AutoCAD is a powerful software tool used by architects, engineers, and designers for creating precise and detailed drawings. One of the key features of AutoCAD is the ability to customize point styles, which are used to represent points or coordinate locations in a drawing. In this article, we will explore the different point styles available in AutoCAD and how they can be used to enhance your drawings.
Default Point Style
When you start working with AutoCAD, you will notice that there is a default point style that is automatically applied to all points in your drawing. This default point style consists of a small dot with no additional formatting.
Changing Point Style
If you want to change the appearance of points in your drawing, AutoCAD provides several options for customizing point styles. To access these options, you can use the ‘PDMODE’ and ‘PDSIZE’ system variables or the ‘DDPTYPE’ command.
PDMODE System Variable
The ‘PDMODE’ system variable controls the shape of points in AutoCAD. By changing this variable, you can choose from a variety of predefined shapes for your points. For example:
- Square: This option displays points as small squares.
- Triangle: This option displays points as small triangles.
- Cross: This option displays points as crosses.
- X: This option displays points as X marks.
To change the ‘PDMODE’ system variable, open the command line and type ‘PDMODE’. Then enter a number corresponding to the desired shape. For example, entering ‘1’ will set the point style to square.
PDSIZE System Variable
The ‘PDSIZE’ system variable controls the size of points in AutoCAD. By changing this variable, you can adjust the size of the points to your liking. The value of ‘PDSIZE’ represents the diameter of the point in drawing units.
To change the ‘PDSIZE’ system variable, open the command line and type ‘PDSIZE’. Then enter a number representing the desired size. For example, entering ‘0.5’ will set the point size to half of its original size.
DDPTYPE Command
The ‘DDPTYPE’ command provides additional options for customizing point styles in AutoCAD. This command allows you to create your own custom point styles by specifying a shape file and assigning it to a point style name.
To use the ‘DDPTYPE’ command, open the command line and type ‘DDPTYPE’. Then follow the prompts to select a shape file and enter a name for your custom point style. Once created, you can apply your custom point style to any points in your drawing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AutoCAD offers various options for customizing point styles to enhance your drawings. By changing the shape and size of points, you can make them more visible and distinguishable in your designs. Whether you prefer squares, triangles, crosses, or your own custom shapes, AutoCAD provides the flexibility to create personalized point styles that suit your needs.