To create a viewport (or "window") in an AutoCAD layout, follow these steps:
-
Switch to the layout tab: Click on the layout tab at the bottom of the AutoCAD interface where you want to create your viewport. This switches you from model space to paper space.
-
Access the View Gallery: On the "Layout" tab of the ribbon, in the "Layout Viewports" panel, click the dropdown arrow to reveal a gallery of viewport options. Alternatively, you can type
MVin the command line and press Enter. -
Insert a New Model View: Select "Insert New Model View" from the gallery, or directly draw a rectangle in the layout.
-
Specify Viewport Corners: Click two points on the layout to define the rectangular area for your viewport. This creates the "window" through which you'll view your model.
-
Adjust the View and Scale (optional): After creating the viewport, double-click inside it to enter model space within that viewport. You can then pan and zoom to adjust the view of your model. To set a specific scale, use the zoom command (e.g.,
ZOOM 1XPfor a 1:1 scale). You can also use the Properties palette to set the viewport scale.
Explanation:
AutoCAD layouts are designed for creating printed drawings. Viewports allow you to display different views of your 3D model or 2D drawings from model space within a single layout. You can have multiple viewports in a single layout, each showing a different view or portion of your model at different scales.
Key Considerations:
- Viewport Layers: Viewports reside on a layer. It's common practice to put them on a dedicated layer (e.g., "Viewport") which can be turned off for plotting, preventing the viewport boundary from printing.
- Viewport Scale: Setting the correct viewport scale is crucial for producing accurate drawings.
- Locking Viewports: Locking a viewport prevents accidental changes to the view or scale. You can lock/unlock a viewport through its properties.
- Viewport Shapes: While most viewports are rectangular, you can create non-rectangular viewports using the
VPCLIPcommand.
