I regularly maintain AutoCAD drawing files through systematic purging and auditing—both for files received from subconsultants and my own working files. A daily maintenance routine has proven invaluable for preserving file integrity and preventing corruption.

To protect my files from the risk of corruption, I enable AutoSave for automatic backups every 10 minutes. I have a strong understanding of AutoCAD’s recovery system, including how to effectively use the RECOVER command, .BAK backup files, and .SV temporary save files to recover AutoCAD Files.

Lastly, the Overkill command is useful to remove duplicate items but should be used with caution. Personally, I have never used it in my professional career in order to prevent accidental data loss. It is good to know, but it should only be used in specific scenarios.

AutoCAD Purge

The Purpose and Function of AutoCAD Purge Command – Remove Unused Items

The Purge command is used in AutoCAD to remove unused items, such as layers, blocks, and linetypes, and also unnamed objects, such as zero-length geometry, empty text objects, and orphaned data. (Please don’t worry about the technical Jargon. If your file has these unnecessary elements, you will have the option to click on its checkboxes).

How to use the AutoCAD Purge Command?

To use the AutoCAD Purge Command, follow the steps below:

1. Type PURGE in the command line. The Purge Dialog Box will open up.
2. On the top row of the Purge Dialog Box, there are two options: Purgeable Items and Non-Purgeable Items.
3. The Purgeable Items option is selected by default. Under the Named Items Not Used panel, you will notice a plus sign next to all purgeable items. You can click on the plus sign to see all purgeable items.
4. Under the Options panel, you choose additional Purge Settings:
   1. Confirm each item to be purged
   2. Purge nested items
   3. Purge Unnamed Objects: Zero-length geometry, Empty text objects, Orphaned data.
5. You can purge one item, multiple items or all items. To purge one or multiple items, click on the boxes next to the purgeable item in the Named Items Not Used panel, and hit Purge Checked Items. To purge all items, click on the Purge All button in the bottom of the Purge Dialog box.
6. To see a list of non-purgeable items, click on the Find Non-Purgeable Items button. Here you will see not only the list of items that you cannot purge, but also possible reasons.

Checkout the GIF below to see the PURGE command in action.

AutoCAD Audit

The Purpose and Function of AutoCAD Audit Command – Fix Errors

The Audit Command is used to check and fix errors in the AutoCAD File. It’s a good practice to audit and purge your drawings daily.

How to use the AutoCAD Audit Command?

To use the AutoCAD Audit Command, follow the steps below:

1. Type AUDIT in the command line.
2. The command line will prompt you with a question: FIX ANY ERRORS DETECTED. Type Y if you wish to fix errors and N if you wish to not fix errors.
3. The file will get audited, and after the audit is complete, it will list the Total Errors Found, Total Errors Fixed, and Erased Objects.

Checkout the GIF below to see the AUDIT Command in action.

AutoCAD Overkill

The Purpose and Function of AutoCAD Overkill Command – Delete Duplicate Objects

The Overkill command removes overlapping objects and merges partially overlapping or aligned end-to-end objects.

How to use the AutoCAD Overkill Command?

To use the AutoCAD Overkill Command, follow the steps below:

1. Type OVERKILL in the command line.
2. Select the objects on which you want to perform overkill. To perform overkill on all objects in AutoCAD, select all items in the AutoCAD File.
3. The Delete Duplicate Objects Dialog Box will open up. Here you can choose the following options (checkout AutoCAD Documentation to Learn how each item functions):
   • Tolerances
   • Ignore Object Property (Color/Layer/ Linetype/ Linetype Scale/ Lineweight/ Thickness/ Transparency/ Plot Style/Material)
   • Options
     • Optimize Segments within Polylines (Ignore Polyline Segment Widths/ Do not Break Polylines)
     • Combine co-linear objects that partially overlap
     • Combine co-linear objects when aligned end to end
     • Maintain associative objects
4. Choose the options that you desire and hit OK.

In the GIF below, I show you how there are two overlapping lines. The Selection Cycle is on so you can see that these are two overlapping polylines. After I run the Overkill command, we are just left with one polyline.

AutoCAD Recover

The Purpose and Function of AutoCAD Recover Command

There are instances when the AutoCAD File is corrupt, and you cannot even open it. In that instance, you will need to use the RECOVER command. You can also recover an AutoCAD File using the backup file and temporary AutoSave Files.

How to Use AutoCAD Recover Command to recover AutoCAD Drawing File?

There are two ways you can use the RECOVER command in your drawing.

First, open the corrupted drawing. It will prompt you to RECOVER. Hit recover, and then your file will automatically AUDIT.

Alternatively, you can just open a new AutoCAD Drawing and type RECOVER in the command line. You will be prompted to choose the file you wish to recover. Choose the file, and AutoCAD will automatically AUDIT to fix errors and recover the file.

How to Recover AutoCAD File using .bak file?

The .bak files in AutoCAD are backup files that are the previous version of your AutoCAD files (just before the last save). In order to recover a .bak file, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on the .bak file that you wish to recover and change the extension to .dwg.
2. Open the .dwg file and determine which elements were recovered and not recovered.

If you wish, make a copy of the .bak file before changing its extension. Recovering a backup from a .bak file may seem complicated, but it is very simple. Check out the GIF below to learn how to do it.

How to AutoSave AutoCAD Drawings?

By default, AutoCAD automatically Auto Saves your drawing at 10-minute intervals. You can update the frequency of AutoSave of your AutoCAD file in the Options Dialog Box. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Type OP in the command line to open the Options Dialog Box.
2. Click on Open and Save Tab.
3. In the File Safety Precautions section, the Automatic Save (.sv) and Create Backup Copy with Each Save (.bak) options are checked by default. The file will automatically save every 10 minutes by default.
4. You can update the AutoSave Time and hit OK.

How to Recover AutoCAD File using .sv file?

The AutoCAD Temporary Files are saved as .sv files in your %temp% folder. To recover your AutoCAD File using the AutoCAD Temporary File (.sv) file, follow the steps below:

1. Type %temp% in your Windows File Path Bar (I’m not sure if that’s what it’s called, but the picture below illustrates what I mean).
2. You will see a list of all temporary files. I like to sort it by date modified.
3. Copy the .sv or AutoCAD Temporary File that you need, and save it in your project folder.
4. Change the extension to .dwg and it will be ready for your use.

To keep your drawing file clean, your first line of action should be purging and auditing your AutoCAD files daily. If you start seeing unexpected AutoCAD behavior, that’s a red flag, and you should immediately purge and audit your drawing. Ensure that you Auto-Save your drawing at frequent intervals and save it often. If your file ever gets corrupt, you now have multiple ways to recover it.

I hope you enjoyed learning about File Maintenance in AutoCAD. To learn more about other aspects of AutoCAD, feel free to checkout 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD.

How to Create a Sheet Set using an Example Sheet Set?

Below are steps to create an Example Sheet Set:

1. Type in SSM or SHEETSET in the command line. The Sheet Set Manager will open up.
2. Click on the down arrow next to the Open option, and select New Sheet Set option. The Create Sheet Set – Begin Dialog Box will open up.
3. Select the An example sheet set option and hit next.
4. By default you will have seven different example sheet sets to choose from. In this example, we will choose the Civil Imperial Sheet Set and hit Next. (Note: You can also Browse an Example Sheet Set from your local drive.)
5. Now you will need to enter or choose Sheet Set Details. Give a name to your Sheet Set, provide a description (optional), and file path to store your sheet. Here you can can also check the Create a folder hierarchy based on subsets, and provide Sheet Set Properties. Once you have everything in, hit next.
6. You can preview the Sheet Set details here, and hit finish to confirm. Sheet Set Manager is now created!

How to Create a Sheet Set using Existing Drawings?

Below are steps to create a Sheet Set using Existing Drawings:

1. Type in SSM or SHEETSET in the command line. The Sheet Set Manager will open up.
2. Click on the down arrow next to the Open option, and select New Sheet Set option. The Create Sheet Set – Begin Dialog Box will open up.
3. Select the Existing Drawings option and hit Next.
4. Now you will need to enter or choose Sheet Set Details. Give a name to your Sheet Set, provide a description (optional), and file path to store your sheet. Here you can also provide Sheet Set Properties. Once you have everything in, hit next.
5. Now you will browse the folder where all the drawings are saved. Hit Browse, and choose the folder. (Note: You also have the Import Options such as Prefix Sheet Titles with File Name and Create Subsets Based on Folder Structure).
6. You can preview the Sheet Set details here, and hit finish to confirm. Sheet Set Manager is now created!

Managing and Editing an AutoCAD Sheet Set

Managing and Editing a Sheet is the core to handling Sheet Sets in AutoCAD. Below, we will look into 9 Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to managing and editing AutoCAD Sheet Set.

How to Open an Existing Sheet Set in AutoCAD Drawing File?

You can Open an Existing Sheet Set in AutoCAD by following the steps below:

1. Type in SSM or SHEETSET in the command line. The AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager will open up.
2. Click on the down arrow next to the Open option, and select Open option.
3. Choose the Sheet Set (.dst file) from your computer and click open.
4. If you had recently opened the Sheet Set, you can access it from the Recent option too.

How to Add New Sheet to AutoCAD Sheet Set?

You can add a New Sheet to the Sheet Set Manager by following the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set to which you want to add a sheet and then click on New Sheet.
2. New Sheet Dialog Box will open up. Add Number and Sheet Title, and Hit Ok.
3. New Sheet will be added to the Sheet Set. In case the .dwt Template is not specified, you will need to choose the .dwt file before the New Sheet Dialog Box appears.

How to Add New Sheet Subset to AutoCAD Sheet Set?

