Re: Simplify polyline. For a slightly different approach, there's also PolylineEveryOther.lsp with its PLEO command, here. It's more of a brute-force way of doing it, since it doesn't consider things like the distances between vertices or the degree of bend between segments, as PLDiet does, but just eliminates every other vertex. The output is a single 2D/3D polyline just with straight line segments. The created polyline has the same layer, color, linetype and linetype scale as the initial curve. For example, this plugin can be used if you need to export your drawing to an application, that doesn't work well with the native curve arc segments or splines in Autodesk® AutoCAD®.

1. Simplify Lines In Autocad

I cannot lie - I'm enjoying spending more time at home! I have successfully reminded my dog who I am - and she's no longer holding on to me for dear life whenever I leave (good sign!). Rumor has it I'm moving to another office soon so I'll need to pack up the old (good thing I'm in town!).

Cadalyst Magazine released my latest Tips and Tricks Tuesday video on turning Splines into Polylines. This was a welcome addition to AutoCAD 2010 - but I find that many of you out there in AutoCADland don't seem to know about it.

Note: I do realize there is no such place as 'AutoCADland'

Why would you want to turn a Spline into a Polyline? Well - you can do things to polylines that you just can't do to a spline (for example, change the width). I've been asked many times for this feature by Landscape Architects and Civil Engineers - so the need clearly exists.

You can convert a spline to a polyline in the SPLINEDIT command or the PEDIT command. Either way - you'll barely notice the difference when you convert it (depening on the precision you set of course).

I received an additional tip from Sona Greenberg (a Landscape Architect).

'Use the Express Tool FLATTEN. The one thing I really like about using FLATTEN is that you get actual arcs in there, not just lots of little straight lines.'

Thank you so much for sharing Sona - great tip!

Simplify Lines In Autocad

and now I'm off to pack up my office (if I'm not packing a suitcase - I'm packing up an office) Sigh.