topic Re: Default Line Weight Settings in AutoCAD Forum

Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:09:00 GMT

For some reason this has been an ongoing issue for me over the years. I have been using AutoCAD since 1991 and for some reason or another this problem seems to haunt me and I thought I had figured out a solution a while back, but I can't remember it for the life of me. I would greatly appreciate your input on how to fix this issue. So every time I open a drawing, the default lineweight LW is set to 0.25. And I want it to be set at 0.00. I have gone into my default settings and set it to 0.00, but it goes right back to 0.25. I can change it to 0.05 and have that stick, but I want it to stay at 0.00 when I open my drawings. Or even if I could set a drawings default LW and have it stay every time I open that drawing. But I have to change the default LW to 0.00 every single time I open a drawing and if I forget and end up plotting out several sheets only to realize I have to go back and set my default LW to 0.00 and then re-plot them all over again. If I remember I thought maybe there was an AutoMacro that I had run when I open up my AutoCAD and that set it to 0.00, but I am not sure. Please feel free to give me your suggestions. I would greatly appreciate it. But I think it comes down to AutoCAD will not use 0.00 as a default LW because it has to have at least some sort of pixel width given. I guess maybe the 0.05 default may be my only option for now I am guessing.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:32:31 GMT

Hi,

>> the default lineweight LW is set to 0.25

Which setting are you referring to?

The "current lineweight" is stored in the drawing, so if you want to have a different setting you need to select a new default lineweight in the left list and save the drawing. If you want to have this setting as default for all new drawings then create a new template with that setting.

If you are speaking about the default display lineweight (right marker), then this is stored in the registry for your current AutoCAD profile. If you change that setting it should be the same setting when you start AutoCAD with the same profile.

- alfred -

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:37:06 GMT

Appreciate the feedback. I do have the same profile used when opening my drawings (existing). But it will not stay at 0.00. Try and give it a go on yours and set it to 0.00. The closed AutoCAD and open back up and see if it will open the same drawing or any other one with that 0.00 LW setting. Then this way i can tell if it is a local problem or an AutoCAD issue. Also I am referring to the LW setting on the right.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:46:27 GMT

Hi,

>> But it will not stay at 0.00.

Can you please specify what "it" is? We first have to identify what you mean by "default lineweight"

When I change the right value from my screenshot (e.g. from 0.25 to 0.18, then I close AutoCAD and restart it, I have 0.18 as current setting.

When I change the left value, I need to save the drawing as this modification is drawing based.

- alfred -

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:53:17 GMT

The Default LW I am referring to is the Format> Lineweight and the Lineweight setting on the right side as shown in the clip I have provided. The same one you can access under OPtions>User Preferences and the LW setting on the right. I hanged it to 0.05 and I can get it to stay at 0.05 with all my drawings under my profile. But as soon as you change it to 0.00 and try and have that stay, it will just go back to your previous LW setting and in this case for me now is 0.05. So all LW settings will stay except for the 0.00. AutoCAD will not except 0.00 as a default LW setting.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:58:27 GMT

Like I said. Any other setting besides 0.00 can be set as a default. It is specifically 0.00 that I am referring to and trying to have set as a default Lineweight. All other lineweights will work and stay as a default except 0.00. Something to do with the pixel settings. I actually had another forum about a year or 2 ago and one of the Autodesk consultants stepped in and explained why we can't use 0.00 as a default LW. I will try and find that forum and post the link in here as well. But I was just hoping over the years maybe things have changed to where you could use it as a default.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

pendean — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:03:39 GMT

Your screenshot is the setting only for the BYLAYER option inside one single DWG file.
If I change that setting to 0.00 in one dwg flle, QSAVE the file, close the file, close AutoCAD, restart AutoCAD, open that same exact file, it does not change, it still is 0.00. In that one file. Other files have their own settings, this pop-up does not change those.
Is that different from what you've done/tested?

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:06:18 GMT

Hi,

>> So all LW settings will stay except for the 0.00.

No I got it, thank you!

And yes, that can be reproduced on my side too.

I have no idea how to save 0 (except of saving the value directly into the registry ... but I don't know which other effects that might have).

Can you anything plot with lineweights < 0.05mm? If so which device are you using?

- alfred -

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:06:53 GMT

I am jealous. I do the same thing and it will not open back up with the 0.00 setting. Any other lineweight setting will work except the 0.00. Very confused now that it works for you.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:10:54 GMT

Yes the 0.00 Lineweight setting plots thinner than the 0.05 setting and is noticeably different when working with existing survey work and proposed work. Some of the clients are very picky about the existing work to be displayed as light (0.00) as possible. Really it's just 2 clients, but we work with them on a daily basis. The printing device I am using is an HP Designjet T920 Post Script PS3.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

dbroad — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:48:56 GMT

When I set the line weight default to 0.00 mm, save, and reopen, it is still 0.00mm as default. Do you have any customization or 3rd party apps running?

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:57:24 GMT

Hi,

>> Yes the 0.00 Lineweight setting plots thinner than the 0.05 setting

Then open the layer dialog, change all layer lineweights from "Default" to "0,00".

I would not risk the registry setting hack, the layer setting should be an easy step.

- alfred -

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

pendean — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 17:21:46 GMT

Weird.
I'm not running C3D, and I don't think @Anonymous is either, wonder if that's a factor.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 17:33:50 GMT

Hi,

Just have seen that I made a mistake, this value is not stored in registry, even if the help text in the dialog points to the variable LWDEFAULT and the help for that variable shows "saved in registry" ... ;( sorry for confusion.

- alfred -

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

pendean — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 17:49:27 GMT

Could this be a restricted Windows log-in issue?
Or a corrupt Registry?

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:05:24 GMT

Hi,

>> Could this be a restricted Windows log-in issue?

Not sure what it is, I have tested it now again and created a video so everyone can look at it.

In general the value is saved in the registry, only if it's not set to 0. (if it's set to 0 then the registry item "LWDEFAULT" will be erased, so the next AutoCAD start initialises with 0.25)

When I edit the registry manually AutoCAD seems to accept that 0 (but don't know if that has negative side effects).

I don't see it as issue of permissions as the same happens whether I start it as normal user or as admin.

- alfred -

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

gotphish001 — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:49:02 GMT

If you can't get it to stick at 0.0, because of some registry issue, maybe just make the existing objects on a layer that is a true color of like 227,227,227 at the default of .05 that you can get to stick. That is super light grey scale.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:59:54 GMT

Appreciate the video. At least I know how to apply 0.00 as a default if I want to mess with the Registry, but I think I will just leave it at 0.05 and just change the LW Setting upon opening the drawings that require the 0.00 LW as the Default. Again, appreciate all the feedback and info. Helps put everything into perspective.

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 20:30:51 GMT

Here is the solution to this issue which was shown to me by another user. Just follow the procedure shown below and it works.

Create a text file named ACADdoc.lsp saved to your Support File Search Path (or edit the existing). The contents of this file runs every time you open a drawing and should set the variable every time you open a drawing.

in it put:

(setvar "lwdefault" 0)

Re: Default Line Weight Settings

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:34:02 GMT

I encountered the same thing- it would save at the next smallest setting (0.002 inches). If i then try to save the setting as 0.000 when i close and then open, the setting reverts to 0.010.

after closing and reopening

after setting to 0.000 then closing and opening