topic Viewport Scale in AutoCAD LT Forum

Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 14:36:11 GMT

Hi,

I hope someone can help.

I have created a drawing in model space using 1:1 scale in mm, so for example for 10m I have used 10000mm.

However when I use the scale 1:50 on A3 paper in paper space the drawing is showing extremely small. Can anyone let me know where I may have gone wrong?

Please see the attached file with my drawing.

Kind regards

Ray

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 14:47:05 GMT

Look at your drawing units, make sure they match to what you are using.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 14:50:03 GMT

Hi,

Yes I am using mm, so for example for 10 metres I would use 10000mm.

Re: Viewport Scale

pendean — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:20:40 GMT

Are you trying to plot to a PNG (your layout's plot settings)? Raster images don't work like that.

When I correctly set an A3 sheet for you using a paper/PDF plotter, the sheet size is way down over here compared to your giant viewport

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:21:30 GMT

Yes in your mind you say a certain unit. But what is the actual drawing units. Does 1 unit = 1" or does 1 unit = 1 foot. Yes I know you are working in MM.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:24:28 GMT

I assumed 1 unit = 1mm? How would I check this?

Units show as mm in settings

Thanks

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:26:58 GMT

No I am trying to plot to PDF using A3 size.

The units are set to mm, the overall drawing should be no more than around 10000mm x 6500mm, so A3 at 1:50 scale should normally be ok?

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:29:30 GMT

Yes thats the problem I am having

Re: Viewport Scale

pendean — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:49:57 GMT

your file's plot scales are messed up, what template did you start with? Simply starting a new blank file and INSERTing then EXPLODing your file fixes the issue.
Your annotative scale settings are way off, they don;'t work in your file. Who set up your text for you? Again, where did you get your base file from?

See attached, fixed the viewport scale as noted above in #1.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:58:50 GMT

I am a beginner so started from scratch using metric template with mm set as units.

Re: Viewport Scale

pendean — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:07:48 GMT

You may have started with a bad file, or made changes that you did not realize where headed in the wrong direction. See my previous post about how to fix the viewport scale issue and the file I posted.

But someone made those annotative text sizing changes for you if you did not: here is how to fix it in STYLE command, you have to decide what size your text needs to be in mm, 125mm means all of your text on all of your plots are a 12.5cm tall all the time, not what you want, right?

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:16:07 GMT

So I started a brand new drawing using metric from scratch.

I drew one rectangle in model space at scale 1:1 10m x 6m

I then tried to show the rectangle in model space at scale 1:50 and the same thing happened.

I am doing something wrong with the drawing setup?

Re: Viewport Scale

pendean — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:22:09 GMT

What year version and variant of AutoCAD are you using? Who installed and set it up for you?

Re: Viewport Scale

steven-g — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:24:17 GMT

The only problem in your original file is that the layout was setup using 'PublishToWeb .png' this uses pixels as units and not millimeters. If you are getting the same problem with a new drawing then it sounds like your template has been created with those settings. You need to create a new template and use A3 with 'DwgToPDF' for your standard layout.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:25:18 GMT

2021, I set it up from scratch using a text book

Open new file, set to metric, set units to mm, set limits

Im really not sure what I have done wrong now, very strange.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:33:19 GMT

Hi Steven,

Yes I have changed this on the page setup manager but the scale is still not showing properly at 1:50 in the viewport.

Really dont know what I have done wrong as the same thing happens with a simple test rectangle when I start a new file.

It really should be straight forward to set as metric, set units & limits and then draw at 1:1 in model space then scale at 1:50 in the viewport.

Any help appreciated.

Kind regards

Ray

Re: Viewport Scale

steven-g — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:34:42 GMT

Can you post a copy of your template file .dwt? Do you know where to find it? C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT 2020\R26\enu\Template

Re: Viewport Scale

pendean — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:37:59 GMT

>>>...2021, I set it up from scratch using a text book...<<<
What book is that? What are the actual instructions?

There is nothing to set if you started with an actual empty metric template file as provided by Autodesk in AutoCAD/LT2021, but if you are "converting" an imperial file then you are indeed creating these problems each and every time.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:43:46 GMT

Sorry I cant find it

Here is a copy of the template setup I have been using.

Re: Viewport Scale

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 16:46:58 GMT

Ive not actually save a drawing as a template yet

This was my first drawing and I set the parameters such as metric, mm units, limits etc

I have sent you a new drawing I started using the same method.