QCAD.org Forum

Hi

After some of using QCAD there are 2 point I am not really happy with. That's why I want to ask what do I have to do different to make this work.

1. Rectangles- after drawing a rectangle is doesn't stay a rectangle but 4 exploded lines. Is there any way to keep rectangle as 1 'block'? I know I can use a PL but it's not so fast as using a rectangle.

2. Hatch. In AutoCAD of DraftSight there is an option to click into an are which is surrounded by the lines. I always found this way very fast. But in QCAD I always have to click al the lines (borders) which take sometimes long time.I know there are 2 ways to make hatching in QCAD but the 'easy' (using the selection) way is not working if for example the area which has to be hatched is created by blocks.

Can you help me please? Thanks.

Please note that there is a menu opening before you place the rectangle where you can tick the check box create polyline: Regarding hatching I'm not that experienced.

Correct,
Always keep an eye on your 'Options Toolbar'.

About Hatching:
- A click inside an area is a feature request.
https://www.ribbonsoft.com/bugtracker/i ... ask_id=763 (2013)
- By individual segments can do more elaborated contours as a click inside or by selection.
Although, it can be tricky to include all, and all correct.
- By selection hatches all your selection.

With this last one, it is essential that you select neat singular closed contours.
I have the habit to use a specific 'Boundary' layer and a specific 'Hatch' layer.
Very handy in re-doing thing or hide things while hatches can 'get in the way'.

My boundaries are always made final with OC.
One can exploit the fact that OG stops chaining where the poly isn't continuous.
Usual faults are: Null entities, Null-Length entities, double entities, partially double entities
(or left over of all kinds), chains failing the connect tolerance, polylines that retrace, and so on.
After some back and forth, OC returns a single closed poly and that will hatch.

One can always add layers (YA) or hit the + icon
Duplicate (DP) is my friend, a double click on the LayerName move them in.
(make it visible in your toolbar: App.prefs .. General .. Tool Settings .. Edit
Or one can make a layer of hatches Menu .. Misc .. Layer .. Create new from ...
For complex files, I proposed a very elaborate script that makes new subfolders from all hatches ....

From hatches to boundaries is also easy:
Select the hatch,duplicate , set solid, explode.

One can also exploit the double click to select a contour.
Tolerance setting in App.Prefs.
Or use Select Contour (TC)what can look in one layer.

Regards,
CVH

Thank, it helps.

But talking about hatches. There is one more thing. I think you can help me. Is it possible to see the hatch-patterns during the selection of the hatch-pattern? I am not such a CAD-guru who knows how ANS31/ HEX/ AR-HBONE does look like. It would be helpful to have a little window showing the hatch-pattern. Do you know if this is possible (by turning something on)?

Is there any solution?

Hatching from selection or by segments opens the Hatch dialog.
there you should have a preview ... Regards,
CVH

I see, I was nog not clear enough. What I mean is that you see directly which pattern you can select. Without selecting a pattern. So without selection. You can compare it with Word where the font types appear directly next to the name of the font. So you can directly seen how a font looks like. Or as in my old CAD program where you can see directly which pattern you choose. See attached screen shot.

You mean 'an overview'.
No there isn't.

That could be a feature request ...
>> https://www.qcad.org/bugtracker/
You'll need to make a separate account for that.

If you select the first you can simply scroll with the arrows.
Or with the mouse wheel with the cursor on the combo box.

I once dove into the hatch script but that was really over my head at that time.
On the other hand it wouldn't be too difficult to make a recursive script that fills squares with hatches.

Maybe if times permits....

Regards,
CVH