You can Add New Subset to Sheet Set by following the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set to which you want to Add New Subset and then click on New Subset.
2. The Subset Properties Dialog Box will open up. Add the Subset Name as you wish.
3. There are few more options for customization:
   1. Create Folder Hierarchy (Yes/No)
   2. Publish Sheets in Subset (Yes/No)
   3. New Sheet Location – Choose Location for the File
   4. Sheet Creation Template – Choose Location for Sheet Template
   5. Prompt for Template (Yes/No)

How to Import Layout as Sheet in AutoCAD?

You can Import the Layout as a Sheet to the Sheet Set by following the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set to which you want to import the layout as a sheet and then click on Import Layout as Sheet.
2. Click on Browse for Drawings and select the Drawing File containing the layout you want on the sheet set.
3. You will notice all the layouts for that sheet are loaded. Check on the Layouts you wish to import and then click on Import Checked. The sheet will be added to the Sheet Set.
4. You can add multiple drawing files using this method.

How to Insert Sheet List Table in AutoCAD?

To Insert a Sheet List Table, you must be in the Paper Space, and the Layout where you are putting the Sheet List should be part of the Sheet Set.

You can Insert Sheet List Table to desired Layout Tab by following the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set whose Sheet List you want to create.
2. Choose the Insert Sheet List Table option.
3. Sheet List Table Dialog Box will open up. You can choose Table Styles, Show Subheader, Table Title, Column Setting, and Sheet Selection.

How to Rename and Renumber Sheets in AutoCAD?

It is possible to Rename and Renumber sheets in a Sheet Set. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Sheet whose name you wish to change and then select Rename and Renumber.
2. The Rename and Renumber Sheet Dialog Box will open up. You can change the following things in this Dialog Box:
   1. Number
   2. Sheet Title
   3. Layout Name
   4. File Name
   5. Rename Layout to Match Sheet Title (or Prefix with Sheet Number)
   6. Rename Drawing File to Match Sheet Title (or Prefix with Sheet Number)
3. If you want to rename and renumber more sheets, click on Next and Previous. Once done, hit OK.

How to add Properties to AutoCAD Sheet Set?

Follow the steps below to add Properties to AutoCAD Sheet Set:

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set whose properties you wish to edit, then choose Properties option.
2. The Sheet Set Properties Dialog Box will open. Here, you can add properties for Sheet Set, Project Control, and Sheet Creation.
3. You can also add more properties by clicking on Edit Custom Properties and following the prompts.

How to Close Sheet Set in AutoCAD?

You can Close a Sheet Set by following the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set that you wish to close.
2. Click on the Close Sheet Set option.

What are other commonly used features of AutoCAD Sheet Sets?

Some of the other features of AutoCAD Sheet Sets are as follows:

1. Resave All Sheets
2. Archive
3. Publish
4. eTransmit
5. Transmittal Setup

All About AutoCAD Fields

AutoCAD Fields are dynamic text elements that update based on drawing properties or object data. Unlike static text, Fields maintain a live link to their source data so the information is always current and can easily be updated. As an Engineer, I use fields to display critical information such as file paths, drawing names, sheet numbers, dates, area calculations, and object properties that would otherwise have to be updated manually. You can even integrate fields in AutoCAD Tables.

When you use Fields with Sheet Set Manager, your project information can automatically appear on all your drawings at once. This smart text means you don’t have to type the same information over and over on each drawing. It helps prevent mistakes and keeps all your drawings looking the same.

How to Add Custom Properties to Sheet Set and Insert Field for it?

We looked into earlier how to update the Properties of a sheet set and briefly looked into how to create Custom Properties. So first lets look into how to add Custom Properties and then how to add a field connected to that Custom Property.

1. Right-click on the Sheet Set whose properties you wish to edit, then choose the Properties option.
2. The Sheet Set Properties Dialog Box will open. Click on the Edit Custom Properties.
3. The Custom Properties Dialog Box will open up. Click on the Add button.
4. Add Custom Property Dialog Box will open up.
5. Type in the name of the Property and the default value of the Property.

Once you do that you will have the property in the Sheet Set Custom Properties. Next, you would want to bring the property as a Field on the Sheet Set. You can do that by following the steps below:

1. Type in the FIELD in the command line and the Field Dialog Box will open up.
2. Choose Sheet Set in the Field Category and Current Sheet Set Custom in the Field Names.
3. The Custom Property will show up under the Custom Property Name. Choose the custom property you wish to add, and then click ok.
4. Now place the field where you want.

Note: If you update the Custom Field Content in the Sheet Set Manager, you can update the Field by UPDATEFIELD or REGEN command.

Why should you Add Fields to the Title block?

If you have a Civil Site Plan that consists of 21 sheets and you need to add one more sheet in the middle of the set, you’ll have to update both the sheet numbers and the total number of sheets. If this information is included as TEXT or MTEXT in the title blocks, you will need to update multiple sheets.

Thanks to Sheet Set Manager and Fields, you can update the information in the Sheet Set, and the Fields will automatically update the information.

Hope you were able to get a good grasp on AutoCAD Sheet Set and AutoCAD Fields. Checkout my blog 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD to learn other features of AutoCAD.

As a civil engineer, I can attest that plots are extremely important. Ultimately, clients and review agencies will evaluate the PDF or printed plans, not the designs within AutoCAD. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that the designs are both engineered accurately and visually appealing. In this blog, I will guide you through the essentials of the AutoCAD print function.

How to start the AutoCAD Print or Plot command in AutoCAD?

In AutoCAD you can print using the Plot Dialog Box. You can open the Plot Dialog Box in AutoCAD in four major ways:

1. CTRL+P (Keyboard Shortcut)
2. Print Option from Ribbon Area
3. Print Option from Application Button (Print Option will open multiple options)
4. Type PLOT in Command Line

You can also Batch Plot and Plot using Sheet Set Manager, which I will cover later in the blog.

Dissecting Plot Dialog Box

There are various features associated with the Plot Dialog Box which we will explore below:

Page Setup

As you can see, there are various customization options for AutoCAD Plot. If you are gonna use the same options all the time, it is ideal to add that customization as Page Setup.

How to Add a new Page Setup?

1. Choose the Print/Plot options in the Plot Dialog Box
2. Click on ADD button in the Page Setup section
3. Provide a New Page Setup Name and then hit ok

You also have the option to choose Previous Plot or import a Page Setup settings.

Printer/plotter

There are various printer/plotter settings provided by AutoCAD.

My go to printer/plotter option is DWG to PDF.pc3.

If you have tried other options and feel there is a better one, feel free to leave it in comments.

Paper Size

Choose from various industry-standard paper sizes such as Letter, Legal, ANSI, Arch, ISO and more. The page sizes available to plot are based on the Printer/Plotter selected.

Plot Area

There are four options for plot area in AutoCAD which are explained below:

1. Display: Plots everything in the current display of the paper space. If you are using this option make sure to choose the plot scale to Fit to Paper.
2. Extents: Plots everything in the extents of the paper space, even outside the layout. If you are using this option make sure to choose the plot scale to Fit to Paper.
3. Layout: Plots everything in the printable limits of the paper space layout.
4. Window: Plots the window or portion of the drawing selected.

My go-to option is the Layout Option. To learn more about these options in detail or how these options act differently in the model space, checkout the Plot Dialog Box Autodesk 2025 documentation.

Plot Offset

The Plot Offset refers to offsetting the printable area from the origin (lower-left corner). Once you offset it, you will have the option to Center the Plot as well.

Plot Scale

Keep the Plot Scale in the Dialog box 1:1 and adjust the scale in the viewport. Adjusting the Plot Scale in the Print Dialog Box will be tricky.

Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments)

There are two types of plot styles in AutoCAD: Color-Based Plot (ctb) and Style-Based Plot (stb). By default you will have color based Plot Styles.

Shaded Viewport Options

The Shaded Viewport Options are ideal for 3D models. If you choose any customization options in the Shaded Viewport Option, it will supersede the Plot Table Style settings.

Plot Options

There are various plot options. If you want to use any of the settings below, you will need to check the box for that setting:

1. Plot in background: Allows you to plot sheet(s) in the background so that you can continue working in AutoCAD.
2. Plot object lineweights: Ensures the lineweights attributed to each object is plotted accordingly.
3. Plot transparency: Ensures the applied transparency to objects/hatches is plotted accordingly.
4. Plot with plot styles: Ensures the drawing plots based on the selected .ctb or .stb.
5. Plot paperspace last: Plots Objects in Model Space first and then Objects in Layout or Paper Space
6. Hide paperspace objects: Hides Layout Objects in Final Plot
7. Plot stamp on: Adds the plot stamp to sheets
8. Save changes to layout: Any changes to plot settings will apply to the layout.

Drawing Orientation

There are three Drawing Orientation options:
1. Portrait or Landscape: Choose whether you want a portrait or landscape setting
2. Plot upside-down: If you wish to plot the layout upside-down, you can check the Plot upside-down button.

Preview

After selecting all your settings, you can preview your PDF or plot. Use this feature to ensure everything is displayed as you want. Below is the preview of the Utility Plan. Note that both existing and proposed conditions are plotted in black; it would be ideal to change the existing elements to grey.

Batch Plot

Batch Plot is used in AutoCAD when you want to plot multiple Layouts from the same sheet at once. Follow the steps below to Batch Plot:

1. First select all the Layout Tabs that you wish to plot. You can select multiple Layouts by holding down on Ctrl button and clicking on the tabs.
2. Once all the layouts are selected, right-click on one of the Layouts and hit Batch Plot.
3. The Publish Dialog Box will open up. Click on Publish and all the selected sheets will start plotting.

Plot Using Sheet Set Manager

If you have a Sheet Set setup for multiple sheets, you can plot all at once. Follow the steps below to Plot a Sheet Set:

1. Open the Sheet Set Manager Dialog Box by typing SSM in the command line.
2. Open the Sheet Set that you wish to plot.
3. Right-click on the Sheet Set. Choose the Publish option and then the Publish to PDF option.

