Generally, to fill an area with a pattern hatches are used and there are plenty of ready-made hatch patterns available in AutoCAD but if you want to use your own custom hatch pattern then you can make it using a type of simple code and also using an express tool called Superhatch. Free Hatch Patterns. To download these free AutoCAD hatch patterns, simply right click on the patterns you want and choose Save Target As, then place the PAT file in a path included in your AutoCAD support paths. Rules of Usage. You may place these patterns on your system and use them in your drawings.
Generally you can export a drawing with its fonts, texture, materials, references, data links etc using e-transmit but unfortunately, it can’t export custom hatch pattern file (PAT) with the package and you have to add it in the package separately.But if you did not receive a drawing with PAT file then you can export it from drawing as well using the method shown below. Exporting hatch patternLet’s assume that you have a drawing with custom hatch applied in it with name ZIGZAG. In order to export that hatch, you need to create its PAT file. I am using a LISP routine in this tutorial to extract PAT file from drawing.Download the LISP routineExtract it from the compressed package and paste it on the desktop. Also, make sure that your source drawing is copied to the desktop from which you want to extract hatch pattern.Now open the drawing from your desktop and drag and drop lisp routine to the drawing as shown in the image below.Now type GETPAT on the command line and click on ZIGZAG pattern present in drawing.
This pattern will be exported as ZIGZAG.PAT on the desktop. For some cases the file is exported to C:Usersuser nameDocuments so if you are unable to find it on the desktop then look it there. Importing hatch in your AutoCADNow you have this hatch pattern all you need to do is import it to your AutoCAD software, for this copy ZIGZAG.PAT file and paste it to support folder of the installation directory.To locate support folder type OP on the command line then press enter, options window will pop up select files tab and expand “support file search path” tree there you will see the location of support file. See image below for reference.After pasting the file launch your software if it is already open then close it and launch it again. You will now find ZIGZAG hatch pattern among all the patterns, and you can use it just like other hatch patterns.
UpdateSome users are unable to use the original GETPAT.LSP file and they are getting this error Command: GETPATSelect hatch:; error: bad argument value: positive 0If that’s the case with you too then use this all the steps are exactly the same you just need to close your older session of AutoCAD and start a fresh one to use it.Credits:Thanks, Paul Turvill for providing access to GETPAT.LSP file, You can find more free LISP routines on his websiteA big thanks to Cooper Francis for providing us access to this modified routine, you can get many free and premium Autodesk tools on his website. I am a mechanical engineer and I have worked with Design, Manufacturing and Training industries but now SourceCAD is my full-time work and I use it to train students all over the world. I also train corporate clients and help them develop the skill set of their workforce. I am Autodesk AutoCAD Certified Professional and an Autodesk expert elite member. I am a regular contributor of AUGI World magazine and apart from SourceCAD I also develop AutoCAD video courses for Pluralsight and other E-Learning businesses. HelloI got a recommendation for a Lisp named getpat.lsp to export AutoCAD’s hatch as a.pat.