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Separate Hatches
Tip# 3713 By Justin Manson On 21-Aug-2011
5
Rated By 1 users
Categories : Edit Hatch
Software type : AutoCAD 2012
Rename File To : No Files to download.
Divide an object composed of multiple hatched areas into separate objects.

Tipster Justin Manson shares a technique for editing hatch objects in AutoCAD that separates hatches to individual areas.

"I become frustrated when users hatch drawings and I find multiple areas all hatched with one hatch object. Well, while working late — and maybe thinking outside the box — I tried this, and it worked! I should never be surprised by the power of AutoCAD. To divide an object of multiple hatched areas into separate objects, I clicked on the hatch, right-clicked and scrolled down to Hatch Edit, and on the first tab within the Options area of the dialog box clicked Separate Hatches and pressed OK. Voila — separate hatches."

Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: Hatch objects in AutoCAD can be managed in several different ways; using separate hatch objects for each area or using one hatch object is up to you. Either method can have benefits that could appeal to you. One hatch is easy to edit; the edit changes the entire hatch pattern in just a few clicks. But if you need one area of your hatch to appear differently, then you need separate hatches. If you find yourself with one hatch object and you need them to be separated, just follow the instructions provided in this tip.

AutoCAD 2011 and 2012 have contextual ribbon tabs for editing your hatch objects. You can still right-click on a selected hatch and get to the "old-fashioned" Edit Hatch dialog box, or you can just navigate to the Options Panel on the Hatch editor contextual ribbon tab, expand it, and click the Separate Hatch button.

 

Average Rating:
5


User comments
Comment by White,David
Posted on 2011-08-22 13:52:04
This is why I like the tips. Justin, I also share your frustration, but I am the guy who is always hatching everything at one time. Your tip will make me stop that. I don't lke the combined hatching any more than you, I had always done it because I keep the hatching on a separate layer (easy to turn off and on). I can still do that with your tip, and separate the hatches. Thanks!!
Comment by Kellogg,c. Frank
Posted on 2011-08-23 12:39:51
Is there any easier way to hatch than from a tool palette, where you can pre-set layer, scale, rotation, etc? Hatching separate areas is as simple as left-click, right-click, left-click, right-click, etc. I am working (stuck) with v2004, so I was wondering if there are newer, easier ways.
Comment by Schultz,Stephen
Posted on 2011-08-24 11:42:48
Love this, I was unaware of "Separate Hatches". That's what I get for not reading an entire dialog box. I often have to hatch multiple interior spaces defined by polylines that may or may not need to be separate. It's quicker at the time to click click click through all of them, though I end up with one big hatch. Now, if necessary, I can separate them easily. Thanks!