Anno_hatch_block_042014.

doc
By: Kristi Yasumiishi

ANNOTATIVE HATCH / BLOCKS

Using annotation scaling makes it easy to create hatch objects that automatically maintain the hatch size
even when the viewport scale changes. It also will maintain the same orientation in paper space if you
rotate your objects in the viewport with the Dview command. Awesome!

To create new hatches:

 Set the Annotation Scale for 1”=1’ or a scale of your

choosing. This is what determines the default
annotative scale for the new objects you create. (This is
the most confusing part of annotative hatch which is
why I choose 1”=1’…it made the most sense to me.)
 Access the Hatch and Gradient dialog box, ensure that
the Annotative property is enabled, and apply the other
hatch properties as you normally would.
 Click OK

Paper space scale (1:1)

To update existing hatches:

 Set the Annotation Scale for the current viewport or Model tab to the scale that you assumed when
creating the original hatches.
 Select the hatch objects that you want to support the current annotation scale and enable the
Annotative property using the Hatch Edit dialog box or the Properties or Quick Properties palette.
 In Properties palette, make sure scale is the same as what you want in paper space.
 Repeat steps 1-2 for hatch objects that you want to support a different Annotation Scale.
 Add/remove annotative scales for selected hatch objects as needed.

Tip:

In the Express Tools Tab under the Draw Section is Super Hatch. This command can do some super things.
Not that this is something you would do for everyday construction drawings, but you can use images for
hatch patterns. Wow! You want something to look like water, or wood, find a jpg of water or wood, and
there you go. I am not sure how this affects size and efficiency of the program but for presentations and
such, it adds an artistic touch.

System Variables: (to be aware of)

 Hpassociative – Hatch patterns and gradient fills are associated with their boundaries and are updated
when the boundaries change (1 is on)
 Hpannotative – Hatch will be annotative (1 is on)
 Hpdraworder – Stores the Draw Order setting from the Hatch and Fill Dialog Box. (options 0 to 4)

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Annotative Blocks:

(Taken directly from AutoCad Help)

Annotative block definitions create annotative block references. Annotative block references and
attributes initially support the current annotation scale at the time they are inserted. You should insert
annotative block references with a unit factor of 1.

You cannot change the Annotative property of individual block references.

To set an annotative block’s paper size, you should define the block in paper space or on the Model layout
with the annotation scale set to 1:1.

When creating and working with annotative blocks and annotative objects within blocks, the following points
should be noted:
 Non-annotative blocks can contain annotative objects, which are scaled by the block’s scale factor
in addition to the annotation scale.
 Annotative blocks cannot reside in annotative blocks.
 Annotative block references are scaled uniformly by the current annotation scale as well as any
user scale applied to the block reference.
 Blocks that contain annotative objects should not be manually scaled.
You can define annotative attributes for annotative and non-annotative blocks. Use annotative attributes
with non-annotative blocks when you want the geometry in the block to display on the paper based on the
scale of the viewport, but you want the attribute text to display at the Paper Text Height defined for the
attribute.
You can set the orientation of annotative blocks to match the orientation of the paper. For more
information about setting the orientation of annotative objects, see Set Orientation for Annotations.
You can use the ANNOTATIVEDWG system variable to specify whether or not the entire drawing will
behave as an annotative block when inserted into another drawing. The ANNOTATIVEDWG system variable
becomes read-only if the drawing contains annotative objects

Block Definition:

 Click Blocks & References tab Block panel Create.

 At the command prompt, enter block.
 In the Block Definition dialog box, enter a block name in the Name box.
 Under Objects, select Convert to Block.
 Click Select Objects.
 Under Behavior, select Annotative.
 Use your pointing device to select objects to be included in block definition. Press ENTER to
complete object selection.
 In the Block Definition dialog box, under Base Point, specify the block insertion point.
 Click OK.

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Update existing blocks:

Insert block in paper space at a 1:1 scale. This will allow the annotation scale to properly represent the
block in model space.

A. Click Blocks & References tab Block panel Create.

B. In the Block Definition dialog box, Name box, click the arrow and select the name of the block you
want to update to be annotative.
C. Under Behavior, select Annotative.
D. Click OK.
E. Redefine block

A
B

D E

To create/update block definitions:

• Access the block definition in the Block Editor.

• Set the Annotation Scale at 1:1.
• Ensure block geometry is drawn at the size you want it represented.
• Enable the Annotative property in the Property palette.
• Save the updated block definition.

To create/update block drawing files:

• Create/Open the block geometry in the drawing editor.

• Ensure block geometry is drawn at the size you want it represented.
• Enable the ANNOTATIVEDWG system variable. (Note that you can only enable the
ANNOTATIVEDWG variable for drawings that contain no annotative objects.)
• Save the updated drawing file.

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