One or multiple sheets can be published instead of the whole sheet set. Select the sheet(s) and then right-click. To select multiple sheets, hold CTRL and then click on the sheets you wish to plot. Then, follow the same steps as mentioned above.

View Plot and Publish Details

Once you plot a sheet or multiple sheets, a View Plot and Publish Details notification will pop up in bottom right corner. If you click on it, the Plot and Publish Details Dialog Box will open up. This Dialog Box shows various details such as where the sheet is plotted, what is the sheet size, the time the plot was completed, and other print-related configurations. You can see an example of the View Plot and Publish Details Dialog Box below.

Plot in the Background

Plotting can be a time-consuming process when you are plotting multiple sheets at once. To continue working while the sheets plot in AutoCAD, you can plot in the background. Earlier, we saw how to enable plot in the background with the Plot Dialog Box. There is another way to go about it as well. With this approach, you can plot and publish both in the background:

1. Open the Options Dialog box by typing OP in the command line or through Application Button.
2. Click on Plot and Publish tab.
3. In the Background Processing Options, choose Plotting or Publishing options. Plotting refers to printing just one sheet and Publishing refers to printing multiple sheets (Batch Plot).

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Print to Scale in AutoCAD?

To ensure your model is plotted to the ideal scale, double-click inside the Viewport and set the desired scale from the Status Bar.

How to not print Viewport Border in AutoCAD?

Put the Viewport on a NO PLOT Layer and your Viewport Boundary will not plot.

How to Print Multiple Pages in AutoCAD at once?

You can print Multiple pages at once in AutoCAD by using Batch Plot or by plotting through Sheet Set Manager.

How to Print AutoCAD Drawing in Black and White?

To ensure your AutoCAD Drawing Plots in Black and White, make sure to choose Monochrome.ctb. If you are using .stb Plot Styles, make sure the Plot Style is selected to Black & White.

How to Print a PDF in Model Space in AutoCAD?

You can print a PDF in Model Space the same way you print the paper space. Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+P to open the Print Dialog Box and plot PDF accordingly.

Hope you enjoyed learning about how to plot in AutoCAD. Checkout my blog 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD to learn other features of AutoCAD.

As a Civil Design Engineer, I spend a lot of time designing plans in the Model Space but I take great care to set up my Layout Tab or Paper Space correctly. These finishing touches turn your technical work into professional deliverables that meet industry standards and client expectations.

Key Differences Between AutoCAD Model Space and Paper Space

You might have already learned about Model Space in my 13 Essential AutoCAD User Interface Guide. Understanding both Model Space and Paper Space (Layout Tab) is vital, as they serve different purposes. Below, I have outlined the key differences between the two in the table.

	Model Space	Layout Tab
Image
Purpose	All the Design of a plan/model happens in the Model Space.	You prepare how the plan/model will be setup for printing in the paper space.
Scale	You can change the scale of the drawing based on the need.	Each Viewport can only have one scale.
Content	Contains AutoCAD Objects, Dimensions, Annotations and other elements.	Contains Title Block, Viewport, General Notes and Legends.
Units	Uses real-world units such as feet, meters, inches etc.	Uses paper units such as inches and millimeters.
Viewports	No Viewports	Viewports are used to show plans or models.
Layers	Create and organize layers for objects, annotations, dimensions and other drawing elements	Create and organize layers for layout specific items such as title block, scale, legend, etc. [Putting the Viewport on No Plot layer will ensure the Viewport does not plot]
Plotting	Rarely used for plotting.	Ideal for plotting
Quantity	There is only one Model Space in a AutoCAD drawing	You can have multiple layout tabs in AutoCAD

User Interface of Layout Tab (aka Paper Space)

When you open a Layout Tab in AutoCAD, by default you will have a white sheet with a rectangular viewport. Lets look at each element in detail:

• Paper Area: The boundary of the Paper Area is a preview of how your printed product will look like.
• Viewport Boundary: The boundary of the Viewport. You’ll be able to learn more about viewports later in the blog.
• Plot Area Margin: The boundary of the drawing that will be printed.
• Model and Layout Tabs: The tabs are used to switch between model space and paper space.
• Paper Mode and Model Mode: Located in the Status Bar, this button allows you to enter and exit your viewport. It’s useful when you get lost in it and want to come out.

Basic Modify Options in Paper Space

There are six basic modify options with paper space that every AutoCAD user must know – Add a New Layout Tab, Rename Layout Tab, Copy Layout Tab, Move Layout Tab, Change Layout Tab Background Color and Delete the Layout Tab.

Let’s start with the easy ones – adding, renaming, moving and deleting Layout Tabs. To add a new layout tab, click the plus sign next to the Layout Tab. To rename a Layout Tab, right-click on the Layout Tab that you wish to rename, click Rename, and provide a new name. To move a Layout Tab, left-click on the Layout once, and drag it left or right. To delete a Layout Tab, right-click on the Layout Tab that you wish to delete and click on Delete.

To copy a Layout Tab, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Right-Click on the tab that you wish to Copy and choose the Move or Copy option.
Step 2: Choose before which existing Layout the copied Layout should be placed. I generally choose (move to end) option for the copied Layout.
Step 3: Check the Create a Copy option and hit ok.

The Paper Area is white by default but it can be changed to other colors. To change the background color of your Paper Area, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open the Options Dialog Box by typing OP in the Command Line. Alternatively, you can right-click in the paper area and click on the Options button.
Step 2: Open the Drawing Window Colors Tab by choosing these steps: Display Tab > Window Elements > Colors.
Step 3: Ensure Sheet/Layout is selected in Context options and Uniform Background is selected under the Interface Element option. Then, choose the desired color under the option.

Page Setup Manager in Paper Space

You can open the Page Setup Manager by right-clicking on the Layout tab and then choosing the Page Setup Manager. You will see the following page setup details: – Device Name
– Plotter
– Plot Size
– Where
– Description

To ensure that the Page Setup Dialog Box opens up each time you create a new Layout Tab, make sure to check the Display When Creating a New Layout button in the lower-left corner of the dialog box.

You can hit modify to edit page setup settings. While most of the options are about plotting the sheet, one option is essential as the first set of Page Setup – Paper Size. Unless you have the paper size correct, you will not be able to proceed with other aspects of setting up the layout tab. To change the paper size, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Page Setup Manager (Right-click on the Layout Tab and choose the Page Setup option)
2. Click on the Modify Button to open the Page Setup Dialog Box
3. Change the Paper Size

You can also open the Page Setup Manager dialog box by typing PAGESETUP in the command line or from Ribbon Area (Layout > Layout > Page Setup).

All About AutoCAD Layout Viewports

Viewports are a major feature of AutoCAD Layout, helping translate your model into a printed plan. Understanding how to create, modify, and deal with viewports is essential for streamlining the process of setting up paper space and eventually plotting it.

Create a Viewport in AutoCAD

Two major commands are used for creating viewports in AutoCAD: MVIEW and VPORTs. The MVIEW option is ideal if you want to create a custom viewport and VPORTs option is ideal if you want to create preconfigured viewports.

You can activate the MVIEW command by typing MVIEW in the command line or from the Ribbon Area (Layout > Layout Viewports > MVIEW). Now, choose a corner point in the Paper Area to start the viewport and also choose a corner point diagonal to the first point. You will notice that once you activate the MVIEW command, there are many options in the command line which helps with further customization.

You can activate the VPORTS command by typing VPORTS in the command line or from the Ribbon Area (Layout > Layout Viewports > VPORTS). Once you activate it, the Viewports Dialog Box will open up. Below is a list of standard viewports and other settings:

Standard Viewports:

• Single
• Two: Vertical
• Three: Right
• Three: Left
• Three: Above
• Three: Below
• Three: Vertical
• Three: Horizontal
• Four: Equal

Settings:

• Viewport Spacing
• Setup (2D/3D)
• Change View To
• Visual Style

Locking Viewport Scale

Once you set the limits and scale of a viewport, it is ideal to lock the viewport. You can do so by clicking inside the viewport and then selecting the lock button in the Status Bar.

One mistake I used to make as a novice Civil Design Engineer was keeping the Viewport unlocked while editing my plans. At times, I would accidentally zoom into the Viewport, which would change the scale of the drawing. One quick fix is to undo it simply.

Edit the Viewport Boundary and Viewport Scale in AutoCAD

You can edit the Viewport Boundary by dragging the grips at the end of the viewport. If you wish you can also clip the boundary of the viewport. You can change the scale of the viewport in three ways:

1. Status Bar: Double click inside a viewport and change the drawing scale from the options in Status Bar.
2. Down Triangle Arrow: Click on the Down Triangle Arrow next to the Viewport Base Point and choose a scale.
3. Properties Panel: Select the Viewport and change the scale of the viewport from options in Properties Panel.

Copy and Move Viewport in AutoCAD

You might want to copy a viewport to have it on the same layout sheet, have it on different layout sheet or to a different AutoCAD file. You can copy viewport the same way you can copy AutoCAD objects. While I did cover how to copy objects in my blog AutoCAD Intuitive Commands, let’s do a quick refresher.

Copy Viewports for the same Layout in AutoCAD:

Type CO in the command line, select the viewport you desire to copy, and then place it where it is needed.

Copy Viewports between Layouts in AutoCAD:

Type COPYCLIP in the command line (or use CTRL+C), select the viewport to be copied, go to the desired Layout Tab, and type PASTECLIP in command line (or use keyboard shortcut CTRL+V).

Copy Viewports between two AutoCAD Files in AutoCAD:

Type COPYBASE in the command line, specify base point, select the Viewport, and then type PASTECLIP in command line (or use keyboard shortcut CTRL+V). You can use this method for copying viewports between layouts too.

Moving a Viewport in AutoCAD

You can move a viewport in AutoCAD by clicking and dragging the base point. You can also activate the Move command, select the viewport, and move the Viewport.

