Modify Multilines

Modify Multilines

Multiline objects are composed of 1 to 16 parallel lines, called elements. To modify multilines or their elements, you can use common editing commands, a multiline editing command, and multiline styles.

Special multiline editing features are available with the MLEDITcommand including the following:

• Add or delete a vertex
• Control the visibility of corner joints
• Control the style of intersection with other multilines
• Open or close gaps in a multiline object 

Add and Delete Multiline Vertices  

You can add or delete any vertex in a multiline.

 

 

 

Edit Multiline Intersections  

If you have two multilines in a drawing, you can control the way they intersect. Multilines can intersect in a cross or a T shape, and the crosses or T shapes can be closed, open, or merged.

 Edit Multiline Styles 


 You can use MLSTYLE to edit multiline styles to change the properties of multiline elements or the end caps and background fill of subsequently created multilines.
Multiline styles control the number of line elements in a multiline and the color, linetype, lineweight, and offset of each element. You can also modify the display of joints, end caps, and background fill.
Multiline styles have the following limitations:

• You cannot edit the element and multiline properties of the STANDARD multiline style or any multiline style already used in the drawing.
• To edit an existing multiline style, you must do so before you draw any multilines in that style.

NoteIf you use MLSTYLE to create a multiline style without saving it, and then select another style or create a new style, the first MLSTYLE properties are lost. To maintain the properties, save each multiline style to an MLN file before creating a new one. 

 

 

 

Use Common Editing Commands on Multilines 

You can use most of the common editing commands on multilines except

• BREAK
• CHAMFER
• FILLET
• LENGTHEN
• OFFSET

To perform these operations, first use EXPLODE to replace the multiline object with separate line objects.

NoteIf you trim or extend a multiline object, only the first boundary object encountered determines the shape of the end of the multiline. A multiline cannot have a complex boundary at its endpoint. 

 

 

 

To delete a vertex from a multiline

1. Click Modify menu ObjectMultiline.
2. In the Multiline Edit Tools dialog box, select Delete Vertex.
3. In the drawing, specify the vertex to delete. Press Enter.

To create a closed cross intersection

1. Click Modify menu ObjectMultiline.
2. In the Multiline Edit Tools dialog box, select Closed Cross.
3. Select the multiline for the foreground.
4. Select the multiline for the background. The intersection is modified. You can continue selecting intersecting multilines to modify, or press Enter to end the command. Press Enter again to redisplay the Multiline Edit Tools dialog box.
   

To edit a multiline style

1. Click Format menu Multiline Style.
2. In the Multiline Styles dialog box, select the style name from the list. Click Modify.
3. Click Element Properties.
4. In the Modify Multiline Styles dialog box, change the settings as needed.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Multiline Styles dialog box, click Save to save the changes to the style in the MLN file.
7. Click OK.

Commands

MLEDIT

Edits multiline intersections, breaks, and vertices.

MLSTYLE

Creates, modifies, and manages multiline styles.

 

Draw Multiline Objects

Draw Multiline Objects

Multilines are composed of 1 to 16 parallel lines, called elements.

When you draw a multiline, you can use the STANDARD style, which has two elements, or specify a style that you created previously. You can also change the justification and scale of the multiline before you draw it.
Multiline justification determines which side of the cursor that the multiline is drawn, or whether it is centered on the cursor.
Multiline scale controls the overall width of the multiline using the current units. Multiline scale does not affect linetype scale. If you change the multiline scale, you might need to make equivalent changes to the linetype scale to prevent dots or dashes from being disproportionately sized.


Create Multiline Styles 

You can create named styles for multilines to control the number of elements and the properties of each element. The properties of multilines include

• The total number of elements and position of each element
• The offset distance for each element from the middle of the multiline
• The color and linetype of each element
• The visibility of the lines, called joints, that appear at each vertex
• The type of end caps that are used
• The background fill color of the multiline

You can add up to 16 elements to a multiline style. Elements with a positive offset appear on one side of the middle of the multiline; elements with a negative offset appear on the other side of the middle of the multiline.

