Mastering Multiline Commands in AutoCAD: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to this tutorial on the multiline command in AutoCAD. This feature is particularly useful for drawing civil objects and has applications in mechanical drawing as well. In this guide, we will explore the multiline command, its styles, and editing options to enhance your drawing experience.

Understanding Multilines

Multilines in AutoCAD consist of a collection of parallel lines, ranging from 1 to 16, that are drawn consecutively. This allows for efficient drawing of complex shapes and structures. The multiline command can be invoked by typing ML or Mline on your keyboard.

Current Settings

Upon invoking the multiline command, you will see the current settings displayed:

• Justification: Drop
• Scale: 1.00
• Style: Standard

These settings can be modified as needed.

Drawing Multilines

To draw a multiline, follow these steps:

1. Type ML and press Enter.
2. The cursor will point to the uppermost line of the multiline.
3. You can change the justification by selecting from the options: Top, Zero, or Bottom.
   • Top: Cursor points to the top line.
   • Zero: Cursor is centered between the lines.
   • Bottom: Cursor points to the bottom line.

Changing Scale

The scale determines the spacing between the lines. You can set the scale to different values:

• Scale of 1: Default spacing.
• Scale of 5: Wider spacing.
• Scale of 0.5: Closer spacing.

Customizing Multiline Styles

To create a new multiline style, use the command MLSTYLE:

1. Type MLSTYLE and press Enter.
2. Click on the new icon to create a new style.
3. Name your style (e.g., ABC) and customize its properties, including caps, arcs, angles, and fill colors.

Adding Caps and Arcs

You can add caps at the start and end of the multiline, as well as arcs to enhance the visual appeal. Adjust the angle between lines as needed, with a default of 90 degrees.

Color and Fill Options

You can select fill colors for the space between the multiline boundaries. Choose from a variety of colors to make your drawings more visually distinct.

Editing Multilines

To edit existing multilines, use the command MLEDIT:

1. Type MLEDIT and press Enter.
2. A new window will appear with various editing tools.

Common Editing Tools

• Close Cross: Closes junctions between multilines.
• Open Cross: Opens junctions.
• Merge Cross: Merges two junctions.
• Add Vertex: Adds new vertices to the multiline.
• Delete Vertex: Removes existing vertices.
• Cut Single: Cuts a single segment from the multiline.
• Cut All: Deletes all selected multilines.
• Weld: Joins two edges together.

Saving and Loading Multiline Styles

To save your multiline style:

1. Use the command SAVE and rename your style (e.g., 123).
2. The style will be saved with a .MLM extension.

To load a previously saved style, use the MLSTYLE command and select your saved style from the dialog box.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have covered the essential commands and techniques for using multilines in AutoCAD. By mastering these tools, you can significantly enhance your drawing efficiency and accuracy. Stay tuned for our next tutorial, where we will explore more advanced topics in AutoCAD.