[Solved] Complex Linetypes Missing?

[TheEnglishPatient]

I just installed 3.8.1 trial under win8.1 - but I don't seem to get the complex linetypes to work. They show up in the linetype combobox ok, but on the drawing they are replaced by a variety of dashed/dots...

[andrew]

Are the trial add-ons still active or expired (see Help > About > Plugins)?
Note that complex line types are only available with the QCAD Professional add on.

[TheEnglishPatient]

yes, plugin (Pro) is active. For example the ZigZag is replaced by a dash-dot line (see on the left)

[andrew]

Thanks for the details.

It looks like you are using screen-based linetypes (View > Screen-based Linetypes). Complex linetypes can only be displayed when drawing-based linetypes are used (i.e. Screen-based Linetypes are off).

[TheEnglishPatient]

Hmmm...if I switch screen-based linetypes off I just get a solid line.

[andrew]

Could it be that you are also in draft mode (View > Draft Mode)?

[TheEnglishPatient]

I am afraid I am not.
1) Start qcad 3.8.1 (as downloaded - nothing changed)
2) put simple line on untitled1
3) change in properties linetype to zigzag

that's it - but it does not show up!

Thought: possible interference from older, still installed versions of QCAD?

[andrew]

I'm unable to reproduce this here. A mix up of versions can be ruled out if you have installed using the setup installer. If you have installed using the ZIP file, two versions might have been mixed. Remove the whole QCAD directory in this case and install again.

Perhaps, you could save and attach your simple file containing a zig-zag line for me to have a look at. Thanks.

[TheEnglishPatient]

Andrew,

after fresh install on another machine (win7) I might have found the answer (user error).

Can you please confirm that
a) complex linetypes will NOT show up on screen in normal or draft mode, or even when you have screen-based linetypes enabled (which shows some? of the dashes)
b)complex linetypes will show ONLY in print preview - but watch the scaling! (that's where I think I went wrong previously, as the line was for some reason scaled so that it became undistinguishable from a continuous line)

If that's true, maybe an addendum to the manual in order?

[andrew]

a) complex linetypes will NOT show up on screen in normal or draft mode, or even when you have screen-based linetypes enabled (which shows some? of the dashes)

Complex line types are NOT shown in draft mode (draft mode is optimized for maximum performance).

Complex line types are NOT shown if screen based line types are used.

Complex line types are shown in normal mode in both the model view and the print preview (i.e. draft mode is off and screen based line types are off).
However, it can indeed be that if the pattern scaling is very small, that a zig zag line is indistinguishable from a continuous line.

[TheEnglishPatient]

Well, sorry to argue it's even more bizarre, look at this:
In modelview:
The lower horizontal line is a ZigZag from x=0 to x=254, scaling linetype with 100 - it's showing up niecely.
The upper line is a ZigZag from 0 to 255, scaling linetype with 100 - showing up as contimuous line - if you scale to 1000 you get the same effect at x=2540 (just pull the right line handle across the magic number and see the zigzag disappear)

So I am afraid there is a real issue here.

BTW - this is now on the full, paid for 3.8.1.0 Pro

[TheEnglishPatient]

Sorry, wrong picture - this is the correct screen shot

[andrew]

This appears to be caused by a mechanism in QCAD that stops rendering lines with a pattern if there would be a very large number of dashes. This is built in to avoid slowing down the drawing display to a standstill. In the next update, this behavior can be configured in preferences.

[andrew]

srl: I've split your question into a new thread, as your problem seems to be unrelated to this:
viewtopic.php?f=74&t=3374

[andrew]

TheEnglishPatient: QCAD 3.9.0 makes this behaviour configurable under Edit > Application Preferences > Graphics View > Appearance > Display and Performance

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