Viewport scale

[JimJonesPELS]

I create a drawing in Model space with the annotative scale at 1"=40'.  When I open a viewport the drawing is unreadable due to scale.  The line scale and annotative scale don't match.  When I change the line scale to 1"=40' the drawing explodes and I can't see any lines.  When I zoom to see, the line scale changes.  How do you change the drawing in Vieport to a readable scale?

[imadHabash]

Hi,

I think that you may need to check your VP size . make sure that you have a proper VP size dimensions .

[schurthing]

If you are referring to linetype scale, have you verified that "Use paper space units for scaling" is selected in Linetype Manager? With this selected, if you are using decimal/metric units then it is usually best to set the Global scale factor to 1.0. If you are using feet/inches in architectural or engineering units, then setting the Global scale factor to 0.5 works well.

[pendean]

Show your work: share your actual DWG file here with all of us please, lets see what you see.

[JimJonesPELS]

Thanks for the prompt response.  I've been away from my desk for a bit.

I have attached my drawing and it seems the settings are as you suggested.

Any ideas?

I have attached the drawing - I don't know how to send a screen shot.

[JimJonesPELS]

See attached - Thanks

[pendean]

This is what I see when I open your file, nothing looks wrong to me. What do you see different?

[JimJonesPELS]

You're right it does.  When I create a Viewport inside the company title block everything looks fine.  But see the attached sheet "Test" and you will see what I mean.

[schurthing · Accepted solution]

If the issue is that it no longer fits on the sheet in the "Test" layout tab when the viewport is set to 1"=40', that is because in the Test layout, the sheet size is 8.5"x11" and in the other tabs with your title block, the sheet size is 24"x36".

[JimJonesPELS]

See attached.  My printer doesn't print 24" x 36" - I have to send the drawings to the office to have them printed.

I changed the paper size as attached.  Also note, when I select the Viewport and go to Properties both scales are set at 1" = 1000' and are locked - I can't edit.

I would appreciate any information you can provide.

Thanks,

Jim

[schurthing]

Select the viewport, right-click, and select   Display locked  >  No

(or, select the viewport and click the padlock icon at bottom status bar of AutoCAD screen)

[JimJonesPELS]

Thanks - that fixed the changing the scale problem.

However the underlying problem is still there.  I changed both scales to 1"=40" and the drawing blows up.  When I  zoom in a) the scale changes and b) I still can't read the drawing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks. 

[schurthing]

After changing the viewport scale, do a Zoom Extents. Your viewport and it's content just scaled off the screen.

[pendean]

You are assuming AutoCAD is going to automagically center your modelspace content in your viewport: not sure where you got that from but it is wrong. In reality after you create a viewport, yo go inside it, ZOOM EXTENTS to center your content in your viewport, then and only then do you set the viewport scale.

Now be careful about another noob trap: if you have any objects far far away from your main drawing in modelspace Zoom EXTENTS is going to capture that too. Be aware of what all is in your modelspace always.

HTH

[JimJonesPELS]

I created a new sheet named HTH.  I set the paper size for 24"x36", created a Viewport and the model view came in perfectly.  The model is centered.  There was no need to use ZE.  

There are no objects far away so that's not an issue.

If you compare that drawing to Test there doesn't seem to be any difference but the Test drawing isn't readable.

So it seems the problem is fixed but I still don't understand completely what's going on.

[schurthing]

Great! Good to hear. The viewport in the HTH tab you created is just not at 1"=40' yet.  By default when the new viewport was created AutoCAD automatically did a Zoom Extents in it.

The question might be what you mean by "readable"? -- scale too small, text not showing, lineweights bleeding into each other, linetypes not showing, something else? In both the Test tab and HTH tab the viewport scale is not 1"=40', so they both have the same issue when compared to the other layouts.

[pendean]

Your HTH viewport is not to scale, you appear to still avoid advice provided and continue with your inexperienced accidental discoveries

Try it our way instead: between those responding you have 50+years experience with the product.

Good luck.

[JimJonesPELS]

If you read my post with a little more care hyou will see I did not write that the viewport was to scale.

I have followed the advice I've been given.  I have not had the results predicted.

Perhaps you would like to provide an example to illustrate your accusation that I have experimented instead of following advice.

Better advice, not better luck, is what's needed.

Actually reading my post would be a good place to start.  With 50+ years experience you should have learned that by now.

[JimJonesPELS]

I am now able to create a Viewport that provides a readable drawing.  I'm still not sure why.

When I call up "Test" it's just a small mass of unreadable lines.  I don't know why that is.  It may not appear that way when you download?

But, I do have a workable approach now.

I think the key may have been the page size set up for the layout page.

Whatever - it works.

Thanks