Metric Viewport Help

[dbennettMQJY6]

So I am a long time ACAD user and have always worked in feet and inches.  I used to set up viewports and know how to scale them and so-on.  I am now designing a site in Honduras and they use metric.  The model space is good, but when I go to set up the paper space, I am an idiot apparently.  Maybe I am just an idiot all around.  This can be debated.

In model space, I have the scale set to 1:500.

In the paper space, I set the page size to ISO_C1 which is 648 x 917 mm.  My border is scaled correctly.  When I click in the viewport and set it to 1:500, I don't see anything.  My guess is because it is centering on the extents of the drawing and it is zoomed in so much that I would have to pan for days to get to some part of my drawing.  I am guessing this because if I zoom out, I eventually start to see my drawing.

Why is 1:500 not the correct scale?  Also, when I look at the scale that allows me to see the drawing, it is 0.00294.  I am attaching my drawing for reference.  What am I doing wrong and what don't I get about metric.  I have searched this and found some directions to articles drawn in metric, but they were no help.

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

Hi @dbennettMQJY6 

Your layout tab named Layout 1 doesn't have the correct Page Setup.

In a METRIC template, the units on a layout tab are always millimeters. No exceptions. <<On an IMPERIAL template, the units on the layout tab are always inches.>> 

While all users have control over the units in modelspace, no user has, nor will ever have, control over the units on a Layout Tab.

This is your sheet size on your Layout 1 tab. Since your template is so small you don't have enough space to display the contents of your viewport. Both width and length are less than one millimeter. Blue Dims=millimeters.

Your layout tab should have a sheet size like this. Eventually, you'll have to make your template bigger to be consistent with the sheet size (scale it accordingly). Red Dims=millimeters

A closeup should look like this. BTW, your scale bar isn't consistent with 1:500 so you'll also need to modify it.

Instead of trying to correct your existing layout, create a brand new layout tab.

1. Right-click an existing layout tab=>select New Layout from the shortcut <<A new layout tab will be created.>>
2. Make the NEW layout tab CURRENT=>PLOT command=>Then do like this.........

Continuation..........Add your C1 917mm x 648mm sheet size like this: 

Once you've established your new sheet size you can COPY from basepoint. Copy your existing template from the bad layout and paste it on the NEW layout tab. Be sure to scale the template larger so it 'fills ups' your ISO C1 (917MM x 648MM) sheet.

[dbennettMQJY6]

Hello Chicagolooper!

Thank you so much!  I was able to do everything except add a custom page size.  I think my company has this feature locked.  I used the standard ISO_C1 page size and it worked perfectly though.

Bests!