Delete a Viewport in AutoCAD

To Delete a Viewport in AutoCAD, simply click on the Viewport in the Layout Tab and hit delete.

Layer Management for Viewport Plot/Preview

In most cases I will take care of Layer Management of my drawing or model in the Model Space unless they are Paper Space Elements. It is essential to set the layers to right plot style to ensure that when you preview the viewport, you mirror how the plot file will look like.

When you open the Layer Properties Manager in the viewport, you will see additional options – VP Color, VP Linetype, VP Lineweight, VP Transparency, and New VP Freeze. If you want a layer to look different or have different properties in the Model Space and Paper Space, then AutoCAD does give you this opportunity.

In my career so far, I have never kept my Model Space and VP Space layer settings different. The only use case I can think of is if you are placing some Layout Elements on the same layer as the Model Space Elements, then you would want different settings for each. But in that case, I would simply put them on different layers and keep things clean.

Title Block and Fields (aka Smart Text)

Title Blocks in Layout Plans provide essential identification, project details, and professional credentials to establish document standardization and legal accountability. Generally Fields or Smart Texts are used to control Sheet Names Sheet Numbers.

North Arrow & Scale

Generally you will also have a north arrow and scale bar in the Paper Space. You can create a symbol and save them as blocks. Autodesk recognizes the need for a dynamic North Arrow and Scale Bar. In many AutoDesk products, you can create North Scale and Scale Arrow by simply selecting the viewport and choosing either North Arrow or Scale Bar from the Layout Option in Ribbon Area.

As a Site-Civil Design Engineer working on complex projects, I can’t imagine navigating through intricate designs without XREFs. Take a utility sheet, for instance. Instead of having all the existing and proposed linework in one AutoCAD file, I simply XREF the base site plan, survey, and proposed utilities. While all my proposed annotations live in the main utility sheet, the underlying linework exists in separate, manageable XREFs.

What is AutoCAD XREF or External Reference in AutoCAD and its benefits?

XREF or External Reference is a way to bring AutoCAD files as background in current drawing file. There are three key benefits of using XREF.

1. Any changes made to the XREF file will automatically update and be reflected in the the current drawing file.
2. XREF fosters team collaboration as multiple team members can work different parts of the project at same time.
3. Using XREF instead of including all linework and annotations in one CAD file will reduce the file size.

Different Types of XREFs

In AutoCAD, you can attach DWG, Image, DWF, DGN, PDF, Point Cloud (.rcp), and Coordination Model (.nxd). In this blog, we will dive in-depth into attaching DWG, Image, and PDF. To attach any XREF, you must first open the XREF palette, which can be done by typing XREF in the command line.

Using External References Palette to Attach DWG File

Once the XREF Palette is opened, choose the DWG option. Navigate through File Explorer to find your AutoCAD file. The Attach External Reference dialog box will open up. You will get the following options:

Option	Explanation	Image
Reference Type	XREFs can be inserted as either an Overlay or an Attachment. An Overlay XREF displays referenced geometry in the background but won’t be included when the current drawing is referenced in other files, preventing circular references. An Attachment XREF becomes part of the current drawing and will be carried along when the drawing is referenced in other files.
Scale	You can either specify the scale on the screen or enter the scale factor in the Attach External Reference dialog box.
Insertion Point	You can either specify the insertion point on the screen or provide the X,Y,Z coordinates in the Attach External Reference dialog box.
Path Type	A path type can be No Path, Relative or Full. A No Path references the XREF without and path, and will only work if the referenced file is in the same folder as the current drawing file. A Relative path specifies the location of referenced files in relation to the current drawing’s location, making it ideal for portable project folders where files maintain their relationships. A Full path specifies the complete file location from the root directory.
Rotation	You can either specify the rotation on the screen or provide the angle in the Attach External Reference dialog box.
Block Unit	The block unit refers to the units of the drawing.
Preview	You can see how your XREF looks like.

It is a best practice to put the inserted DWG XREF on a separate layer and ideally lock that XREF. You can lock the XREF by locking the layer on which you put the XREF.

Using External References Palette to Attach Image File

After opening the XREF Palette, select the Image option. Use File Explorer to locate your image file. You will encounter five options similar to those in the Attach DWG option: Path Type, Insertion Point, Scale, Rotation, and Preview.

An image XREF will include an Image Frame. You have three options for editing the Image Border using the IMAGEFRAME variable (0-2).

1. Show and Plot No Image Border (IMAGEFRAME = 0)
2. Show and Plot Image Border (IMAGEFRAME = 1)
3. Show the Image Border but not Plot it (IMAGEFRAME = 2)

In the Image below we are attaching GIFluent Logo in our AutoCAD File. You will generally see Engineering and Architecture Firms attach the image of their company logo on Title block.

Using External References Palette to Attach PDF File

After opening the XREF Palette, select the PDF option. Use File Explorer to locate your PDF file. You will encounter five options similar to those in the Attach DWG and Attach Image option: Path Type, Insertion Point, Scale, Rotation, and Preview.

A PDF XREF will include a PDF Frame. You have three options for editing the PDF Border using the PDFFRAME variable (0-2).

1. Show and Plot No Image Border (PDFFRAME = 0)
2. Show and Plot Image Border (PDFFRAME = 1)
3. Show the Image Border but not Plot it (PDFFRAME = 2)

If the PDF contains multiple pages, you can choose which pages to attach to your sheet. I often use PDF and IMAGE XREFs to add construction details to my construction planset. In the example below we are attaching details of Stormtech Inspection Port Detail into our AutoCAD File.

Working with XREFs

Unloading

If you would like to temporarily turn off an XREF, you can unload it. Simply right-click on the XREF, and choose the Unload option.

Reloading

To turn the XREF back on after unloading it, you can reload it. Additionally, if you made a change in the XREF file and you don’t see the changes in your current drawing, you can reload the XREF to have it updated. Generally when you update an XREF, there will be a pop-up on bottom right of your screen to reload that XREF. Simply right-click on the XREF, and choose the Reload option.

Detaching

If you would like to remove an XREF, you can simply detach it. Only detach an XREF when you know you will not need it. If you want to temporarily remove the XREF from the background, simply unload the XREF. Simply right-click on the XREF, and choose the Detach option.

Clipping

If you want to show only a portion of an XREF, you can clip it. You can activate this option by typing XCLIP in the command line or choosing the Clipping Boundary option in the Ribbon (Select XREF > External Reference > Clipping Boundary). When you XCLIP, you have four primary options:

1. Select Polyline: Choose a polyline in the drawing as a clipping boundary
2. Polygonal: Draw a polygonal clipping boundary
3. Rectangular: Draw a rectangular clipping boundary
4. Invert Clip: Hide everything inside the clipped boundary

If you wish to delete the Clipping Boundary, click on the XREF and then on delete Remove Clipping from the Ribbon.

Layer Control

After loading the XREF in your current file, the Layer Properties Palette will display all the layers from your XREF file. This feature is useful for managing your XREF layers effectively.

Changing Path Type

Earlier, we discussed the three types of XREF paths: No Path, Relative Path, and Full Path. If you need to change the path type after attaching an XREF, you can easily do so by following these steps: Right-click on the XREF, select “Change Path Type,” and then choose the new path option you prefer.

Select New Path

If you move your XREF file after referencing it in current drawing, it will no longer be available. In that case you will need to select new path and your XREF will again be available in your current drawing.

XREF Compare

Every time your XREF gets updated and you load it in your current drawing, you can compare the changes. Hit on the next and previous buttons to compare the changes. Checkout the GIF below to see the changes in the XREF.

XREF Fading

You can fade your XREF, up to 90%, so that the linework in the current drawing stands out. To fade your XREF (0-90), select your XREF, and follow the following path Insert > Reference > XREF Fading. You can also fade your XREF in the command line by typing XDWGFADECTL and entering the fade percent.

Modifying XREFs

You can modify an XREF without opening the source of the reference file. Simply click on the XREF, choose Edit Reference In-Place option, make changes and hit Save Changes. While its an AutoCAD feature, I do not modify XREF In-Place. I prefer to simply open the XREF file and edit it there.

XREFs help makes your drawing system efficient and ensures multiple people can work on the same project at once. Apart from XREF, there are various other essential AutoCAD features which you can learn from my blog – 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD.

The simplest method to create a table is by using the TABLE command to generate a dynamic object. Alternatively, you can link a table from Microsoft Excel or copy and paste one directly from Excel. Tables can be modified in various ways, and you can also customize their styles. Understanding the intricacies of tables will enhance your efficiency and help you appear more professional in your workplace or classroom. Let’s explore the five most important concepts to master when it comes to AutoCAD tables.

Creating a table in AutoCAD using TABLE command

The most basic way to create a table in AutoCAD is by activating the TABLE command in the command line or selecting the Table option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Tables > Table). Once you activate it, the Insert Table dialog box will open up.

There are various options in the Insert Table dialog box. Lets explore each in detail below:

Property	Features	Images
Table Styles	Choose the style for the table.
Insert Options	– Start from empty table – From a data link – From object data in the drawing (Data Extraction)
Preview	The preview option allows you to view a draft of the proposed table.
Insertion Behavior	Specify Insertion Point: This option allows you to specify a point in model space where you want to insert the table. You enter the cell width and number of rows in the Insert Table dialog box. Specify Window: This option allows you to specify a point in model space. The cell width and number of rows are determined by dragging the mouse in the right direction (to increase the cell width) and the down direction (to increase the number of rows).
Column & Row Settings	This option allows you to add the number of columns, column width, data rows, and row height.
Set Cell Style	This option lets you choose the components for your table – Title, Header or Data row.

Below is a GIF that shows how to create a Sample Table in AutoCAD.

Create Table Styles in AutoCAD

The table styles in AutoCAD are predefined formatting templates that determines the appearance of the table. You can choose or create table styles by typing TABLESTYLE in the command line. The Table Style dialog box appears. You can choose one of the predefined styles or click on NEW to create a new table style.

