Where Are AutoCAD Pat Files Stored?

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Where Are AutoCAD Pat Files Stored?

AutoCAD is a powerful software used by professionals in various industries for creating precise 2D and 3D designs. One of the essential elements in AutoCAD is the pattern (PAT) file, which contains definitions for custom hatch patterns.

Understanding PAT files

A PAT file is a plain text file that defines custom hatch patterns in AutoCAD. These patterns are used to fill enclosed areas such as walls, floors, or any other closed shape within your drawing. PAT files contain information about the pattern type, angle, scale, and spacing.

Default location for PAT files

By default, AutoCAD stores its PAT files in a specific folder on your computer’s hard drive. The exact location may vary depending on your operating system and the version of AutoCAD you are using.

Windows

  • In Windows, you can find the default location for PAT files by navigating to:
    • C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD [version]\Support

Mac

  • If you are using AutoCAD on a Mac, you can find the default location for PAT files by following these steps:
    1. Open Finder and click on the “Go” menu.
    2. Select “Go to Folder..” from the dropdown menu.
    3. Type “/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/AutoCAD [version]/R[release number]/Support” and click “Go”.

Note: Replace “[version]” with the specific version of AutoCAD you have installed, and “[release number]” with the corresponding release number.

Using custom PAT files

If you want to use custom hatch patterns in AutoCAD, you can create your own PAT file or find pre-made ones online. Once you have a PAT file, you can add it to the default location mentioned above or specify a different location within AutoCAD.

To add a custom PAT file in AutoCAD:

  1. Open AutoCAD and go to the “Manage” tab.
  2. Click on the “Customization” panel and select “Customization Files”.
  3. In the “Customization Files” dialog box, click on the “Support File Search Path” tab.
  4. Add the path to your custom PAT file by clicking on the “+” button.
  5. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Now, AutoCAD will search for hatch pattern definitions in both the default location and any additional locations specified by you.

In conclusion

PAT files are an important component of AutoCAD as they define custom hatch patterns. Knowing where these files are stored allows you to easily manage and customize your hatch patterns. Whether you need to modify existing patterns or create new ones, understanding their location helps streamline your design workflow.