Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Associative array objects are recognized as such in AutoCAD 2012 only.
Avoid using them if you have to share drawings with users of AutoCAD 2011 or
earlier. In earlier releases, associative arrays are treated as anonymous blocks,
and the content can only be edited by exploding them.
Arraying along a path
In Chapter 3 I show you how to create a simple rectangular array, and in Chapter 11 I ex-
plain how to create an equally simple polar array. The concepts and the pattern types
are the same for associative and non-associative arrays as they are for simple arrays, so
in this section I demonstrate the brand-new Path array.
Unlike rectangular and polar arrays, which require only source objects and some input
parameters, path arrays require an additional piece of drawing geometry — a path. A
path can be as simple as a line or a circle, or it can be a spline or a 2D or 3D polyline. In
the following steps, I bring some chairs to the elliptical dining room table and use the
table itself as the path. You can use this sequence to create an associative path array of
any objects.
ARRAYPATH is a complicated command, with several levels of command
prompt. And it's not made any easier by Autodesk's decisions to remove the dia-
log box from earlier releases, and to provide no helpful contextual Ribbon panel.
It's all done at the command prompt, and if you get one entry wrong, you have to
cancel and start all over again (this should give the newbies a taste of what
AutoCAD was like a couple of decades ago!). This example shows one particular
route through the command prompts; feel free to try alternative methods — and
remember: The online help is your friend!
1. Open a drawing containing some objects you want to array along a path, or draw
some simple geometry for your source object, and an open or closed spline or poly-
line for your path.
You can also open drawing
afd18a.dwg
which you can find on this
topic's companion web site (see Figure 18-1). Point your browser at
