Issue Description
In some cases, specific line types are required for a project that may not be available in Archicad’s built-in library. How can a custom line type be created to suit these unique needs?
Solution
Creating a custom line type in Archicad involves defining a pattern that can be repeatedly used along any line. The pattern can be drawn directly on the Floor Plan using standard drawing tools like Lines, Arcs, and Hotspots. It's important to note that Polylines, Splines, and Texts cannot be used in this process. If the custom line type requires text, it must be traced manually using available drawing tools.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to create a custom line type:
- On the Floor Plan View, Draw the stencil using Lines, Arcs and Hotspots. You only need to draw one unit of it by which it will be repeated along the line. It is recommended to draw it in the size that you will want it to see on your drawings.
- Select all stencil components then Copy. Edit > Copy
Go to Options > Element Attributes > Lines… Select New.. then select “Symbol”. Click OK.
- In the new custom Line, click “Paste into Pattern”, then a preview of the pasted components can be seen.
- Edit the Dash and Gap values. Dash is the total length of each pattern, in our case, we have drawn a 1340mm long stencil on the Floor plan at a scale of M 1:100. This gives us a 13.40mm long unit size on paper. The Gap is set to 0 since we want the pattern to be continuous. Click OK.
TIP: The vertical positioning of the placed line is always at the center of the pattern height.