Assign pen symbols to polygon outlines using Avenue

Summary

You can use Avenue to assign pen symbols (dashed or dotted lines) to polygon outlines, while retaining the polygon feature type.

If you don't want to retain the polygon feature type, you may convert selected polygons to polylines using the cvtplypl.ave sample script located under Help Topics> mple > Scripts > View:ConvertPolygonToPolyline.

Procedure

1. Open a New Script window.
   
   
   A. Activate the Project window.
   B. Click the Scripts icon.
   C. Click New.
   
   
2. Copy and paste the following code into the window:
   
   

   Code:
   '-- Script View.AssignLineSymbolToPoly
   '
   '-- Description:  Assigns a line symbol to polygon shapes.
   '
   '-- Requires:  A selected a polygon graphic and/or
   '-- an active polygon theme.
   '
   '-- Run the script and select a symbol type.
   '-- Bring up the Symbol Palette and select the desired symbol. 
   '-- To reverse the process, re-run the script and select
   '-- another symbol type.
   '
   '-- Note: When pen symbols are applied to polygons, the
   '-- polygon turns completely transparent, and the legend of
   '-- the polygon theme will behave as if it were a line theme 
   
   '-- Get the current View document
   v = av.getactivedoc
   
   '-- Return a list of selected graphics
   theGraphics = v.GetGraphics.GetSelected
   
   '-- Make an empty graphic list and add only polygon
   '-- graphics from the selected set
   theGList = GraphicList.Make
   for each g in theGraphics
     if (g.getshape.getdimension = 2) then
      theGList.Add (g)
     end
   end  
   
   '-- If any polygon graphics are selected, prompt user to
   '-- specify a symbol type
   if (theGlist.count > 0) then
     theGChoice = (MsgBox.ChoiceAsString ({"Pen","Fill"},
      "Select a Symbol Type for the Selected Polygon Graphics.",
      "Symbol Type: Graphics"))
     
     if (theGChoice = "Pen")then
       theGSymbol = Symbol.make(#SYMBOL_PEN)
     end
     
     if (theGChoice = "Fill")then
       theGSymbol = Symbol.make(#SYMBOL_FILL)
     end
   end 
   
   '-- Assign the specified symbol to each polygon in the
   '-- list of selected graphics.
   for each pg in theGlist
     pg.SetSymbol(theGSymbol)
   end
     
   '-- Return a list of Active themes
   theThemes = v.GetActiveThemes
   
   '-- Make an empty list and add only polygon themes
   '-- from the set of active themes in the View
   thePThemes = list.make 
   for each t in theThemes
     if (t.getftab.findfield("shape").gettype = #FIELD_SHAPEPOLY) then
       thePThemes.add (t)
     end
   end  
   
   '-- If any polygon themes are active, prompt for a symbol type.
   if (thePThemes.count > 0) then
     theSChoice = (MsgBox.ChoiceAsString ({"Skip","Pen","Fill"},
      "Select a Legend Type For the Active Polygon Themes.",
      "Symbol Type: Themes"))
     
   '-- Loop through the list of active polygon themes and
   '-- apply the user's selection.
    for each pt in thePThemes
       if (theSChoice = "Skip")then
      
       elseif (theSChoice = "Pen")then
         pt.setlegend (legend.make(#SYMBOL_PEN))
         pt.updatelegend
       
       elseif (theSChoice = "Fill")then
         pt.setlegend (legend.make(#SYMBOL_FILL))
         pt.updatelegend
   
       end
    end  
   end
   
   '-- Force the View to redraw.
   v.invalidate
   
   '-- End of Script  

   
   
3. Attach the script to a button on the view GUI.
   
   
   A. Compile the script.
   B. Switch to the Project window.
   C. Select Customize from the Project menu.
   D. On the Customize dialog box, click the Type dropdown arrow and click View.
   E. Select Buttons under Category.
   F. Click the New button.
   G. Double-click the Click property in the Customize dialog box.
   H. Type the name of the script in the Script Manager and click Select.
   I. Close the Customize dialog box.
   
   For more information, see "Customize dialog box" in ArcView Help.
   
   
4. Switch back to the view and make the polygon graphic or polygon theme active.
5. Click the button to run the script.