How to Edit Layout Size in AutoCAD?

Editing "layout size" in AutoCAD can refer to a few different things, most commonly: changing the overall paper size of the layout tab, adjusting the size of a layout viewport boundary, or modifying the scale at which your model appears within a viewport.

Let's look at how to accomplish these tasks, including adjusting the viewport scale as described in the reference.

Changing Viewport Scale

The viewport scale determines the ratio between the units in your model space and the units on your paper in the layout. Adjusting this changes how large your drawing appears within the viewport boundary on the paper.

Here are the steps to change the viewport scale, incorporating information from the provided reference:

1. Select the Viewport: Click on the border of the layout viewport you want to modify. Grips will appear on the border when it is selected.
2. Open Properties: With the viewport selected, right-click and choose Properties, or type PROPERTIES and press Enter, to open the Properties panel (if it's not already open). You can also click the Properties tab within the ribbon if available in your workspace.
3. Choose Viewport Scale: In the Properties panel, locate the Viewport Scale section.
4. Select a Scale: Click the dropdown list under "Standard scale" or "Custom scale" and choose a desired scale from the list of options (e.g., 1:1, 1:10, 1/4" = 1'-0"). AutoCAD will automatically adjust the display of your model within the viewport to reflect the chosen scale.

• Tip: Ensure the viewport is locked (Display locked set to Yes in Properties) after setting the scale to prevent accidental zooming that would change the scale.

Changing Layout Paper Size

This modifies the actual sheet size of your layout tab, which affects the printable area.

1. Go to the layout tab you want to modify.
2. Right-click on the layout tab name (at the bottom of the AutoCAD window).
3. Select Page Setup Manager....
4. In the Page Setup Manager dialog box, select the current page setup and click Modify....
5. In the Page Setup dialog box, under the "Paper size" section, choose the desired paper size from the dropdown list (e.g., ARCH D (36.00 x 24.00 Inches), ISO A3 (420.00 x 297.00 MM)).
6. Click OK on both dialog boxes.

• Note: Changing the paper size may require repositioning your viewports and title block.

Changing Viewport Boundary Size

This changes the physical dimensions of the viewport object on the layout paper, affecting how much of the model space is potentially visible. It does not change the viewport scale itself, though you may need to adjust the scale afterward to fit the desired view.

There are a couple of ways to resize a viewport boundary:

• Using Grips: Select the viewport border. Click and drag the square grips that appear on the corners and midpoints of the border to stretch or shrink the viewport boundary.
• Using Properties: Select the viewport border. In the Properties panel, under the "Geometry" section, you can manually enter specific values for "Width" and "Height".

Summary of Layout Size Aspects

Here's a quick overview of the different ways to modify "layout size":

Aspect	What it Changes	How to Do It	Covered by Reference?
Layout Paper Size	The size of the layout sheet	Page Setup Manager	No
Viewport Boundary	The physical dimensions of the box	Grips, Properties panel (Geometry)	No
Viewport Scale	Model appearance size within viewport	Properties panel (Viewport Scale)	Yes

Understanding these distinctions will help you effectively manage your layouts and prepare drawings for plotting. For more detailed information on layout settings, you can always consult the official AutoCAD Help documentation.