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Introduction to Multilines

Engineering Design TechnologySacramento City College

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Drawing MultilinesA multiline consists of between 1 and 16

parallel lines that act as one line.

The lines in the set of multilines are called elements.

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Drawing MultilinesMultilines are commonly used for drawingRoadsWalls of buildings for architectural plans.

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Drawing MultilinesThe MLINE command is accessed by:Picking the Multiline button from the Draw

toolbarOR

Picking Multiline in the Draw pull-down menuOR

Typing ML or MLINE at the Command: prompt.

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Drawing MultilinesThree commands relate to multilines: MLINE. (ML)MLSTYLE.MLEDIT.

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Drawing MultilinesThe MLSTYLE command Allows you to create multilines.

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Drawing MultilinesThe default multi-line style has:Two elements (lines).Continuous line type.Is called STANDARD.

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Multiline JustificationJustification determines how the resulting

lines are offset.

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Multiline JustificationJustificationCan be specified only once during a single

MLINE command sequence and Is based on a counterclockwise rotation

direction.

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Multiline JustificationThe justification options are TopZeroBottom

TOP is the defaultThe current value remains in effect until

changed.

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Top Justification

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Zero Justification

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Bottom Justification

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Multiline JustificationTo change the justificationEnter J at the first promptEnter the first letter of the desired justification

TopZeroBottom

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Multiline JustificationThe justification setting is stored in the

AutoCAD CMLJUST system variable.

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Adjusting the Multiline ScaleThe Scale option controls the multiplier for

the offset values specified in the MLSTYLEcommand.

The multiplier is stored in the CMLSCALEsystem variable.

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Adjusting the Multiline ScaleWhen the scale is 1, the distance between

multiline elements is equal to 1 times the offset distance.

If the offset distance is 0.5, the distance between multiline elements is 0.5 when the multiline scale is 1.

If the multiline scale is 2, the distance between multiline elements is 1 (0.5 x 2).

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Adjusting the Multiline ScaleFor zero justification, The multiline elements are offset 0.5 units on

either side of the definition points picked.

Example: If the multiline scale is 2Top and Bottom justification = 2 units offset Zero justification = 1 unit and -1 unit offset.

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Setting Your Own Multiline StyleML Command Style optionAllows you to specify the current multiline

style.

The style must be saved before it can be accessed.

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Setting Your Own Multiline StyleUsing saved Multiline stylesType: MLType: ST - to access the style option,

Type the known multiline style name.

A “?” lists all of the names of the multiline styles.

Typing a name of a multiline style that does not exist, the Load multiline style from file dialog box is displayed

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Setting Your Own Multiline StyleMultilines are stored in the acad.mln file

library.

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Setting Your Own Multiline StyleYou can load the multiline style from

another file (not acad.lin).

Custom multilines can be purchased for AutoCAD.

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Defining Multilines

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Multiline StylesUse the MLSTYLE command to define

multilines.

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Multiline StylesThe MLSTYLE command can be accessed

by:Picking the Multiline Style entry in the Format

pull-down menuOR

Typing MLSTYLE at the Command: prompt.

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Multiline StylesThe Multiline options are:Current: Name:Description:Load... Button:Save... button.Add button. Rename button.

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Multiline StylesCurrent: Text box. The Current: text box makes the specified

multiline style current. Specifying a different style changes the

setting of the CMLSTYLE system variable.

Until you create a multiline style, the only style available is STANDARD.

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Multiline StylesName:Text box.This text box is used to enter the name for a

new style.

Description: Text box.An optional description of your multiline style

may be entered in this text box.

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Multiline StylesLoad... button. This button allows you to load a multiline style

from an external multiline definition file.

Save... button.The Save... button is used to save a style to a

file.

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Multiline StylesAdd button. Pick the Add button after entering a multiline

style name in the Name: text box. This adds the multiline style name to the list of

defined styles.

Rename button. Pick this button to rename a multiline style.

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Creating A Multiline

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Element Properties Dialog BoxCreate a new multiline style by1. MLStyle2. Type name of new multiline

“NewExample”3. Click ADD

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Multiline Element Properties

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Element Properties Dialog BoxElements Properties Dialog Box contains:Elements: area. Add button.Delete button. Offset text box. Color... button.Linetype... button.

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Element Properties Dialog BoxElements: area. Displays the current:

Offset.ColorLinetype settings

for each multiline element.

