AutoCAD Tip: Centralized Custom Hatch (PAT) Library Best Practices

Build a robust, centralized custom hatch and pattern library to speed detailing and enforce visual standards across projects.

Start with clean, maintainable .PAT files:

• Create discipline-specific PAT files (e.g., Company_Arch.pat, Company_MEP.pat). Avoid editing acad.pat and acadiso.pat to simplify upgrades.
• Use clear names and descriptions. The first line of each pattern should be concise and searchable: *BRICK_8x3, Modular brick with 3/8 in mortar.
• Keep definitions efficient. Extremely dense lines and tiny dash lengths inflate regen time and file complexity.
• Store patterns in a read-only network location with version control. Add that path in Options > Files > Support File Search Path for all users.

Deploy for consistency and speed:

• Templates: Set a dedicated hatch layer (e.g., A-HATCH) and make it the default via HPLAYER. Save associative hatching on by default (HPASSOC = 1).
• Tool Palettes: Drag a “perfect” hatch from your drawing onto a Tool Palette to capture pattern, scale, angle, layer, and annotative settings. Share palettes from a network path.
• Workspaces: Include your palettes and support paths in exported profiles so teammates can import them in one step.

Control appearance across scales:

• Annotative hatches maintain plotted density across viewports. Turn on Annotative in the Hatch Creation palette where appropriate.
• Set default scale and angle for your most common patterns (HPSCALE, HPANG). Provide scale guidance in your CAD standards.
• Use a consistent hatch origin (Set Origin in the Hatch ribbon) to prevent seams when rooms or panels tile across multiple boundaries.

Avoid common pitfalls that slow you down:

• Performance: Keep HPMAXLINES at a protective value to prevent runaway hatch generation. If boundaries have tiny gaps, increase HPGAPTOL slightly instead of over-densifying the pattern.
• Boundaries: Prefer closed polylines. Use associative hatching so edits to boundaries update fills automatically. Set island detection to the right mode (Outer/Inner/Ignore) to reduce extra objects.
• Edits: Use MATCHPROP to standardize legacy hatches quickly, and convert non-associative hatches where possible.

Creation tips for custom patterns:

• Prototype at real plot scale to validate legibility and moiré. Maintain minimum line spacing at plotted scale (e.g., >0.25 mm) for clarity.
• For textures or logos, consider SUPERHATCH (Express Tools) sparingly; it’s flexible, but pure PAT patterns are usually lighter and faster.

Collaboration and deliverables:

• Recipients can view your hatches without your PAT files; however, they’ll need the PAT to create new hatches with the same pattern. Include PATs when sharing standards or building partner tool palettes.
• Document your library in a one-page guide with preview swatches and recommended scales.

Need help standardizing or scaling your library across teams and offices? Consult the specialists at NOVEDGE for deployment strategies, licensing, and upgrades. If you’re evaluating new seats or add-ons for AutoCAD, check NOVEDGE’s AutoCAD options and ask their team about best practices for shared Tool Palettes and profiles.

You can find all the AutoCAD products on the NOVEDGE web site at this page.