Creating a Viewport in AutoCAD is an essential skill for anyone working in the field of drafting and design. A viewport allows you to display different views of your drawing simultaneously, making it easier to work on complex projects. In this tutorial, we will explore how to create a viewport in AutoCAD.
Step 1: Open AutoCAD and open the drawing file in which you want to create a viewport.
Step 2: To begin creating a viewport, navigate to the “Layout” tab. This tab is where you can set up and modify your layout view.
Step 3: Once you are on the “Layout” tab, click on the “Layout Viewports” panel. Here, you will find various options for creating and managing viewports.
Creating a Single Viewport:
Create a Single Viewport
To create a single viewport, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the “Single” button in the “Layout Viewports” panel. This will activate the single viewport creation mode.
Step 2: Click anywhere within your layout area to place the single viewport. You can adjust its size later if needed.
Create Multiple Viewports
To create multiple viewports, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the “Two-vertical”, “Two-horizontal”, or “Four” button in the “Layout Viewports” panel. These options allow you to create two vertical or horizontal viewports or four equal-sized viewports respectively.
Step 2: Click anywhere within your layout area to place the multiple viewports. AutoCAD will automatically distribute them evenly based on the option selected.
Manipulating Viewport Size and Position
To modify the size and position of a viewport, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the viewport you want to modify by clicking on it.
Step 2: Hover your cursor over the boundary of the selected viewport until it changes to a double-headed arrow. Click and drag to resize the viewport.
Step 3: To reposition the selected viewport, hover your cursor over the center of the boundary until it changes to a hand icon. Click and drag to move the viewport to a new location within your layout area.
Locking Viewport Scale
To lock the scale of a viewport, follow these steps:
Step 1: Right-click on the desired viewport and select “Properties” from the context menu.
Step 2: In the “Properties” palette, find and expand the “Miscellaneous” section.
Step 3: Under “Miscellaneous,” locate the “Scale” property. By default, this property is set to “Custom.”
Step 4: Click on the drop-down arrow next to “Custom.” You will see a list of available scales. Choose an appropriate scale for your drawing.
- If you select “Standard,” AutoCAD will lock your viewport scale to one of the standard scales such as 1:50 or 1:100.
- If you select “Scale List,” you can create and manage your custom scales.
Now that you know how to create and manipulate viewports in AutoCAD, you can efficiently work with multiple views in your drawings. Remember, viewports are not only useful for displaying different parts of your drawing but also for managing annotations and layouts effectively.
Experiment with different viewport configurations to find the setup that suits your needs best. Happy drafting!