Datasheet

REDUCE CONSTRUCTION LINES
Try to use as few construction lines as possible when creating geometry. The more lines you
use to locate points or edges, the more chances that you may confuse one or more for actual
lines, or leave lines behind that are on top of each other. I’ve seen this lead to subtle, but
often important, errors.
The often-related problem of lines on top of lines may seem like no big deal, because
everything plots fine; but if you have a short line segment on top of a longer one, it’s possible
to snap to the wrong endpoint or midpoint without noticing it and create inaccurate geome-
try. The OVERKILL Express Tool can help fix this problem.
MPEDIT was once an Express Tool. It allows you to set a fuzz factor for combining
lines, arcs, or plines into a single object. To use it, run MPEDIT, and then select all the
objects you want to join. You’re prompted for a fuzz factor. Enter a number that is greater
than your likely error, and MPEDIT cleans up the mess. (I hope you’re working on some-
one else’s mess, because you should be able to avoid sloppy drawing if you use the accu-
racy tools available in AutoCAD.)
There are also some alternatives to PEDIT for finding areas, even if your closed geome-
try has overlapping lines. Using the BOUNDARY command, you can select a point and
have a closed pline or a region created automatically. This works great for interior spaces,
but you can use this command even in situations that are less obvious. For example, when
you have overlapping construction lines and want to create a clean set of double lines (a
floor plan, for example), use the technique shown in Figure 1.8: Enclose the entire group
of lines with a circle, and select a point inside the circle but outside the lines.
Figure 1.8
Using BOUNDARY
for quick shapes
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