When you click on the NEW button, the Create New Table Style dialog box will open. First, you will need to choose a name for your new style and select a starting style. By default, the STANDARD style is selected. Click CONTINUE and you will be presented with various parameters to help you create the ideal Table Style for your needs. Let’s explore the New Style Dialog Box and various parameters in the New Table Style below:

Property	Features	Images
Starting Table	This option lets you choose formatting options from an existing Table.
Table Direction	You can either have your table Down or Up. In the Down option, the Table starts with Title, then Header and then Data. In the Up option, Table starts with the Data, then Header, and then the Title.
Cell Styles	In the Cell Styles you can update the style for your Data, Header, and Title.
General	– Fill Color (None or Select Colors) – Alignment (Top Left, Top Center, Top Right, Middle Left, Middle Center, Middle Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Center, Bottom Right) – Format (Angle, Currency, Date, Decimal Number, General, Percentage, Point, Text, Whole Number) – Type (Data/Label) – Margin (Horizontal and Vertical) – Option to Merge cells on row/column creation
Text	– Text Style – Text Height – Text Color – Text Angle
Borders	– Line Weight (By Layer/By Block/Line Weight) – Line Type (By Layer/By Block/ Line Type) – Color (By Layer/By Block/Color) – Double Line (Yes or No) – Border Options
Cell Style Preview	The preview option allows you to view how your proposed cells would look.

Table Components

There are various components to AutoCAD tables. You can learn about each component in the table below:

Below is a GIF that shows how you can adjust various table components in AutoCAD.

Editing and Modifying Tables

You can modify AutoCAD Tables in many ways. Below are different ways you can modify AutoCAD tables and also how you can modify them.

Modification	How to Modify?	Images
Adding Data to AutoCAD Table	Double click any cell of the table and then you can add data in the AutoCAD table.
Adding/Removing Row	First select a cell in AutoCAD table. In the Ribbon you will see 3 different options in the Row section: – Insert Above – Insert Below – Delete Row(s)
Adding/Removing Column	First select a cell in AutoCAD table. In the Ribbon you will see 3 different options in the Column section: – Insert Left – Insert Right – Delete Columns)
Merge and Unmerge Cells	To merge cells, first select all the cells that you want to merge. In the merge section, you will see three different options to merge cells. – Merge All – Merge By Row – Merge By Column To unmerge the merged cells, simply click on the Unmerge button in the merge section.
Update Cell Styles	There are various options pertaining to Cell Styles: – Match Cell – Text Justification – Table Cell Styles – Table Cell – Background Color – Cell Borders
Cell Locking	There are four options pertaining to cell locking in AutoCAD: – Unlocked – Content Locked – Format Locked – Content and Format Locked
Data Format in Table Cells	There are various formats that you can assign to your cells: – Angle – Currency – Date – Decimal Number – General – Percentage – Point – Text – Whole Number – Customize Table Cell Format
Insert Blocks in AutoCAD Table	Insert an existing block in AutoCAD Table/Cell. To learn more about blocks, checkout my blog AutoCAD Block, Dynamic Block and Count for Efficient Design Creation.
Adding Fields to AutoCAD Table	Insert a Field or Smart Text in AutoCAD Table/Cell.
Adding Formula to AutoCAD Table	Similar to Microsoft Excel, you can add formulas to AutoCAD Table. Below are formulas that you can add: – Sum – Average – Count – Cell – Equation
Link Cell	With this option you can link AutoCAD Table Cells with data in a Microsoft Excel file.

AutoCAD Tables and Excel

AutoCAD tables can feel annoying because you must double-click each cell to add or modify content. That’s when Excel tables become useful. You can create a table in Excel and either link or simply copy/paste it in AutoCAD. Let’s check it out in more detail below:

Data Link Table from Excel to AutoCAD

You can data link Excel table into AutoCAD. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Activate the TABLE command
2. Under Insert options, choose the FROM A DATA LINK option. Click on the down arrow to either select the Data Link or Launch Data Link Manager.
3. In the Select a Data Link table, click on the Create a new Excel Data Link option.
4. The Enter Data Link Name Dialog box will appear, where you can add name of this data link.
5. Next, you will need to provide a path to the Excel Table Sheet. Once you provide the path, you will have the option to choose sheet, link entire sheet, link named range, and/or link to range. You can see the preview to ensure you are getting what you need.
6. Press ok, 3 times, and then you can insert your data link table in the model space.

Copy & Paste Table from Excel to AutoCAD

This is the most straightforward method to import a table from Excel into AutoCAD. Simply copy the table from Excel and paste it into AutoCAD.

If you use the Paste Special option and select Microsoft Excel, any updates made in Excel will be reflected in AutoCAD.

Export Table from AutoCAD as a.csv file

To export an AutoCAD table as a .csv file, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on the table you wish to export and select the EXPORT option.
2. Then, choose the location on your computer where you want to save the .csv file containing the table.
3. Your AutoCAD Table is successfully saved as a .csv file.

Hope you enjoyed learning about AutoCAD Dimensions. To learn more about other aspects of AutoCAD, feel free to checkout 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD.

Create Dimensions in AutoCAD

Linear Dimensions

What does the DIMLINEAR command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMLINEAR command indicates the distance between two points. This linear extent could be horizontal, vertical or at an angle. It is ideal for straight lines.

How to use the DIMLINEAR command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMLINEAR command by typing DIMLIN in the command line or choosing the Dim Aligned option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Linear).

You can choose the starting and end points or the object to create a linear dimension. Activate the command and select the start and end points to create linear dimension. To create a linear dimension by selecting an object, press enter after activating the command and select the object.

Some of the customization options available with this option are Mtext, Text (Change Dim Text), Angle, Horizontal, Vertical, and Rotated.

Aligned Dimension

What does the DIMALIGNED command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMALIGNED command will dimension an object by aligning or tilting it to the same angle as the object.

How to use the DIMALIGNED command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMALIGNED command by typing DIMALI in the command line or choosing the Dim Aligned option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Aligned).

Choose the first point where you want to start the dimension, and then choose the end point where you want to end the dimension. There are three customization options available with this type of dimension – Mtext, Text and Angle.

Angular Dimensions

What does the DIMANGULAR command in AutoCAD do?

The angular dimension or DIMANGULAR command in AutoCAD will annotate angles through line selection, in an arc, in a circle, and by choosing three points.

How to use the DIMANGULAR command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMANGULAR command by typing DIMANG in the command line or choosing the Angular option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Angular).

As mentioned earlier, you can create angular annotation for line, arc, circle or choosing three points. Below are key points that you need to pay attention for creating an angular annotation for each element:

• Angled Line: Select the two lines between which you want to find the angle.
• Arc: Choose the arc whose angle you want to find.
• Circle: Select the circle whose angle you want to annotate. Note the point at which you first select the circle will become the first point and then you will have the option to choose the second point.
• Three Points: When using this option, the first point is the angle vertex between the two points and the remaining points are the endpoints.

Arc Length Dimension

What does the DIMARC command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMARC command will annotate the length of a polyline arc segment.

How do you use the DIMARC command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMARC command by typing DIMARC in the command line or choosing the Arc Length option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Arc Length).

Once the command is activated, select the arc, and an arc annotation will be created. You will have the following customization options with it:

• MText: Converts the arc length annotation from text to Mtext.
• Text: Changes the text of the arc length to the desired text, which can also be done by double clicking on the arc length and updating it.
• Angle: You can put the arc length text at the desired angle.
• Partial: Annotate the partial length of an arc.
• Leader: Adds a leader to arc length annotation.

Radius Dimensions

What does the DIMRADIUS command in AutoCAD do?

The Radius Dimensions or DIMRAD command annotates the radius of an arc or a circle. I often use it to annotate curbs in proposed site layouts.

How do you use the DIMRADIUS command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMRADIUS command by typing DIMRAD in the command line or choosing the DIMRAD option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Arc Length).

Select a radius or an arc, and it will generate the radius annotation. Like DIMARC, the DIMRADIUS annotation also has the customization of MText, Text and Angle.

Diameter Dimensions

What does the DIMDIAMETER command in AutoCAD do?

The Diameter Dimension or DIMDIAMETER command annotates the diameter of an arc or a circle.

How do you use the DIMDIAMETER command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMDIAMTER command by typing DIMDIA in the command line or choosing the DIAMETER option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Arc Length).

Simply select a radius or an arc, and it will generate the diameter annotation. Similar to DIMARC, the DIMDIAMETER annotation also has the customization of MText, Text and Angle.

Jogged Radius Dimension

What does the DIMJOGGED command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMJOGGED command adds a jogged radius dimension by selecting an arc or circle.

How do you use the DIMJOGGED command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMJOGGED command by typing DIMJOGGED in the command line or choosing the JOGGED option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Jogged).

Simply select the arc, specify a center location, and then the location of the jogged line to create a jogged dimension. Similar to DIMARC, the DIMJOGGED annotation also has the customization of MText, Text, and Angle.

Jogged Linear Dimension

What does the DIMJOGLINE command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMJOGLINE command adds a jog line to existing linear or aligned dimensions.

How do you use the DIMJOGLINE command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMJOGLINE command by typing DIMJOGLINE in the command line or choosing the JOGLINE option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Dimjogline).

To create jogged dimensions, activate the command, select the dimension, and choose the point on the dimension where you want the jog to be added.

Ordinate Dimensions

What does the DIMORDINATE command in AutoCAD do?

The ordinate dimensions or DIMORDINATE command measures the perpendicular distance in both horizontal and vertical direction (X&Y) from a chosen origin or center point.

How do you use the DIMORDINATE command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMORDINATE command by typing DIMORD in the command line or choosing the ORDINATE option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Ordinate).

