How Do I Change the Global Width of a Rectangle in AutoCAD?

In AutoCAD, rectangles are often created as Polylines, which have a property called Global width. Changing the global width of a rectangle means modifying this specific property of the Polyline object that forms the rectangle. You can effectively change the thickness or width of all segments of the rectangle simultaneously using this feature.

There are two primary methods to change the global width of a rectangle (Polyline) in AutoCAD, as referenced:

Method 1: Using the PEDIT Command

The PEDIT command is specifically designed for editing Polylines, including modifying their width.

1. Start the Command: Type PEDIT (or PE) in the command line and press Enter.
2. Select the Rectangle: Select the rectangle (Polyline) you want to modify. If the object is not already a Polyline, AutoCAD might prompt you to convert it. Confirm if necessary.
3. Choose the Width Option: After selecting the Polyline, you will see various options in the command line. Type W (for Width) and press Enter.
4. Enter New Width: The command line will prompt you to "Specify new width for all segments". Enter the desired global width value (e.g., 0.5, 1, 2) and press Enter.

The rectangle's line weight will instantly update to the new global width you specified.

Method 2: Using the Properties Palette

The Properties palette provides a centralized place to view and change the properties of selected objects, including the global width of a Polyline.

1. Open Properties Palette: Select the rectangle you want to modify. Then, open the Properties palette by pressing Ctrl+1 on your keyboard or typing PROPERTIES and pressing Enter.

2. Locate Global Width: In the Properties palette window, look for the "Geometry" section.

3. Modify Global Width Value: Within the Geometry section, find the "Global width" property. Click on the value next to it and enter your desired width.

   Property	Section	Action
   Global width	Geometry	Enter desired value

4. Apply Changes: Press Enter or click anywhere outside the input field within the palette.

The rectangle's width will update according to the new value entered in the Properties palette.

Both methods allow you to quickly change the overall thickness of the lines forming the rectangle by modifying the width value using the PEDIT command or Properties palette (Ctrl+1), as described in the reference. This is a convenient way to control the visual emphasis of rectangular shapes in your drawing.