topic Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing in AutoCAD Forum

Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 19:00:09 GMT

I currently use a layout that has a model and paper tab. The paper tab is sized to the sheet of a 8" x 11" sheet of paper. If my drawing is larger than a size of paper, then I scale it to fit the paper. Is there a way to have the template in the paper tab scale to my drawing?

Example:

- I have a 20" x 30" drawing, my template on the paper tab scales to fit the drawing.

My issue is when I do scale my drawing to fit a sheet of paper, my team has to scale it back to original size. Can I keep my drawing original size while still using a template if the template auto scales to fit the size of the drawing?

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

pendean — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 23:03:08 GMT

An AutoCAD Layout cannot have a model and paper tab. Do you mean a DWG file?

There is no live relationship between a layout's paper size and the content of your modelspace, it doesn't work like that, most of us draw at 1:1 scale and our content would never fit on a page of any paper size.

>>>...when I do scale my drawing to fit a sheet of paper...<<<
This is CAD drafting, not tabletop paper hand drafting: you only draw at 1:1 scale, always, never at any other scale. Plotting to fit a paper is a separate function you need to master, and it NEVER involves you resizing your 1:1 drawing to any other scale. Never.

>>>, my team has to scale it back to original size...<<<
Sound like you all need to have a more detailed discussion about what they need vs what you do/need to be trained to use the program as it was designed to be used instead of fighting it.

HTH

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

RobDraw — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 22:55:38 GMT

Either you need to undo your changes when your done doing your plots or add another tab that you can set to your preferences.

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:58:29 GMT

Thank you for your response.

Can I make a layout that has a template that will always adjust to fit my drawing? For example, I would like to have a template that has a title block and some other information. The items I am drawing vary in size, 1" diameter to 35" by 35". Can I design a layout that will always keep my title block information near the drawing? A template that adjusts in size to the drawing?

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

Valentin_CAD — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:57:29 GMT

Hello, Chelsea.Radke

Welcome to the forum.

I find you will benefit from the following tutorial.

https://blogs.autodesk.com/autocad/introduction-to-layouts-and-viewports-video-tutorial/

Hope you find this helpful.

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 17:16:57 GMT

Thank you everyone for the reply. Very helpful.

As you know the model tab scale is 1:1. In the paper layout tab, I do typically scale my drawing or die line. Example, 1:3.

When my colleagues open the file (DXF) in Illustrator, they seem to open the version that is scaled 1:3. They are requesting to not have to scale it. Is there a solution for this? Should I post this as a separate question?

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

Valentin_CAD — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 17:56:36 GMT

Hi Chelsea,

It appears that you may want to create a "New Layout" at 1:1 scale before Exporting to Illustrator.

Create a viewport at 1:1 scale and expand to cover your needs (measure the viewport's Length and Width).

Use Page Setup Manager > New (Provide a Name)

Use the Properties > Custom Paper Sizes > and input the viewport's Length and Width

(After saving your drawing you can then export to PDF or DXF)

Hope this is what you need.

If not, please post your file and any of us can take a look.

Re: Template That Auto Scales to Drawing

RobDraw — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 18:56:10 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Can I make a layout that has a template that will always adjust to fit my drawing?

Layouts do not contain AutoCAD templates. They can be made FROM templates but once that happens, there is no link back to the template that they were created from.

@Anonymous wrote:
The items I am drawing vary in size, 1" diameter to 35" by 35". Can I design a layout that will always keep my title block information near the drawing? A template that adjusts in size to the drawing?

Not really sure what you're struggling with here. You view you drawing through a viewport. Place the scaled viewport near your title block. Some people have come up with ways to something similar to what you are asking but it's not common practice. What you really need is to have a number of page set-ups ready for easy application to your layouts for printing purposes.

I've got a feeling that you are missing some basic information about creating layouts. Lots of tutorials out there with varying methods. Learn some of them and your questions will be answered.