Scale drawing for plotting constant problems

[luis-pl]

Hello

I know this problem must have been asked a million times, but I have never in 8 years of Autocad use found a definitive answer for my constant problem.

In model space, I always work in Meters, 1:1 scale.

So, 1 unit = 1000mm

Then in Paperspace I want to scale drawing to 1:100

(so, 1m becomes 1cm, or 1000mm = 10mm)

See below, snapshots of my settings.

I go to Paperspace, A4 size (21,0×29,7cm), select 1:100 scale and the drawing makes a huuuuge zoom, so I can't see nothing. (default scale values)

The example given I made a 15m square, that is supposed to be 15cm square on Paperspace with 1:100 scale, and appear completely on the sheet. It disappears once I set the scale. Frustrating, I've wasted hooours with this, multiple times, just trying thoughtless methods on trial and error.

I need a consisted method, that always works and is saved forever that everytime I open any Autocad (with my login to autodesk) remembers that I want these settings, specially not with interfering imperial units, which is also another bothersome problem.

I've then tried editing the scale values (sometimes I can, sometimes I can't, it's greyed out). And I input the following, that worked.

1 paper Millimeter = 100 drawing Meters

But it makes no sense, because 100 meters is not 1 millimeter in 1:100 scale.

And then I would have to change all scales (1:50, 1:200, 1:500 etc..) individually for them to work as supposed, which also is not sustainable if I have to work like this.

Please Help!

Thank you so much, I have to get over with this.

(default scale values)

Forever that I have been using multiples systems of scaling, because none are consistent, if I change drawing, computer, or units, then everything is changed and nothing makes sense. In the studio I worked at, it was working, I put the same settings at home, and things don't work. I can't understand how Autocad hasn't made scaling simple yet, some smart system that just scales how it's supposed to. There's too many calculations and factors that mess up everything.

[pendean]

Share your DWG file here with us please.

[luis-pl]

Here is the file, simplified. Drawings in Paperspace aren't scaled, they're just kinda zoomed on how I want them sized.

Modelspace is in Metres, 1:1.

Thank you.

 also what are all these copies of edited scales? how to I remove them? I can't purge them.

is there a file with these? Can I create my own file with the final version of corrected scales with no extras that confuse the whole thing? why is this so confusing.

[luis-pl]

Another thing, when I selected Xref Scales down on the scale bar, all these Imperial scales appear....!!

I don't want anything with imperial, I want them banned from my PC. The attached Xrefs aren't in Imperial units, so I don't understand this.

When I installed Autocad, I deselected the imperial option, why is it still here???, Imperial units always mess up everything, these units freak me out. (I understand imperial units and can use them if I want, but I never use them because i live in europe, so i don't want them ever in my autocads)

[dbroad · Accepted solution]

Hmmm. So you've been a student for 8 years?

When plotting paperspace, if you want to plot to scale, always choose 1:1 in the page setup.  Then you use the viewport scaling features to scale model space views. As far as paper sizes go, in page setup, use 1 mm = 1 paper space unit, since the paper and titleblock size for metric sheets is in millimeters.

If you don't want to plot to scale, choose anything but layout to plot in page setup and then choose fit to paper.

Note, when viewing paper space, while not in a viewport, note that the annotation scale disappears.  Hint: This is because paper space should always be plotted a full scale in order to scale viewports properly.

[luis-pl]

"use 1 mm = 1 paper space unit, since the paper and titleblock size for metric sheets is in millimeters"

So this was the problem! It makes more sense now but still confusing system.

In the studio I work at, page setup scales are set to 1000mm = 1 unit, and things just work out. Don't know why in my personal autocad version i must use other values.

Thank you @dbroad !

student for 8 years? ah not exactly, i'm finished but at home, I still use the student version to rework some of my previous academic projects, specially my masters thesis. Also to keep updated and learn the newest software like revit. We are student until we die. None for commercial purposes. We have the licensed software in the studio for it.