The names TPC uses internally for these line types convert automatically to these default CAD line type names.
Exporting DXF and DWG files
When exporting a TPC drawing to a DXF or DWG file, TPC writes each line type used in the drawing, to the CAD file as a CAD line type.
If an exported CAD file is then opened in CAD and the linetype command issued, the line types TPC exported to that drawing will be listed.
Pattern and Text Line Types
If a TPC line type contains any combination of dashes, dots and text, TPC creates a CAD line type to match, and exports that to the CAD file.
If you edit a line type in TPC, those changes will be reflected both in a TPC drawing that uses that line type and any CAD file exported from that drawing. See Editing Line Types.
Block Line Types
In TPC, block line types are those that include an embedded block, defined by a .dxf file.
When exporting block line types to CAD, TPC looks for a matching line type in the tpc.lin file, and exports that definition to the CAD file. See TPC.LIN File below.
If a matching line type is not found, TPC will export those lines a Continuous line type.
Importing DXF and DWG files
When you import a DXF or DWG file into a drawing or send entities from the CAD View to the Drawing View, TPC tries to match up the CAD line name with one of the its own predefined CAD lines.
TPC.LIN File
CAD programs use a line type ([filename].lin) file to define CAD line types. Line types defined in a CAD line type file can be added to a CAD drawing as needed, making that line type available to that CAD drawing.
TPC includes its own CAD line type file, tpc.lin, which is installed in the program folder. This file defines CAD line types that TPC can't create create automatically from it's own line types. These generally include TPC's block line types.
TPC.LIN Line Type Names Must Match TpcLines.dat
In order for TPC to use a tpc.lin line type definition when importing or exporting CAD files, the name of the line type in that file must exactly match the CAD name of one of TPC's line types.
Example
TPC's line type Fence Chain Link _X2 references the CAD line type FncChnLnkX2 in it's definition, as shown here.
Fence Chain Link _X2,_100 35'Miscellaneous\infinity.dxf'10 35_100,_____oo_____,FncChnLnkX2,94
In the TPC.lin file, that CAD line type is included as shown here
*FncChnLnkX2,Fence Chain Link _X2 -------- ~ -------- ~ --------
When TPC exports it's Fence Chain Link _X2 line to a CAD drawing, it uses the CAD line type FncChnLnkX2.
Editing the TPC.LIN File
The tpc.lin can be edited by either modifying it's existing line type definitions or adding new ones.
Exporting Legend Line Types to CAD
TPC can export line types to CAD that are specific to the legend it includes in the drawing. This allows those line types to be drawn within the limited column width of the legend.