To add an ordinate, activate the ordinate command, and select the the center or origin point. Drag the cursor in X&Y direction for the needed distance. In the command line, you will have the option for XDatum & YDatum in addition to MText, Text and Angle. When you select the XDatum option, the movement of the ordinate dimension will be limited in the X-direction. When you select the YDatum option, the movement of the ordinate dimension will be limited in the Y-direction.

Baseline Dimension

What does the DIMBASELINE command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMBASELINE command generates multiple dimensions that are parallel to each other, all originating from the same base point.

How do you use the DIMBASELINE command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMBASELINE command by typing DIMBASELINE in the command line or choosing the DIMBASELINE option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Baseline).

To use the Baseline command you will need to have created a linear or aligned dimension with the base point, also known as base dimension. After that activate the baseline command, select the existing dimension, and choose new dimension points.

Continue Dimension

What does the DIMCONTINUE command in AutoCAD do?

The DIMCONTINUE command creates continued dimensions where a new dimension starts from the endpoint of the previous dimension.

How do you use the DIMCONTINUE command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the DIMCONTINUE command by typing DCO in the command line or choosing the DIMCONTINUE option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Continue).

To use the Continue command, you must have created a linear or aligned dimension with the base point. After that, activate the continue command, select the existing dimension, and choose new dimension points.

Quick Dimension

What does the QDIM command in AutoCAD do?

The Quick Dimension or QDIM command creates different types of dimensions from the selected object in sequence.

How do you use the QDIM command in AutoCAD?

You can activate the Quick Dimension command by typing QDIM in the command line or choosing the Quick option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Dimensions > Continue).

The QDIM provides the following command prompt – Continuous, Staggered, Baseline, Ordinate, Radius, Diameter and Datum Point. I have covered the details of all these dimensions except staggering. The staggering option will add dimension in a staggered or alternating fashion to prevent overcrowding of dims.

Dissecting Components of a Dimension Line

AutoCAD Dimension Style Manager

Dimension styles, much like text styles, play a crucial role in ensuring consistency in the presentation of dimensions within a drawing. They also contribute to a professional appearance. To create a new Dimension Style, you can either type DIMSTYLE in the command line or navigate to the Ribbon by selecting Annotate > Dimensions > Dimension Styles > Manage Dimension Styles. From there, you can choose an existing style or create a new one. If you opt to create a new style, you will be presented with numerous customization options, which are explained below.

Lines

The line tab comprises options to customize Dimension Lines and Extension Lines such as color, line type, line weight etc.

Symbols and Arrows

The Symbols and Arrows tab comprises options to customize Arrowheads, Center Marks, Dimension Break, Arc Length Symbol, Radius Jog Dimension, and Linear Jog Dimension.

Text

The Text Tab comprises options to customize Text Appearance, Text Placement, and Text Alignment.

Fit

The Fit tab comprises options to customize Fit Options, Text Placement, Scale for Dimension Features, and Fine Tuning.

Primary Units

The Primary Units tab comprises options to customize Linear Dimensions, Zero Suppression, and Angular Dimensions.

Alternate Units

The Alternate Units tab comprises options to customize Alternate Units, Zero Suppression and Placement.

Tolerances

The Tolerances tab comprises options to customize Tolerance Format, Tolerance Alignment, Zero Suppression, Alternate Unit Tolerance, and Zero Suppression.

Other Components of Dimension Style Manager

Set Current – Makes the selected style to the current dimension style

Modify – Change the settings in a Dimension Style

Override – Override properties of Dimension Style

Compare – Compare differences between two styles

List – With this drop down list you can choose which type of styles you want to see in the Styles section.

Hope you enjoyed learning about AutoCAD Dimensions. To learn more about other aspects of AutoCAD, feel free to checkout 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD.

Single-Line Text or TEXT

Single Line Text is the most commonly used annotation in AutoCAD. Follow the steps below to create single-line text:

1. Activate the TEXT command by typing TEXT in the command line or choosing the Single Line Text option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Text > Single Line Text).
2. You have the option to choose the text location, text height, and text rotation.
3. After choosing those options type the text in the text box and press enter.
4. You will notice your text will have a grip point in the bottom left corner. You can use this grip to move the text around.

Multiline Text or MTEXT

Multiline Text or MTEXT is also a popular AutoCAD tool and has more sophisticated options than TEXT option. As the name suggests, you can have text in multiple lines, and you have many Word or Google Docs type formatting options available.

Follow the steps below to add multi-line text:

1. Activate the MTEXT command by typing MTEXT in the command line or choosing the Multiline Text option from the Ribbon (Annotate > Text > Multiline Text).
2. Specify the start point of the MText box.
3. Now you have multiple editing/formatting options to choose in the command prompt – Height, Justify, Line spacing, Rotation, Style, Width and Columns.
4. After you choose the options, select the other corner for the MTEXT box.
5. Now type the text you want in the multiline text object or MText Box.
6. Click in the drawing area to close the MText Box.
7. You will notice that MText will have more grips than Text. The grip to move MTEXT is located in the top left. The grip to change the Column Width of the MText box is located on the top right. The grip to change the Column Height of the MText box is located in the bottom center.

Double click on the Mtext to open the multiline text editor.

AutoCAD TEXT VS MTEXT

Checkout the GIF below to glean the difference between TEXT and MTEXT.

Text Editor

Once you are inside the MText, the Text Editor panel will open up. This will provide multiple formatting options pertaining to text – Style, Formatting, Paragraph, Insert, Spell Check, Tools, and Options. Below is an image of the text editor in AutoCAD.

MLeader or Multileader

MLeader is an annotation tool in AutoCAD that creates an arrow or leader lines along with text. You can modify an MLeader by adding more leaders connect to the annotation, change arrowhead shapes and update text landing position. MLeaders are handy for Engineering and Architectural drawings as you can easily different elements of a drawing. Below are the steps to insert MLeader in AutoCAD:

1. Activate the MLeader command by typing MLEADER in the command line or choosing the MLeader option in the ribbon area (Annotate > Leaders > Multileader).
2. The command line will prompt you to specify the arrowhead location. Choose a location for the arrowhead in the drawing area using the insertion point.
3. Next, the command line will prompt you to specify the leader landing location. Choose a location for the leader landing in the drawing area using the insertion point.
4. Now you can type the text in the MLeader. Once done press enter.
5. It is possible to update the arrowhead location, leader landing location, and the text in the Mleader.

Text Style

Text Styles in AutoCAD are a key to consistency and professionalism in your drawings by standardizing text. Every AutoCAD drawing has a default ‘Standard’ text style but you can create multiple styles for different purposes. Each text style can be customized by changing font type, text height, width factor and oblique angle. Maintaining the same text styles in a drawing or consistency within each category of text type will not only make the drawing more readable but also more polished. Below are the steps to add a text style in AutoCAD:

1. Open the Text Style Dialog Box (Annotate > Text > Text Style Drop Down > Manage Text Style)
2. Click on the New button and give a name to the text style.
3. In the text font section, choose the Font Name and Font Style.
4. In the size section, choose Paper Text Height. You can also choose the Annotative and Match Text Orientation to Layout.
5. In the effects section, you can choose upside down, backwards, vertical, width factor, and oblique angle.
6. Hit apply and your text style will be ready.

When you click on a text, you can see the current text style in the properties panel and in the Text Style Drop Down.

Annotative Text

Annotative Text in AutoCAD is a game changer. It manages text size, dimension size and other annotations across different viewport scales so your drawings are always readable. When you create annotative text, it adjusts itself to the viewport or model space scale without changing text heights manually or creating multiple versions of the same text. Without Annotative Text you would have to create multiple versions of the same text with different heights and on different layers. Annotative Text saves you all that hassle.

As a civil engineer working on residential, commercial, and industrial projects, I find the annotative scaling feature in AutoCAD indispensable. It adjusts text, dimensions and other annotations to the viewport scales so I don’t have to do any calculations or create duplicate text objects. You can update the annotative text scale in the properties panel (You can update many text properties in the properties panel including background masks, rotation angle, and text style).

Symbols

You can insert special symbol in AutoCAD, similar to Microsoft Word or Google Doc. Some of the symbols that you can insert in AutoCAD are degrees, plus/minus and diameter. Ready for a pro tip? Memorize the keyboard shortcut of the symbol that you use pretty often so that you do not need to insert it from the text editor every time. Below are steps to insert symbols in AutoCAD:

1. You can only insert symbols in MText. So first double click inside the MText.
2. The Text Editor will open up. Select the drop down icon on the Symbol option and choose the symbol that you want to insert.
3. You can also insert these symbols using unicode or keyboard shortcuts.

Field

Fields are dynamic texts in AutoCAD that update automatically based on the parameters set. Some of these parameters include sheet numbers, author name, length, area, date, time, and any custom properties. Fields are commonly used to add the parameters set in the Sheet Set Manager. Below are the steps to create fields in AutoCAD.

1. Type FIELD in the command line. You can also activate the field command by choosing it from the Ribbon Area (Insert > Data > Field).
2. The Field Dialog Box will open up.
3. Select the Field Name that you want to insert and then hit Ok.
4. Select a point on the drawing area where you want to insert the field using the insertion point.
5. Your field will be inserted.

Just so you know, the field text will always have a grey background mask. It is a great time saver and smart tool for updating text. In the GIF below I have inserted a field that shows the time. I also update the field to show you how a field updates dynamically.

Arc Text

The Arc Text feature in AutoCAD allows you to type the text that follows the arc path. In my engineering career, I often use the arc text feature to designate FIRE LANE in new development projects. Follow the steps below to create arc text in AutoCAD:

1. Type ARCTEXT in the command line.
2. You will be prompted to select an arc.
3. Once you select the arc, the ArcAlignedText Dialog box will open up.
4. Type in the text, and update other properties such as text height, width factor, etc. Once done hit OK.

Even after the arc text is created, you can update parameters in the properties panel and also change the arc to update the arc text. Check the arc text created in AutoCAD below:

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Convert Text to MText?

