Work With Linetypes (.NET)

A linetype is a repeating pattern of dashes, dots, and blank spaces. A complex linetype is a repeating pattern of symbols. To use a linetype you must first load it into your drawing. A linetype definition must exist in a LIN library file before a linetype can be loaded into a drawing. To load a linetype into your drawing, use the member method LoadLineTypeFile of a Database object.

Note: The linetypes used internally by AutoCAD should not be confused with the hardware linetypes provided by some plotters. The two types of dashed lines produce similar results. Do not use both types at the same time, however, because the results can be unpredictable.

Load a linetype into AutoCAD

This example attempts to load the linetype “CENTER” from the acad.lin file. If the linetype already exists, or the file does not exist, then a message is displayed.

C#

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
 
[CommandMethod("LoadLinetype")]
public static void LoadLinetype()
{
    // Get the current document and database
    Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
    Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;

    // Start a transaction
    using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
    {
        // Open the Linetype table for read
        LinetypeTable acLineTypTbl;
        acLineTypTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LinetypeTableId,
                                         OpenMode.ForRead) as LinetypeTable;

        string sLineTypName = "Center";

        if (acLineTypTbl.Has(sLineTypName) == false)
        {
            // Load the Center Linetype
            acCurDb.LoadLineTypeFile(sLineTypName, "acad.lin");
        }

        // Save the changes and dispose of the transaction
        acTrans.Commit();
    }
}

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
 
<CommandMethod("LoadLinetype")> _
Public Sub LoadLinetype()
    '' Get the current document and database
    Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
    Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database

    '' Start a transaction
    Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

        '' Open the Linetype table for read
        Dim acLineTypTbl As LinetypeTable
        acLineTypTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LinetypeTableId, _
                                         OpenMode.ForRead)

        Dim sLineTypName As String = "Center"

        If acLineTypTbl.Has(sLineTypName) = False Then
            '' Load the Center Linetype
            acCurDb.LoadLineTypeFile(sLineTypName, "acad.lin")
        End If

        '' Save the changes and dispose of the transaction
        acTrans.Commit()
    End Using
End Sub

VBA/ActiveX Code Reference

Sub LoadLinetype()
    On Error GoTo ERRORHANDLER
 
    Dim linetypeName As String
    linetypeName = "CENTER"
 
    ' Load "CENTER" line type from acad.lin file
    ThisDrawing.Linetypes.Load linetypeName, "acad.lin"
    Exit Sub
 
ERRORHANDLER:
    MsgBox Err.Description
End Sub