Command: linestyle

Syntax

linestyle <name> {
    <line_def>
    ...
}

or

linestyle <name> = <ident>

Description

Create or redefine a linestyle identifier.

Parameters

• <name>
  The name of the linestyle identifier.

• <line_def>
  A list of pattern phrases describing the segments of one line of the linestyle. Multiple <line_defs> will describe patterns to be drawn parallel. Phrases within each <line_def> are separated by commas.

• <ident>
  Copy the attributes of an existing linestyle identifier into the new linestyle identifier. All command switches are ignored.

Switches

None

Block

The data block containing multiple <line_def> phrases. Available phrases are as follows:

• a=<angle>
  Angle for markers. The default is zero.

• abs
  Define angles (via a=<angle>) to be absolute angles measured counterclockwise from zero, the horizontal. The default is for angles to be relative to the direction of the line.

• col=<color>
  The color to be applied to all items within the line definition.

• d=<num>
  Draw a dash of length <num>.

• g=<num>
  Draw a gap of length <num>.

• m
  Draw a marker, center d at the current position within the line definition. The next item after the marker will begin at the same position.

• me
  Draw a marker only when the current position is at one of the two polyline ends.

• mf
  Draw a marker only when the current position is at the polyline start, i.e. the first vertex.

• mh=<num>
  The height associated with subsequently defined markers within the line definition.

• mi
  Draw a marker only when the current position is at a polyline vertex, but not at one of the two polyline ends.

• ml
  Draw a marker only when the current position is at the polyline finish, i.e. the last vertex.

• ms=<markerstyle>
  The markerstyle associated with subsequently defined markers within the line definition.

• mv
  Draw a marker only when the current position is at a polyline vertex.

• o=<num>
  Offset by <num> the center line from the line being drawn. The default value is 0, i.e. no offset. A positive <num> will offset to the right of the line, looking from start to finish.

• om=XY | YX | XZ
  The plane in which the offset (o = <num>) is effective. If omitted, the XY plane is used. This is known as the offset mode.

• p
  Draw a point (a dot).

• su=<text>
  The units in which the dimensions (d, g, o) are measured. Possible values can be found here. If omitted, the default is M.

• th=<num>
  The thickness associated with all dashes within the line definition.

Notes

A special value * may be given for the dash (d) and gap (g) length specification, and will indicate an unspecified length drawn to the next polyline vertex. See the examples below.

Multiple line definitions create a linestyle identifier array, but the identifier name should not be declared as an array. The array creation is performed automatically.

If no color is provided in a line definition, the color associated with the graphic primitive being drawn is used.

Linestyle identifiers can have global or application scope, but cannot have local scope. When local linestyle identifiers are required, string identifiers should be used to reference the linestyles by name.

Examples

Single line style: dash and gap.

linestyle dash_50 { d=50, g=50 }

Single line style: dots at both ends.

linestyle end_dots {
    p, g=*, p
}

Single line style: dash, dot, dot.

linestyle dash_dot_dot {
    d=100, g=10, p, g=10, p, g=10
}

Single line style: general pattern for screen display measured in pixels.

linestyle pixel_10 { su=p, d=10, g=10 }

Single line style: markers at all polyline vertices.

linestyle pluses {
    ms=mk_plus, -mh=25, mv, d=*
}

Single line style: markers only at both ends of the full polyline.

linestyle end_pluses {
    ms=mk_plus, -mh=25, me, d=*
}

Parallel style (two continuous lines offset from center -line by 2mm actual size).

linestyle parall_2 {
    su=a, o=-2, d=*
    su=a, o=2, d=*
}

Make a copy of a linestyle.

linestyle newpal = parall_2

See Also