To convert text to mtext, select the text in the drawing area and then type TXT2MTEXT in the command line. The text will be converted to mtext.

How to Update Fields in AutoCAD?

You can update fields in AutoCAD by typing UPDATEFIELD in command line. All the fields in the drawing will be updated.

What are some commonly used system variable pertaining to text in AutoCAD?

TEXTSIZE, TEXTSTYLE and TEXTJUST are commonly used text system variables.

• TEXTSIZE: Sets default height of text objects
• TEXTSTYLE: Sets the current text style
• TEXTJUST: Sets default justification for single line text

I hope you enjoyed learning about text and annotation. If you wish to explore other facets of AutoCAD, feel free to checkout my blog on 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD.

While these tools seem easy at first glance, the boundaries, scale factors and pattern alignments can turn a simple task into hours of troubleshooting. In this guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about hatches and gradients – from the basics to advanced techniques even seasoned CAD professionals may have missed. Whether you’re struggling with boundary detection or want to create amazing visualization effects, you’ll never struggle with hatching again.

Hatch Command in AutoCAD

Essentially there are three major ways you can create a hatch in AutoCAD:

1. Pick Internal Point: Pick an internal point in an enclosed area to create a hatch
2. Select Objects: Select a closed, two-dimensional boundary objects to create a hatch
3. Draw it Out: Draw an area or a path hatch with this option. You can also directly create a rectangle or circle hatch as well.

I have mostly used picking an internal point and selecting an object, but drawing a hatch can be useful in certain use cases too.

How to Create Hatch using Pick Internal Points option?

Follow the steps below to create a hatch using the Pick Internal Points option in AutoCAD:

1. Activate the Hatch command by typing H or HATCH in the Command Line.
2. Select the Pick Internal Point option or type in K the Command Line and press enter.
3. Select an internal point in a closed area and your hatch will be generated.

How to Create Hatch using Select Object option?

Follow the steps below to create a hatch using the Select Object option in AutoCAD:

1. Activate the Hatch command by typing H or HATCH in the Command Line.
2. Select the Select Object option or type in S in the Command Line and press enter.
3. Select a two-dimensional object or boundary objects with closed area and your hatch will be generated.

How to Draw Hatch in AutoCAD?

Follow the steps below to draw a hatch in AutoCAD:

1. Activate the Hatch command by typing H or HATCH in the Command Line.
2. Select the Draw option or type in D in the Command Line and press enter. You can now start drawing hatched polygons which will update as you add more vertexes. There are options to create path, rectangle and circle hatches too.
3. To create a path hatch, select the mode (M) option and then choose path (P). You can revert back to Area by activating the hatch command, choosing mode option and then selecting Area (A) option.
4. To create a rectangle hatch select the Rectangle option or type R in command line and press enter.
5. To create a circle hatch, select the Circle option or type C in command line and press enter.

Hatch Creation Ribbon Area and Hatch Tools

Once you activate the Hatch Command, the Hatch Creation Panel will be visible in the Ribbon Area. Here you will have various options to edit hatches. We will explore each option in detail. Checkout the snapshot of the Hatch Creation Panel.

Hatch Boundaries Panel

The Hatch Boundaries tab will provide you with four different options:

• Pick Points: Create a Hatch by picking the Internal Point
• Select: Create a Hatch by Selecting an Object
• Remove: Remove a hatch. You can only remove hatches that were created while the Pick Points command is activate.
• Recreate: Generate a boundary for any created hatches. Another way to generate a boundary for a hatch is by selecting a hatch, right-click on it, and then select the Generate Boundary option.

Hatch Pattern Panel

In this tab, you will see various AutoCAD hatch patterns such as solid, cross, honey, hex, and more. Some of these hatches represent materials such as concrete and bricks. Click the drop-down menu to explore various hatch or fill options. To change a hatch pattern, select a generated hatch and choose the new one in the Hatch Pattern.

Hatch Properties Panel

In the Hatch Properties Panel, you can update various hatch properties.

• Pattern Type: Change the Hatch Pattern to Solid, Gradient, or User Defined
• Hatch Color: Assign hatch color By Layer, By Block, or choose a color.
• Background Color: Choose a color for the hatch’s background. You can choose to have none for the background color as well.
• Hatch Transparency: Choose a hatch transparency from 0 to 90.
• Hatch Angle: Give an Angle to the Hatch.
• Hatch Scale: Provide a Scale Factor to the Hatch.

Hatch Origin Panel

When you create a Hatch, the hatch will randomly select an origin point. However, you have the option to select the origin point so that your hatch starts at the point you select. Look at the example below. We have two earth hatches. For the hatch on the left, the origin was random, but for the hatch on the right the lower right corner was chosen as the origin. Note how the hatch on the right starts perfectly at the bottom.

There are various Hatch Origin options:

• Bottom Left
• Bottom Right
• Top Left
• Top Right
• Center
• Use Current Origin
• Store as Default Origin

Follow the steps below to set the origin for your hatch:

1. Activate the Hatch Command by typing HATCH in the command line.
2. Choose the Set Origin option from the hatch creation ribbon tab.
3. Choose the origin

Hatch Options Panel

There are several options available for hatches:

1. Associative: This option lets you decide whether the hatch updates when the hatch boundary is updated.
2. Annotative: Automatically updates the hatch scale with the scale of the viewport.
3. Match Properties: There are two options to match properties:
   • Use the Current Origin Point: Matches the properties of a hatch except the hatch origin.
   • Use Source Hatch Origin: Matches the properties of a hatch including the hatch origin.
4. Gap Tolerance: This sets the maximum size of gap that can be ignored when creating a hatch. You can update the gap tolerance by typing HPGAPTOL variable in the command line and then updating the gap tolerance. By default the gap tolerance is 0 and you can set a gap tolerance of upto 5000 units.
5. Separate Hatches: When you use the HATCH command, AutoCAD allows you to select multiple closed boundaries at once. By default, AutoCAD creates one unified hatch that fills all the selected areas—think of it as one big hatch that happens to fill several spaces. The Separate Hatches option breaks the one big hatch into multiple hatches based on different closed boundaries. This becomes important when you need to modify specific areas later, as separate hatches can be edited individually without affecting other hatched areas in your drawing. The separate hatch option will only appear when you select a hatch created by hatching multiple closed boundaries simultaneously.
6. Island Detection Options: This may sound tricky, but it is very helpful if you grasp it. For this option, I have put the exact words as you will find when you move your mouse over different options. AutoCAD does a great job describing each option. Tip: You can scroll your cursor/mouse over any option in the Ribbon and other parts of AutoCAD, and you will see a description of what it is.
   • Normal Island Detection: Automatically hatches islands inward from the area specified by the hatch pick point.
   • Outer Island Detection: Hatches only the area between the outer hatch boundary and any interior islands relative to the location of the hatch pick point.
   • Ignore Island Detection: Automatically hatches islands inward from the area specified by the hatch pick point.
7. Draw Order: Choose what happens to the Draw Order of the hatch from the following options:
   • Do Not Change
   • Send to Back
   • Bring to Front
   • Send Behind Boundary
   • Bring in Front of Boundary

Hatch Edit Dialog Box

To open the Hatch Edit Dialog Box, type Hatch in the command line and then choose the settings option or type T in the command line. In the Hatch Settings Dialogue Box, you can update as follows:

• Type and Pattern
• Angle and Scale
• Hatch Origin
• Boundaries
• Annotative
• Associative
• Create Separate Hatches
• Draw Order
• Layer
• Transparency
• Inherit Properties

Creating Gradients in AutoCAD

The Gradient command works similar to the hatch command. Activate the gradient command by typing GRADIENT in the command line. You can then create a gradient by Pick Internal Point, Select Object, or Draw command.

How to Convert Hatch into Gradient?

First select the hatch object that you want to convert to a gradient. The Hatch Editor Panel will be displayed. In the Properties Panel, change the Hatch Type to Gradient. You can now update the color 1, color 2, pattern, tint percentage and origin (center or not).

Gradient Settings

To open the Gradient Edit Dialogue Box, type Gradient in the command line and then choose settings option or type T in command line. In the Gradient Settings Dialogue Box you can update as follows:

• Color
• Orientation
• Boundaries
• Annotative
• Associative
• Create Separate Hatches
• Draw Order
• Layer
• Transparency
• Inherit Properties

Frequently Asked Question

How to Trim a Hatch in AutoCAD?

You cannot trim a hatch like you trim a line. You will need to generate a boundary of the hatch objects, trim and update the boundaries, and then create the hatch again with the new boundary.

A Boundary looks closed but I am still unable to hatch it. What to do?

Increase the gap tolerance and ensure the endpoints are snapping at the vertexes. In some cases, AutoCAD will create a temporary red circle on the vertices that are not connected. If you have a closed area created by multiple lines (not a connected polyline), then use BPoly to generate a connected closed boundary and hatch using the select line object (in case pick internal point is not working).

How to create User Defined Hatch Patterns?

To create a user defined hatch pattern in AutoCAD, you will need to create a PAT file that defines the custom hatch and then install it in AutoCAD. You can learn more on how to install the pat files or the User Defined Hatch Patterns here.

Hope you enjoyed learned about hatches and gradient. If you wish to explore other facets of AutoCAD, feel free to checkout my blog on 25 Foundational Concepts of AutoCAD.

Checkout Layers

You can checkout the list of all layers in a snapshot by clicking on the Layer drop down menu in the Layer Tab (Home > Layer > Layer Drop Down Menu). Here you will see layers list and be able to edit some properties such as turn a layer on/off, freeze/thaw a layer/ lock/unlock a layer, and change color of a layer.

The AutoCAD Layer Properties Manager

To get more detailed information and layer editing options, click on the Layer Properties Manager in the Layer Tab. You can also type LAYER in the command line to open the Layer Properties Manager. To me, the Layer Properties Manager is the layer control panel. It has a lot of features which I will be going in later parts of the blog.