Picking one of the elements highlights the items for modification.

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Element Properties Dialog BoxAdd button. Add a new element to the multiline definition.

Delete button. Deletes a highlighted item in the Elements:

area.

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Element Properties Dialog BoxOffset text box. Enter either a positive or negative offset value

for a highlighted element.

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Element Properties Dialog BoxColor... button.Accesses the Select Color dialog box.Pick the color you wish to assign to the

highlighted element. After picking OK, the new color is displayed in

the image tile next to the Color... button.

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Element Properties Dialog BoxLinetype... button. Pick the desired linetype from the Loaded

Linetypes list.

Linetypes must be loaded before they can be used.

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Multiline Properties Options

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Multiline Properties Dialog Box The Multiline Properties dialog box offers

additional options for customizing multiline styles.

Access by:Picking the Multiline Properties... button in the

Multiline Styles dialog box. See Figure 15-12.

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Multiline Properties Dialog Box You can add the following to multi-line

elementsCaps.Segment joints.Background color.

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Multiline Properties Dialog Box JointsAre lines that connect the vertices of adjacent multiline

elements. Joints are also called miters.

Display joints check box. This check box turns the display of joints on

and off.

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Multiline Properties Dialog BoxCapsAre lines that Connect the vertices of the beginning or

ending points of the multiline elements.

Caps area. Controls the placement of caps on multilines.

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Multiline Properties Dialog BoxCaps can be set at the Start pointsEndpointsBoth.

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Multiline Properties Dialog BoxArcs can also be specified. Arcs can be set to connect the Ends of the outermost elements onlyPairs of interior elementsBoth the outer and interior elements. The arcs are drawn tangent to the elements

they connect.Specifying outermost arcs to be drawn

requires at least two multiline elements.

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Multiline Properties Dialog BoxAngle: Text BoxAllows you to change the angle of the caps

relative to the direction of the multiline elements.

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Multiline Properties Dialog BoxFill area. If the check box labeled On is activated, the

multiline is filled with a solid fill pattern in the color specified.

Pick this check box to activate the Color... button.

You can leave the color set to BYLAYER or change it by picking the Color... button.

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Multiline Styles

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Multiline StylesMLSTYLE command Displays the Multiline Styles dialog box.Use this box to define, edit, and save multiline

styles.

Styles can be saved to an external file so they can be used in other drawings.

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Editing Multilines

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Editing MultilinesThe MLEDIT command permits limited

editing operations for multiline objects.

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Editing MultilinesAccess this command byPicking Multiline... from the Modify pull-down

menuOR

Entering MLEDIT at the Command: promptOR

Picking the Edit Multiline button in the Modify toolbar.

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Editing MultilinesThe Multiline Edit Tools dialog box is

displayed.

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Editing MultilinesThe image buttons give you an example of

what to expect when using each editing option.

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Editing IntersectionsPick a button to create the type of

intersection shown.

The name of the MLEDIT option is displayed in the lower left comer of the dialog box when you pick an image button.

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Editing IntersectionsClosed Cross.The first multiline selected is called the

background. It remains unchanged.The second multiline selected is called the

foreground. It remains unchanged.

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Editing IntersectionsNote that the trimming is apparent, not

actual. ( ! )

This means that the line visibility of the background multiline is changed, but it is still one multiline.

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Editing IntersectionsU to undo the intersection you have just

made.

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Editing IntersectionsCross editing options:Closed Cross.Open Cross.Merged Cross.

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Editing TeesOther Tee editing options:Closed TeeOpen Tee.Merged Tee.

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Editing IntersectionsOther options:Corner Joint.Add Vertex.Delete Vertex.

Cut Single.Cut All.Weld All.

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Editing IntersectionsCorner Joint. Allows you to create a corner joint between

two multilines. The first multiline is trimmed or extended to its

intersection with the second multiline.

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Editing IntersectionsAdd Vertex. Adds a vertex to an existing multiline at the

location you pick.

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Editing IntersectionsAdd VertexThe command sequence differs slightly from

the sequences used with the other MLEDIT options.

After you select the Add Vertex option and pick OK, you are prompted with the following:

Select mline: (pick a location on the multilinefor the new vertex)

Select mline or [Undo]: jCommand:

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Editing IntersectionsDelete Vertex. The Delete Vertex option allows you to

remove a vertex from an existing multiline.The vertex closest to the location you pick is

deleted.

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