are 2' wide and will use the same hatch pattern. here is my go-by drawing. 

[AllenJessup]

About the best I can offer at the moment. Once you're created one hatch to your liking. Use Inherit Properties in the Hatch Dialog. 

[MMcCall402]

Another idea:

Edit one of the colors in your CTB file to have a hatched fill pattern. Use this color for the PLine from A to B and give it a global width.  On the screen it will show as a fat solid line but when plotted it will use the fill pattern for that color in the CTB.