Creating a New Layer

There are two major ways to create new layers in AutoCAD:
– Home > Layer Tab > Layer Properties Manager > New Layer
– When in the the Layer Properties Manager, you can create a new layer by using the keyboard shortcut Alt+N.

Renaming a Layer

There are two major ways to rename a layer in AutoCAD:
– Right click on the layer in the Layer Properties Manager and click on Rename Layer.
– Click once on the Layer Name that you want to change and you will be able to rename the later.

AutoCAD Layer Naming Conventions

While you are free to name your layer as you wish there are United States National CAD Standards which provides guidelines to name layers in AutoCAD. In my professional career, I have always seen Civil Engineers, Architects, Landscape Architects, Surveyors, and other professionals following these standards to help ensure efficient management of these layers. Some of the layer naming guidelines are summarized below:

1. A layer name will follow a standard template of Discipline – Major Group – Minor Group – Status.
2. The Disciple will be 1-2 letters from A to Z and each group of letter(s) will correspond with each disciple. For example letter A corresponds to Architectural, letter C corresponds to Civil and E corresponds to Electrical.
3. The Major Group and Minor Group should ideally have 4 characters. In my professional journey, I have generally seen 4 characters for the major groups but once in a while do see more than 4 characters for the minor group.
4. Status refers to which stage or phase the project is. As a civil engineer, I usually put some survey layers on Demo Layers by adding a D suffix to objects that are going to be demolished. This helps me freeze the demo layers in the proposed plans.

Deleting a Layer

There are three major ways to delete a layer in AutoCAD:
– Home > Layer Tab > Layers Drop Down Menu > Delete (Note: The layer drop down menu and layers drop down menu are two different things).
– Type in LAYDEL in the command line and then follow the prompts to delete a layer.
– When in the the Layer Properties Manager, simply click on the Delete Layer button.

Assigning Color to a Layer

The goal of assigning color to layers in AutoCAD is to help differentiate objects on different layers. The plot style of a layer will differ from the plot style of the layer. Below are two major ways to assign color to a layer:
– Home > Layer Tab > Layer Drop Down Menu > Color of a Layer > Assign a Color
– Layer Properties Manager > Color > Assign a Color

Assigning Line Type to a Layer

You can assign line types to layers to help distinguish objects on a plan. On civil and survey plans a thick Phantom line type is generally used for property lines. You can change the line type of a layer in the Layer Properties Manager.

Assigning Light Weight to a Layer

To help distinguish objects further, line weight can be added to layers. Objects with thicker line weight will stand out more than objects with thinner line weight. You choose line weight from 0.00 mm to 2.11 mm. It is also possible to set a default line weight and choose the default line weight option for a layer. The default line weight can be updated using the LWDEFAULT system variable. You can change the line weight of a layer in the Layer Properties Manager.

Assigning Transparency to a Layer

You can set a transparency to a layer from 0% (no transparency) to 90%. Usually the XREF layers have certain transparency associated with them to help the layers in the current drawing stand out. You can change the transparency of a layer in the Layer Properties Manager.

Turning a Layer Off

When you turn off a layer, the objects on that layer will no longer be visible in the model space and also the viewport. Turning off a layer is useful to temporarily operations. AutoCAD will still account for the objects that are turned off when regenerating the view. Below are steps to turn a layer off:
– Home Tab > Layer Tab > Layer Drop Down Menu > Turn a Layer Off
– Layer Properties Manager > Turn Layer Off

Turning a Layer On

You can turn on the layers using the two methods below:
– Home Tab > Layer Tab > Layer Drop Down Menu > Turn a Layer On
– Layer Properties Manager > Turn Layer On

Freeze a Layer

Similar to turning off a layer, when you freeze a layer, it will no longer be visible in the model space. The additional benefit of freezing a layer is that once you freeze a layer, AutoCAD will not account the frozen layers in its memory. This will make other operations faster and provide you a smooth user experience. Below are two major ways to freeze layers:
– Home Tab > Layer Tab > Freeze
– Layer Properties Manager > Freeze

Thaw a Layer

To unfreeze a lay, you will need to thaw a layer. Below are ways to thaw layers:
– Thaw all layers: Home Tab > Layer Tab > Thaw All Layers
– Thaw selected Layer: Layer Properties Manager > Thaw Layer

Viewport Freeze a Layer

It is possible to freeze a layer in a selected viewport. You can freeze layers in viewport by going inside a viewport, activating freeze command, and selecting layers to freeze. When you are in paper space, you will notice that the Layer Properties Manager will have an additional option – VP Freeze. You can VP freeze layers in the panel by clicking on VP freeze option associated with that layer. The picture below was taken in Paper Space so there is a VP Freeze option in the Layer Drop Down Menu.

Viewport Thaw a Layer

To thaw certain layers that were frozen in the viewport, simply click on VP freeze option again. You will see that the icon will change from a snowflake inside a viewport to sun inside a viewport.

Isolate a Layer

Isolating a layer or group of layers is useful when you solely want to work on objects on certain layers. Simply select the layer(s) you want to isolate and type LAYISO in command line. Alternatively, you can also click on the Isolate icon on the Layer Tab.

Unisolate a Layer

Isolating a layer or group of layers is useful when you solely want to work on objects on certain layers. Simply type LAYUNISO in command line. Alternatively, you can also click on the Unisolate icon on the Layer Tab.

Locking a Layer

If you want to ensure no further changes happen to a layer, you can lock a layer. Below are two ways to lock a layer:
– Home Tab > Layer Tab > Layer Drop Down Menu > Lock a Layer
– Layer Properties Manager > Lock

Unlocking a Layer

If you want to make edits on layers that are locked, you will need to unlock them. Below are two ways to lock a layer:
– Home Tab > Layer Tab > Layer Drop Down Menu > Unlock a Layer
– Layer Properties Manager > Unlock

Locked Layer Fading

If you want to help distinguish locked and unlocked layer, you can add transparency on locked layers. Follow the steps below to fade locked layers:
– Home Tab > Layer Tab > Layers Drop Down Menu > Locked Layer Fading > Add Transparency %

Make Current Layer

The Make Current Layer feature is used change set the current layer to that of the selected object. Simply select an object and type LAYMCUR or choose the Make Current Layer option the the Layer Tab.

Set Current Layer

You can change the current layer in the Layer Properties Manager by selecting a layer and then choosing the Set Current button. You can also ALT+C keyboard shortcut after you select a layer in the Layer Properties Manager or simply double click on the status select of a layer (the icon will change from a blue parallelogram to green check mark).

Match a Layer to Another

Match Layer feature is used to match an object’s layer to an object set to another layer. You can activate this command by clicking on the Match Layer icon in the Layer Tab or typing LAYMCH in the command line. First select the object whose layer you want to change. Then select the object which is on the layer that you want and then press enter.

Set Layer to No Plot

It is a standard practice to use construction lines or other reference objects while drafting. These objects are helpful to draft but you may not want them to plot. It is a standard practice to put these objects on a separate layer and then set the layer to not plot in the Layer Properties Manager.

Search for a Layer in Layer Properties Manager

When in a Layer Properties Manager, you can search for layers in the Search For Layer panel/bar. This search bar will only show the layer whose name matches exactly with your search. If you want to search for a layers with a specific keyword in it, add the asterisk symbol in front and end of your search. This will give you all the layers that have that phrase in it.

Add Description to a Layer

In the Layer Properties Manager, you can add a description for each layer. This is a good practice for ensuring organizing but not on top of my list.

Property Filter for Layers

The property filter is used to filter layers based on one or more properties. Click on the New Property Filter button to get started or use the keyboard shortcut of ALT+P.

Group Filter for Layers

You can create a group filter by selecting the set of layers you want in that group. Click on the New Group Filter button to get started or use the keyboard shortcut of ALT+G.

Invert Filter for Layers

When you check the invert filter option, you will see the list of layers that do not meet the current filter filter criteria.

Refresh the Layer Properties Manager

Updates the layers and their properties in the Layer Properties Manager by scanning all entities in the drawing.

Layer Settings

You can edit the following settings in the Layer Settings Dialogue Box:

• New Layer Notification
• Isolate Layer Settings
• XREF Layer Settings
• Override Display Settings
• Dialog Settings

Previous

To undo last few changes to the layer setting click on the Previous icon the Layer Tab or activating the LAYERP command.

Change to Current Layer

To change the layer of the selected object to the current layer, use the Change to Current Layer feature. Use the LAYCUR command or click on the command icon in Layer Tab.

Copy Objects to New Layer

This feature is used when you want to duplicate objects and be able to put them on a separate layer. Use this feature by activating COPYTOLAYER command or clicking on the command icon in the Layer Tab.

Layer Walk

This tool is pretty cool and you definitely gotta check it out. I have been using AutoCAD for over 8 years and did not know about this command until I started writing this blog post. When you activate the layer walk, the Layer Walk Dialogue Box opens up with a list of all layers in that drawing. When you select a layer, you will see objects on that layer and objects on other layers will be hidden. You can activate it by LAYWALK command or clicking on the Lay Walk icon in the Layer Tab.

VP Freeze in all Viewports except Current

This command does exactly what is sounds like – VP Freezes a Layer in all viewports except the current one. You can activate it by typing LAYVPI in the command line or by clicking the command button on the layer tab.

Merge Layers

Merging layers is helpful when you want to reduce the total number of layers in your drawing. You can activate the command by typing LAYMRG in the command line or click on the merge button Layer Tab.

This was probably a long read for you and congratulations for making it here. While I covered a bunch of features pertaining to Layer Tools in AutoCAD, there is still more. You can override properties of objects on certain layers, modify layer properties on objects on XREF, create Layer States and even have different plot styles for different layers. Checkout my other AutoCAD blogs to learn more!