Using layers as line weights

[murphymoon007]

I'm using the student version of AutoCad 2013. I only use it for basic floor plans, elevations, and custom furniture. Line weights are critical to my drawing quality. I've assigned different line weights to different layers; this is the only way I know of to differentiate between line weights. But I can't get the line weights to display at all in Paper Space or when printed.

[kcobabe]

A drawing would probably help more than a png of the file.  There are a couple things that could be effecting this.  One is your plot style.

[Patchy]

To show in paper space or model space click LWT icon below the drawing area.

(if you see no icon, type in LINEWEIGHT and click in the box display lineweight)

To see lineweight when plot click Plot Object Lineweights.

[murphymoon007]

Post the dwg file here?  OK. Don't laugh at my rudimentary use of this software. I'm an interior designer and I know barely enough to produce the drawings I need. Except that now I have no lineweights. 

FYI, I have "Scale Lineweights" and "Display Plot Styles" both checked on the Page Setup Manager page.

The "Show/Hide Lineweights" selection has no effect in PS.

[Patchy]

They displayed fine here.

Your lineweights is around a tenth of a mm (too small to show)

Pick the heavy one, they show fine.

[leothebuilder]

You mentioned you use a CTB plot style (plotting by color)

I see that you assign line weights to some of your layers and not others (they still set to default)

Also, what lineweights to do assign to the actual colors?

Upload a copy of your "murphy.ctb"

[kcobabe]

Looks like you have most of your drawing on Default.  Not much lineweight control when you leave them at Default.  Change the layers to the desired weight and you should see more like what you are expecting.

[murphymoon007]

Not sure where to change the "Default" setting. Do you mean in the Properties palette?

[murphymoon007]

It won't let me upload the .ctb file here becasue it doesn't have a valid extension.

[leothebuilder]

In the Layer dialog box you have several columns, one of them is for Line Weight.

In the line weight column you have a few layers assigned with a line weight.

Some are still set to "default"

Set all your layers to whatever line weight you want.

Next you need to open your CTB file and check if all the colors you use have the corresponding line weight (or plot thickness) assigned.

See image below

 

Also attache is a sample CTB table.

I've changed the file extension to .jpg

Just download and change back to .ctb file extension

[murphymoon007]

First, thank you so much for trying to help me!!!

Here's what my LAYERS dialog box looks like. There's no column for lineweights that I can see.  Did you mean the PROPERTIES dialog box? And when you say "default" do you mean it just says "Use object's lineweight"?

So the lineweights need to match in the ctb plot styles table and the corresponding properties table? 

I did have some success with increasing the lineweight denominations on all my layers so they would show up better. They're looking blocky and cartoonish, but at least there's some variety. 

Have I mentioned that I HATE this software?  🙂

[pendean]

As long as you avoid reading the HELP file or taking classes, it's easy to blame this complex software and 'hate' it LOL

Since you are a student: is the intent to show lineweights on screen because your teacher who used to draft on paper thinks that's the way it's done? Or do you plan on plotting this to show after completion?

I ask because you and very one here are discussing two different and separate features and it's been over a decade since I've seen anyone use screen display Lineweights the way you seem to be inclined to do.

[kcobabe]

It could be that or he could be a Microstation user.  In either event....

[leothebuilder]

If you are using Autocad your layer dialogbox should look like this:

[kasperwuyts]

Are you trying to plot directly as a jpg / png ? Because plotting directly to an image format and getting line thickness right is a true PITA. If this is your problem, you are much better off plotting to a pdf and then screencapping.

[murphymoon007]

I'm using the 2013 Education version of AutoCAD for MAC. The format is totally different than the PC format. My LAYERS dialog box looks nothing like yours.

[leothebuilder]

It would be helpful to mention that you're using Mac platform from the outset, that takes to guess work out of it for others that are offering suggestions.

I am not familiar with the Mac platform, but somewhere you must be able to edit your CTB plot style to set your plot lineweights to colors.

That would be step number 1.

[Patchy]

Type in:

LAYERDLGMODE

use 0 or 1

Maybe it works

[murphymoon007]

Screencapping doesn't allow the image to be printed to scale. But yes, I use this method when I'm just sending clients

previews of drawings or details. 

I realize the way I use AutoCAD is similar to using an AK47 to swat away a fly. If there were another option, believe me I'd sign up.

[murphymoon007]

OMG. I thought I was posting this querie in the AutoCad for Mac forum!!  

So sorry to all who wasted time on my issue from a PC perspective. If I didn't feel like an idiot before, I do now.