-Pattern
Use the -Pattern command to create copies of specified entities in a circular pattern, in a linear matrix, or along a path.
Use the -Pattern command to create copies of specified entities in a circular pattern or in a linear matrix.
It is the command window variant of the Pattern command.
To create a circular pattern:
- Type -Pattern at the command prompt.
- Specify the entities that constitute the elements to copy, and press Enter.
- Specify the Circular pattern option.
- Specify the Element base point option if needed.
- Specify the axis position of the array.
- Specify the total number of elements of the circular pattern (including the source).
- Specify the angle to fill. Press Enter to accept the 360° default.
- To specify whether to orient the copies about the axis, type Yes or No.
To create a linear pattern:
- Type -Pattern at the command prompt.
- Specify the entities that constitute the elements to copy, and press Enter.
- Specify the Linear pattern option.
- Specify the number of copies on the vertical axis (including the source).
- Specify the number of copies on the horizontal axis (including the source).
- Do one of the following:
- Specify the spacing between the vertical copies of the array.
- Specify the spacing between the horizontal copies of the array.
- or -
- Specify two opposite points to define the cell size between the horizontal and vertical copies of the array.
To create a pattern along a path:
- Type -Pattern at the command prompt.
- In the graphics area, specify the entities that constitute the elements to copy, and press Enter.
- Specify the entity that defines the path to align the specified entities along.
The path can be a Line, PolyLine, Arc, Circle, Ellipse, or Spline.
- Optionally, specify the Element base point option to determine a reference point for the selected entities. Elements in path patterns are positioned relative to the base point.
- Specify one of the following options:
- Distance and number. Allocates the pattern elements along the path at specified intervals with the specified total number of elements.
- Divide. Allocates the number of elements you specify evenly spaced along the total length of the path.
- Measure. Allocates the elements along the path at intervals of a certain length you specify.
- Specify the distance between the pattern elements. This prompt does not appear if you chose the Divide option.
- Specify the number of pattern elements. This prompt does not appear if you chose the Measure option.
- Specify the number of rows. The default is one row.
- If you specified more than one row, specify the spacing between the rows.
- To specify whether to align the pattern elements to be tangent to the path direction, type Yes or No. Otherwise the copied entities maintain the orientation of the source pattern elements.
- If you specified Yes to align the elements:
- To specify whether to define the tangent direction, type Yes or No.
- If you specified Yes to define the tangent direction:
- In the graphics area, specify two points which represent the tangency of the pattern elements relative to the path. Use EntitySnaps to refer to the geometry of the source pattern elements.
- Specify the angle from tangent. This angle defines the amount of rotation of the pattern elements relative to the specified tangent direction.
The specified entities are copied in a path pattern.
Note: The copied entities in the pattern inherit all properties of the original entities such as Layers, LineColors, LineStyles, and LineWeights.
Command: -Pattern