CAD Forum - tips, tricks, discussion and utilities for AutoCAD, Inventor and other Autodesk products [www.cadforum.cz]

CAD tip # 1818:

Question CAD
% platform category

How to make a multicolored line entity in AutoCAD?

Although it may sound impossible - you CAN draw multicolored lines/polylines in AutoCAD.

MLINE functionality can be used for this. Use the MLSTYLE command to define a new multiline style and define (element properties) two line elements, both with the offset equal to 0. Set different colors to them (e.g. green and red). Use different linetypes, e.g. DASHED and DASHED2 (you may need to Load them first) - for real-life applications you will probably need to define your own linetypes. Save the new Mline style. Now use the MLINE command to draw a polyline using this new mlstyle - it has alternating green/red colors!

From BUDWEISER.DWG

You can use the same approach to define even three or more colors.

As AutoCAD allows to define complex linetypes containing text, you can even make linetypes (mlines) with embedded text in a different color than the line (e.g. line in a BYLAYER color and text always in blue). For this you need to define one complex linetype containing text and almost no lines (e.g. only dots) plus a appropriate dashed linetype with spaces for the text. To see the principle you can define such multicolor text linetype using MLSTYLE with elements of DASHED and GAS (shipped with AutoCAD) linetypes. See the BUDWEISER benchmark drawing (DWG also downloadable from www.cadstudio.cz/download) for examples (benchmark #5).

ACAD

* CAD

13.12.2001 27293x

Comments Tell a friend

applies to: AutoCAD ·

See also:
Tip 8901:	Generate CNC codes online - easy manufacturing of 3D CAD models.
Tip 7010:	AutoCAD reports SELECTSIMILAR as an unknown command.
Tip 6159:	Subscribing CAD Forum and CAD Studio web contents directly in the AutoCAD window.
Tip 6074:	DWFx - viewing CAD data without any viewer.
Tip 1820:	How compatible are the so called "DWG-compatible" applications?

Selected tip: How to transfer your Plot style table to Excel?

Back All CAD Tips

How compatible are the so called "DWG-compatible" applications? « | » Where to find my autosaved drawings?

Have we helped you? If you want to support the CAD Forum web service, consider buying one of our CAD applications, or our custom software development offerings, or donating via PayPal (see above). You may also add a link to your web - like this "fan" link:

CAD: OS: Categ:
Text:	FAQ glossary

Featuring:
Track your time spent working on AutoCAD or Revit jobs - automatically with
CADstudio JobTime More info

Please use these tips at your own risk.
CAD Studio (Xanadu) is not responsible for possible problems that may occur as a result of using any of these tips.


Login/Register:
Visitors: 1080