Automatically switch to paper space when zoom out

[JohnBell7766]

Hello,

There is a new feature in AutoCAD 2014 that I would like to disable if possible; some time when I zoom out from a viewport, while typing a command in model space, the program automatically switch to paper space and I have to go back to model space and redo the command from the beginning.

I appreciate a solution to this issue.

Thanks,

Stefan

[nrz13]

Stefan:

I've seen a behavior similar to what you're describing when working in Model Space from a viewport in Paper Space, where the active viewport changes based on your cursor location, especially when zooming in and out.  I've never seen it exit completely, though.  When it jumps to another viewport, I am able to zoom back into the desired viewport all while in the active command.  Are you certain the active viewport hasn't changed to another location?

Is this for any command you try to run, or are you trying to run a custom command or .lisp that is causing the problem, perhaps?

Do you have any other custom settings on your mouse that would activate a double-click while zooming in and out on your mouse?  Double-clicking outside of a viewport will exit it.

[pendean]

Are you in VPMAX by chance? and it's performaing a VPMIN after a save? Your description is open to interpretation.

OR... Is this a fairly large file (or one with many Xrefs) on a lower end PC/laptop by chance? In addition to the other information, we've seen this behavior on systems accessing large files on slow connections or on low end systems.

[JohnBell7766]

Most of my files have xrefs, working in AutoCAD 2014, Windows 7, 64GB; sometimes with only one viewport while doing a selection, zooming out to go to a different location using only the mouse wheel, the program switch to paper space. This way I am loosing all selections obviously and have to redo it. It happens with other commands as well.

Thanks for yours reply,

[martinTstewart_Adsk]

It may help to get in the habit of completing all major drafting tasks on the Model tab.  Layout tabs can then be used for paper space objects and for minor editing through viewports.

(If this answers your question, please mark it as an Accepted Solution).

If further assistance is needed, a great way to help the community here assist you with your question is to create a Screencast video:

How to use Autodesk Screencast to document a support issue

Once you've created and uploaded a video, you can post the link in this thread.

This allows the community to see step-by-step what's going on. You can also include an audio narration.

[JohnBell7766]

Hi Martin,

When working with several xrefs, we freeze different layers in different viewports. Woking in model space with all the working layers on would be a nightmare.

[AllenJessup]

You can get around that somewhat by using Layer States for different editing scenarios. I think we're still not clear if this is happening to you when your "clicking in to" a viewport or when you're Maximizing a viewport.

Allen

[JohnBell7766]

Hi Allen,

It is happening when I zoom out of a viewport while working in model space. There is no click or maximizing viewports.

I just zoom out using the mouse wheel and suddenly I am in paper space. Of course I can work around. We just want to make it better.

[AllenJessup]

Is your viewport locked?

[JohnBell7766]

Yes, the viewport is locked.

[AllenJessup · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately I can't duplicate the problem in 2014. It's normal for the program to switch from Model Space to Paper Space and back again as you zoom. It sounds like it's not switching back to MS. Do you have other installations of the program that you can test to see if you have the same problem? I'm thinking you might need to do a repair or reinstall.

Allen

[Anonymous]

i think i can help in this.

i select various lines, plines, splices, etc. via viewport in paper space. when i scroll around and zoom in and out (so i can zoom in on other others and select them), the other objects that were previously selected have become deselected.

the viewport is locked.

here is what the command window on the bottom of my cad says when i am zooming in and out...

Command:
Viewport is view-locked. Switching to Paper space.
Switching back to Model space.
Command:

this problem is quite annoying.

[jasonrudasill]

This is happening to me too.. Been using Civil 3D 2013, and this JUST started doing this while I work within the past couple weeks. I feel like theres a sys var. somewhere that needs to be changed since it hasnt happened before. Quite frustrating!!!!! I select a grip on a line, and zoom into where I want to move it to, and find out the viewport is switched forcing me to zoom out, switch VP's, and try again praying it doesnt switch VP's again... I hope someone can find an answer to this.

[ethomas]

I realize this is an old post, but has this ever been resolved?  I have the same problem.  It has been occurring randomly (but usually at least once per day) for years and over many versions and platforms.

I am currently using Civil 3D 2017 in Windows 7 64-bit environment.  I have mbuttonpan set to 0, and I use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out.  I use annotative text styles and blocks almost exclusively (yes, this is relevant).

When I am drafting in model space in a locked model space viewport, and I use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out, the drawing automatically switches temporarily to paper space to zoom and then back to model space (all as expected).  Except that sometimes, it doesn't resolve back to model space.

Unfortunately, there is no warning when it does this, so when I continue drawing, I have no idea that I am now drafting in paper space.  I don't realize it until I try to select an object to (say) move it or erase it.  Since osnaps work through paper space and since I use annotative text and blocks, I can do a lot of drafting before I realize that I haven't been working in model space.  At that point, I have to take inventory of everything I have done and recreate it in model space.

This is not an issue that I can reproduce at will, but it is something that I waste time with every day.

[nrz13]

I still don't have a solution to the original problem, but rather than redrawing content in model after drawing it in paperspace, select the objects and use the CHSPACE command to change the newly-drawn objects from paperspace to model.

[AllenJessup]

Since the solution marked by the OP suggested a repair or reinstall. I'll suggest that again.

As a workaround. Use the CHSPACE command to move anything you've draw in paperspace to modelspace.

[ethomas]

Allen,

I have since got a new machine running Civil 3D 2017 in a Windows 10 environment (therefore completely new install).  Same problem, but worse.  It happens hourly as opposed to a few times a week.  For what it's worth, I almost exclusively zoom using the scroll wheel, and I have mbuttonpan set to 0.

[RobDraw]

Since working in the fashion is known to cause issues, I would avoid working through viewports without using VPMax. I've never trusted the automatic switching while zooming. It just seems like it could cause problems.

[ethomas]

Thanks Rob,

I will give that a try.  VPMAX is not a command that I was familiar with, but I have looked it up, and I think that it will work for me 75% of the time.  The 25% when it won't work is when I am working near the edge of the viewport and I need to know how much "real estate" I  have left on my sheet.

Please don't be offended if I don't mark your answer as a solution.  In my mind, a work-around isn't a solution regardless of how well it works.  A solution would be for Autodesk to figure out why this is happening and fix it.

[RobDraw]

Calling this a workaround is really a matter of opinion. There are many ways to do things in AutoCAD. This allows a huge diversity in workflows. Mine changes all the time as new capabilities and features are added. When something doesn't work the way you think it should, there is most likely another way to do it. Getting frustrated about something not working as expected is a waste of time. Once a viewport is set-up, I look at working through it while activated mostly as a convenience for quickie type stuff as I'm doing checks of my layouts. To me it is a workaround to my normal workflow. IMHO, the only time one should work through a viewport as a part of normal daily work is when one is working with any sort of viewport overrides, be it annotative scaling, view type, layering, etc.

I won't even get into the alternatives for knowing where you viewports extents are and your concerns about "real estate".

To paraphrase a popular commercial series, "I don't normally work through a viewport but, when I do, I use VPMax." If something isn't performing as expected, find a better way. Control your work environment, don't let it control you.

@ethomas, I'm not here looking for kudos or posts marked as solutions. I'm here to help and, BTW, you don't have the power to mark anything in this thread as a solution anyway.

You're welcome.