How Do You Make an Irregular Viewport?

To create an irregular viewport, you convert a geometric object drawn in paper space into a layout viewport with a non-rectangular boundary.

An irregular viewport allows you to display a portion of your model space drawing within a layout using a shape other than the standard rectangle. This is useful for highlighting specific areas or creating visually unique layouts.

According to the reference, you can achieve this by converting a geometric object created in paper space into a layout viewport using the MVIEW or -VPORTS command.

Here's a breakdown of the process:

Steps to Create an Irregular Viewport

1. Switch to Paper Space: Ensure you are in the layout tab where you want to create the irregular viewport.
2. Draw the Boundary Shape: In paper space, draw a closed geometric object that will define the shape of your irregular viewport. This can be a:
   • Circle
   • Ellipse
   • Polygon (closed polyline)
   • Any closed curve or shape
   • (Note: Lines or open polylines cannot be used directly; they must form a closed boundary)
3. Use the MVIEW Command: Access the MVIEW command.
   • Type MVIEW and press Enter.
   • Among the options presented, look for the option related to converting an object.
4. Select the Object Option: Choose the 'Object' option (or similar phrasing depending on the software version).
5. Select the Geometric Object: Click on the closed geometric object you drew in step 2.

The software will then convert that geometric object into an active layout viewport, displaying your model space content within its boundaries.

Alternatively, you can use the command line version:

Using the -VPORTS Command

1. Switch to Paper Space.
2. Draw the desired closed geometric shape in paper space.
3. Type -VPORTS and press Enter (note the hyphen, which often indicates the command-line version).
4. Select the 'Object' option.
5. Select the geometric object you drew.

This method achieves the same result, creating a non-rectangular viewport based on your selected shape.

Key Considerations

• The original geometric object is consumed by the process and becomes the viewport boundary.
• The new viewport will display your model space view. You can then activate the viewport to zoom, pan, and set the scale of the model space content inside it, just like a regular rectangular viewport.
• The irregular boundary only affects how the model space is clipped and displayed in the layout; it doesn't change the model space drawing itself.

By following these steps and utilizing the MVIEW or -VPORTS command to convert a geometric object created in paper space, you can successfully create viewports with non-rectangular or "irregular" boundaries.