Why do we set limits in AutoCAD?

Why do we set limits in AutoCAD?

dipakrv2012
Contributor Contributor
11,857 Views
34 Replies
Message 1 of 35

Why do we set limits in AutoCAD?

dipakrv2012
Contributor
Contributor

I have read the article about how to set the limits but I do not know why do we need to set the limits? how does it help us? what is the importance of setting the limits?

0 Likes
Accepted solutions (2)
11,858 Views
34 Replies
Replies (34)
Message 2 of 35

tramber
Advisor
Advisor

You can set LIMCHECK to 1 so that the limits are active. It can help.

(On/Off in the LIMITS command)

In older versions it also was made to set the grid appareance. Meaning the grid was drawn exactly up to the limit but not beyond. You can still obtain that result with a few settings.

I use limits active (on) when i teach Autocad to a child 😉

 


EESignature

Message 3 of 35

Alfred.NESWADBA
Consultant
Consultant

Hi,

 

>> why do we need to set the limits?

It's based on a very old decision, when AutoCAD did not have layouts.

There you were drawing all in modelspace, also the drawing border and titleblock. Setting the limits (and checking) helped the user to not draw anything outside the border/warn him if he/she tried it.

 

Nowadays I would say: it's not usual to use it.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
ISH-Solutions GmbH / Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS
www.ish-solutions.at ... blog.ish-solutions.at ... LinkedIn ... CDay 2026
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 4 of 35

dipakrv2012
Contributor
Contributor

Okay to clear my more dought about this, suppose I fixed limits and zoomed out so I barely see my objects drawed

in that window limit, now somewhere else I have drawn another object outside of the limit, then how can I go to the limit window immediately?

Message 5 of 35

tramber
Advisor
Advisor

Make a try...

Last but not Least, limits have an influence on ZOOM ALL. 😉If they go beyond what is drawn they are taken into account by this zoom.


EESignature

Message 6 of 35

RobDraw
Mentor
Mentor

Limits is an antiquated variable. Not much value today.


Rob

Drafting is a breeze and Revit doesn't always work the way you think it should.
Message 7 of 35

tramber
Advisor
Advisor

I don't agree with my colleagues 😎

It happens that i use them, for my children, for a question of zoom, to set the size of my grids (don't like them in 100% of the model).

It is true that i don't put them active for myself.

@dipakrv2012 , if i answered the all that you wanted to know, you may mark my answers as solutions !


EESignature

Message 8 of 35

RobDraw
Mentor
Mentor

You have a special need and you can disagree based on that but please remember that most here are using the software in a professional environment where the usage of limits is not common practice. Many only become aware of the setting when it accidentally gets in the way of their work.

 

Your "solution" is actually an opinion based on very unusual circumstances. 


Rob

Drafting is a breeze and Revit doesn't always work the way you think it should.
Message 9 of 35

tramber
Advisor
Advisor

Dear @RobDraw , seing a grid at a desire side is not a so special need ! Very practical in 3D.

Nothing antique for me.

My answer has been the widest i could make. There is no solution but a panel of answers around the topic. This is what was asked.


EESignature

Message 10 of 35

Kent1Cooper
Consultant
Consultant
Accepted solution

@dipakrv2012 wrote:

.... how can I go to the limit window immediately?


I set Limits to the main area I want, not for the Limits checking function, but so that I can do exactly that, using this ZL command:

 

(defun C:ZL (); Zoom Limits
  (command "_.'zoom" (getvar 'limmin) (getvar 'limmax))
  (princ)
)

 

You can type it in with an apostrophe prefix:

'ZL

even in the middle of some other command.

Kent Cooper, AIA
Message 11 of 35

RobDraw
Mentor
Mentor

Like I said, you are entitled to your opinion but it isn't typical for most. Sometimes you need to realize that a particular point of view is, well, limited.


Rob

Drafting is a breeze and Revit doesn't always work the way you think it should.
Message 12 of 35

tramber
Advisor
Advisor

Limited ?

When you work often in 3D and can't stand the UCS icon, it is more than cumfortable to use the grid.

My point of view is widely open

😎

edit=especially since this icon became an object, years ago.


EESignature

0 Likes
Message 13 of 35

RobDraw
Mentor
Mentor

For someone who doesn't use it, except for teaching children, you sure are putting a lot of effort into defending an opinion. 


Rob

Drafting is a breeze and Revit doesn't always work the way you think it should.
0 Likes
Message 14 of 35

tramber
Advisor
Advisor

You are funny.

It is true that i don't put the grid on often but when i need it i do those tricks (limited grid, to the size of some limits, ucs icon off), still.

It's been more than 20 years now, using 3D from the top, on R2000. I found the grid even more practicle when the ucsicon appeared to be manipulable.

 

But for 2D, i still teach the grid for many reasons. Not for opinions ! and with no efforts !

I told about : variables, zoom all, the main concepts. That was my answer, quite accurate regarding the question.

This is my solution : to answer the questions and to dig 😉


EESignature

0 Likes
Message 15 of 35

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend

@tramber We are all glad this old tool still means something to you: I'm curious about your inability to reply to the person you are talking to instead of barraging the poor OP with your rants though, do you need guidance on how to use the forums correctly? Sort of offensive to the OP.

pendean_0-1643121088892.png

pendean_1-1643121115604.png

pendean_2-1643121143379.png

 

 

Pay attention moving forward please.

 

Message 16 of 35

Kent1Cooper
Consultant
Consultant

@pendean wrote:

... I'm curious about your inability to reply to the person you re talking to instead of barraging the poor OP with your rants though, do you need guidance on how to use the forums correctly? ....  Pay attention moving forward please.


In short, don't use the "Reply to the topic..." slot at the bottom, which always comes through as being in Reply to Message 1 from the OP.  Instead, use the boxed REPLY button near the bottom right in the particular Message you're Replying to.  And for greater clarity, quote that Message -- pick on the fat double-quote symbol in the toolbar and edit down to just the specific thing you're Replying about.

Kent Cooper, AIA
0 Likes
Message 17 of 35

dipakrv2020
Participant
Participant
Sir I have tried ZL and 'ZL but its not working.
0 Likes
Message 18 of 35

Kent1Cooper
Consultant
Consultant

@dipakrv2020 wrote:
Sir I have tried ZL and 'ZL but its not working.

That is never enough information.  What happens?  Does it Zoom at all, though not to the Limits you expect?  What's different about the resulting view area?  Does nothing at all happen?  Does it accept the command name, or do you get an error message about an unknown command?  What does the Command line show [it doesn't suppress command echoing, so it will report what it's done]?  Etc., etc.

Kent Cooper, AIA
Message 19 of 35

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend
@dipakrv2012 Forgive me the dumb question, but how exactly did you get the posted lisp into your session of AutoCAD? Details please.
Message 20 of 35

dipakrv2012
Contributor
Contributor

I tried both ZL and 'ZL but its saying unknown command.

0 Likes