In Pro/ENGINEER, there are three methods for specifying line weights. Line weights can be set in the config.pro file, within the drawing on a line-by-line basis, or in a penmap file commonly called table.pnt.

Setting pen line weights in a config.pro file. The config.pro file is the first location searched by Pro/ENGINEER for line thickness information. Line thicknesses are controlled in the config.pro file by setting the "pen#_line_weight" option to an integer value between 1 and 16. This option can be defined for pen numbers 1 through 8 by replacing the '#' with the corresponding integer 1 through 8 (i.e. pen1_line_weight to set pen 1). If these options are not defined in the config.pro file, Pro/ENGINEER will use default values as described in the Pro/HELP documentation.

The actual thickness used for the pen is defined by the integer value 1 through 16. Each of these integer values represents 0.005 inches of width. Therefore, the following example would set all pen 1 entities to 0.020 inches: 

• pen1_line_weight 4

Setting pen line weights in a Pro/ENGINEER drawing file. It is also possible to define pen weight information directly in the Pro/ENGINEER drawing file. Any line on the drawing that was created as a draft entity (i.e. sketched lines, snapshot views) may be modified in the following way:

• Select the line, then choose Edit > Properties.
• In the Modify Line Style dialog box enter the desired width and select Apply.

The drawing will repaint with the new line weight and Close can be selected to exit the Modify Line Style dialog box. Pro/ENGINEER will overwrite all information previously set for these lines with the new information defined in the drawing. For example:

• The pen thickness for pen 1 has been set in the config.pro file with option "pen1_line_weight" set to a value of "4". A drawing line is modified by selecting the line, then choosing Edit>Properties, and the line width is set to 0.07 inches. Pro/ENGINEER will use the new setting of 0.07 inches for the width of the modified line instead of the config.pro setting of 0.020 inches. All other lines plotted with pen 1 will continue to use the thickness as defined in the config.pro. 

Defining pen thickness in a penmap file. A special penmap file commonly referred to as "table.pnt" may be used to define pen thicknesses. Pen thicknesses can be defined in the table.pnt file in the following manner: 

• Pen 1 thickness 0.05 in. Only 'in' (inches) or 'cm' (centimeters) may be used as units for pen thickness. The table.pnt file will overwrite all other thickness commands previously defined. If a thickness in defined for a pen in a table.pnt file, all thicknesses defined for that pen in the config.pro file or in the Pro/ENGINEER drawing will be overwritten by the thickness defined in the table.pnt. 

It is important to note that pen thickness controls will have no effect on pen plotters or any plotter emulating an HPGL plotter. The HPGL language was written to satisfy the needs of pen plotters only and has no controllers for pen thickness. If HPGL emulation is being used and it is necessary to set pen thicknesses, the appropriate plotter manual should be referenced for additional language support and/or hardware thickness settings for the pens. The HPGL/2 plotter language does support pen thicknesses and should be used in place of HPGL if the plotter supports the HPGL/2 language. 

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