Hatch Area

Used to hatch an area. Elements used to define the area to be hatched can be in the active model, or in references. Where associative patterning is used, any modification to elements defining the hatched area results in an equivalent update to the hatching. Icons in the tool settings let you select the method for defining the area to be hatched.

You can access this tool from the following:
  • Ribbon: Drawing > Annotate > Patterns
  • Toolbox: Patterning

To be patterned, a closed element's Area attribute must be Solid. An element's Area attribute is changed with the Change Element to Active Area tool in the Change Attributes toolbox.



Setting Description
Element icon


The interior of a shape, ellipse, or closed B-spline curve; or between components of a multi-line.
Flood icon


The (minimum) area enclosed by a set of elements (something like the flood fill tool common in painting programs). With method set to Flood, a Show Extended Information icon appears in the lower right corner of the tool settings window. Clicking this icon expands the tool settings to display further controls.
Union icon


Edges bound the union of two or more closed, planar elements.

Where more than two elements are involved, use Ctrl+data point to select the extra elements.

Intersection icon


Edges bound the intersection of two or more closed, planar elements.

Where more than two elements are involved, use Ctrl+data point to select the extra elements.

Difference icon


Edges bound the difference of two or more closed, planar elements.

Where more than two elements are involved, use Ctrl+data point to select the extra elements.

Points icon


An area defined by a series of data points, each of which defines a vertex.
Fence icon


The area inside the fence.
Spacing Sets the interval between hatching lines.
Annotation Scale Lock icon


Sets the Annotation Scale Lock. When this lock is on, the annotation scale is applied to the hatch.

By default, the annotation scale is taken from the model's Annotation Scale setting. You can change it only in the model's properties in the Properties dialog. The exception is when the model's Propagate Annotation Scale property is off. In that case, the annotation scale can be controlled independently for each element via its properties.

Angle Sets the angle at which hatching lines are drawn. By default, the angle is relative to the view being used. Where AccuDraw is active, however, the angle is relative to the AccuDraw drawing plane.
Drop Pattern If on, hatching is not associated with the hatched geometry. Static pattern class elements are created and put into a graphic group. If you modify the hatched element, the hatching does not change. The default is off.
Associative Boundary (Available only when Drop Pattern is off) If on, creates an independent “Associative Region” element that is associated to the hatched element. Depending on the status of the Drop Pattern and Associative Boundary setting, you get following outputs:
Drop Pattern Associative Boundary Result
On (NA) Creates static pattern class elements that are part of the same graphic group.
Off Off Adds a displayable attribute to a closed element (similar to Fill). Methods other than Element create a new closed element.
Off On Creates an independent associative region element that can have its own level and reacts to changes to the original boundary elements.
Snappable If on, hatching lines can be snapped to. If off, hatching lines do not interfere with snapping to other elements.
Ignore Interior Shapes icon


(Flood icon selected only) If selected, interior shapes are ignored when the region boundary is calculated.
Locate Interior Shapes icon


(Flood icon selected only) If selected, all closed elements (regardless of their Area attributes) inside the selected area are avoided when the area is hatched.
Identify Alternating Interior Shapes icon


(Flood icon selected only) If selected, alternating areas are hatched where shapes are nested inside one another.
Locate Interior Text icon


(Flood icon selected only) If selected, any text or dimension text inside or overlapping the selected area is avoided when the area is hatched.
Dynamic Area Locate icon


(Flood icon selected only) If on, the area to be hatched displays dynamically as you move the screen pointer over the shapes.
Maximum Gap (Flood icon selected only) The maximum distance, in working units, between the endpoints of enclosing elements.
Text Margin (Flood icon selected only) Sets the size of the margin (in text height units) between hatching lines and existing text elements in the area to hatch.
Search For Holes (Element icon selected only) When creating a non-associative pattern, you can ignore hole elements or search for hole elements on the same level as the element to hatch, or on all levels displayed in the view.
  • No ? Ignores hole elements.
  • Element Level ? Searches for hole elements on the same level as the element to hatch.
  • View Levels ? Searches for hole elements on all levels displayed in the view.
Use Element Symbology If on, hatching is created using the active color, line weight, and line style of the element being patterned.
Fill Type (Points method only) Sets the active fill type for the closed shape defined by the points ? None (no fill), Opaque (filled with the active color), or Outlined.
Fill Color (Points method only) Sets the color and optional gradient with which the elements are filled.
  • If Fill Type is Opaque, the element(s) are filled with the active color, which is also the color of the element's outline.
  • If Fill Type is Outlined, the element(s) can be filled with a color that is different from the active color.
Key-in: HATCH [ ICON | DIFFERENCE | ELEMENT | FENCE | FLOOD | INTERSECTION | POINTS | UNION ]