[solved] How to set default line color, attributes?

[Markz]

I see where you can define line attributes by layer. And you can reset the attributes of a line after drawing it. But how do you set a color or linestyle as default, so that everything you draw will have those attributes until you're ready to switch?

Thanks!

Windows/Linux
QCAD 3.25.2

[Daniel4]

Hello,
not sure if either of these are what you are looking for.
(edit, application preferences, add layer)
allows for default thickness and line color for new layers and layer 0.

(layer, add layer)
when creating a new layer you are able to set line color, thickness, and line type.
I suppose this is only good for the current drawing, not a default setting.

Cheers.

[Markz]

Thanks for the response.

No, I mean the default color for any line that you are about to draw. This is standard in the other cad programs I've used. You set a color or linestyle, and then every line you draw after that will be in that color/linestyle.

I guess, with sub-layers you could just use layers to define colors. Except I note that layers don't seem to have a way to set scale.

Thanks!

[Husky]

... I mean the default color for any line that you are about to draw. This is standard in the other cad programs I've used. You set a color or linestyle, and then every line you draw after that will be in that color/linestyle.

You can do that in QCAD too. Open the Toolbar "Pen" below:

Menu / View / Toolbars and Widgets / Toolbars / Pen

Note: Common practice in CAD is to administrate attributes like color etc. within layers. Entity specific attributes like color should be always be an exception.

[Husky]

I guess, with sub-layers you could just use layers to define colors.

I recommend to prepare a default template for new drawings. This is mine - QCAD will load it with all predefined layer as "New drawing":

Husky-2021.01.30-03.png (14.69 KiB) Viewed 4921 times

Except I note that layers don't seem to have a way to set scale.

In CAD it is common practice to draw everything regardless the size in 1:1. You can scale it within the print options ...

[Markz]

You can do that in QCAD too. Open the Toolbar "Pen" below:

Thanks! I'll mark this solved.

My philosophy on layers is that layers represent logical functions, not necessarily drawing entities. For instance, everything on one layer might represent the outside structure of a building. Another layer might be the inside structure. Another might be for wiring, and another for plumbing. Within a layer, you might want one color for hot water, for instance, and another for cold.

In CAD it is common practice to draw everything regardless the size in 1:1. You can scale it within the print options ...

I was referring to line scale, not over-all scale. If I have a dashed line, I would like to see it dashed while I work, not just at print time. It doesn't appear that one can change line-scale for a particular layer.

Thanks again!

[Husky]

If I have a dashed line, I would like to see it dashed while I work, not just at print time.

Switch to the "Screen Based Linetypes" mode ...
Menu / View / Screen Based Linetypes
... and you will see it in Model_Space before you print.

Asides that you can scale the line types within the Property Editor.

If I have a dashed line, I would like to see it dashed while I work, not just at print time. It doesn't appear that one can change line-scale for a particular layer.

Correct - not for a layer.