To draw a multiline

1. Click Draw menu  Multiline.
2. At the command prompt, enter st to select a style.
3. To list available styles, enter the style name or enter ?.
4. To justify the multiline, enter j and select top, zero, or bottom justification.
5. To change the scale of the multiline, enter s and enter a new scale. Now draw the multiline.
   
6. Specify the starting point.
7. Specify a second point.
8. Specify additional points, or press ENTER. If you specify three or more points, you can enter c to close the multiline.

To create a multiline style

1. Click Format menu  Multiline Style.
   
   
2. In the Multiline Style dialog box, click New.
3. In the Create New Multiline Style dialog box, enter a name for the multiline style and select a multiline style from which to start. Click Continue.
   
   
4. In the New Multiline Style dialog box, select the parameters for the multiline style. You can also enter a description. Descriptions are optional and can be up to 255 characters, including spaces.
   
   
   
5. Click OK.
6. In the Multiline Style dialog box, click Save to save the multiline style to a file (the default is acad.mln). You can save multiline styles to the same file. If you create more than one multiline style, save the current style before creating a new one or you lose the changes to the first style.
   

Commands

OFFSET

Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

MLINE

Creates multiple parallel lines.

MLSTYLE

Creates, modifies, and manages multiline styles.

System Variables

CMLSTYLE

Sets the multiline style that governs the appearance of the multiline.

Quick Access Toolbar

                                                        Quick Access Toolbar

Display frequently used tools with the Quick Access toolbar.

View Undo and Redo History

The Quick Access toolbar displays options to undo and redo changes to your file. To undo or redo a less recent change, click the drop-down button to the right of the Undo and Redo buttons.

Add Commands and Controls

Add unlimited tools to the Quick Access toolbar. Tools that extend past the maximum length of the toolbar are displayed in a flyout button.

To add a ribbon button to the Quick Access toolbar, right-click the button on the ribbon and click Add to Quick Access toolbar. Buttons are added to the right of the default commands on the Quick Access toolbar.

 Move the Quick Access Toolbar

Place the Quick Access toolbar either above or below the ribbon using the Customization button.

To add a command to the Quick Access toolbar

1. Right-click the Quick Access toolbar.
2. Click Customize Quick Access Toolbar.
3. In the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, drag a command from the Command list to the position you want it to be displayed on the Quick Access toolbar. For multiple commands, hold down CTRL and select the commands.
   
4. Click OK.
   NoteIf you do not click OK, the commands added are not saved to the Quick Access toolbar.

To remove a command from the Quick Access toolbar

1. Right-click over the command you want to remove.
2. Click Remove from Quick Access Toolbar.

Commands

CUI

Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.

Create Annotative Blocks and Attributes

                                  Create Annotative Blocks and Attributes

Commands

ATTDEF

Creates an attribute definition for storing data in a block.

BLOCK

Creates a block definition from selected objects.

System Variables

ANNOTATIVEDWG

Specifies whether or not the drawing will behave as an annotative block when inserted into another drawing.

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To create an annotative block definition

1. Click Blocks & References tabBlock panelCreate.
2. In the Block Definition dialog box, enter a block name in the Name box.
3. Under Objects, select Convert to Block.
4. Click Select Objects.
5. Under Behavior, select Annotative.
6. Use your pointing device to select objects to be included in block definition. Press ENTER to complete object selection.
7. In the Block Definition dialog box, under Base Point, specify the block insertion point.
8. Click OK. 

#   To update existing block references to be annotative

1. Click Blocks & References tabBlock panelCreate.
2. In the Block Definition dialog box, Name box, click the arrow and select the name of the block you want to update to be annotative.
3. Under Behavior, select Annotative.
4. Click OK. The existing block references in the drawing are now annotative.
   

  

To create an annotative attribute definition

1. Click Blocks & References tabAttributes panelDefine Attributes.
2. In the Attribute Definition dialog box, set the Attribute Modes and enter Tag information, Insertion Point and Text Settings.
3. Under Text Settings, select Annotative.
4. Click OK.
5. Specify the start point.
6. Press ENTER.

If you want to use geometric objects to annotate your drawing, combine the objects into an annotative block definition.

Annotative block definitions create annotative block references. Annotative block references and attributes initially support the current annotation scale at the time they are inserted. You should insert annotative block references with a unit factor of 1.