4 AutoCAD Viewport Tips: Configurations, Irregular, Clip, and Scale

AutoCAD viewports are extremely helpful. You can view many area of your drawings in model space, and you can arrange your drawings quickly in layout. Here are some tips that you may have overlooked.

Tip #1: Using Viewport Configurations

Do you need to create multiple viewports at once? You can do it by creating it one-by-one, or create one then copy or array it. But do you know that you can use predefined configurations?

Go to view tab, click new.

You will see the same good friend that you can use to configure viewports in model space. Yes, you can use it in layout too. One option that is useful here is viewport spacing. This will create the viewports with some spacing between them. You can also use named viewports to do this. Unfortunately, named viewports don’t allow you to set spacing.

Click OK and place them.

Tip #2: Creating Irregular Viewports

Do you need to create irregular viewports? I mean not only rectangular, but maybe circles, polygons, etc? You can do it using create polygonal or create from object.

Using create polygonal is just the same with using polyline tool, but you have to create a closed polygon. Create from object can be used for closed objects like circles, polygons, and even ellipse!

Tip #3: Clip Viewport

Now, what if you already have viewport and want to convert it to other shape? You can use clip.

After activating this tool, choose the viewport then choose the polygon.

I don’t think there is a restriction about this tool. The new boundary can be anywhere, doesn’t have to be inside or intersect existing viewport.

Tip #4: Scaling Viewport by Choosing from Scale List

I remember when I had to use zoom scale, then typing nX or nXP. I wish this feature exist at that time! You can select viewport(s) and then change the scale using standard scale in your scale list. You can choose it from viewports toolbar (which I prefer)

Or you can use viewports scale on status bar. It’s at the bottom left of your screen.

Additional Tips:

1. If you use ribbon interface, you can load viewports toolbar by typing –TOOLBAR then VIEWPORTS
2. You can add or remove standard scale with SCALELISTEDIT

Animation

Want to see the tips in action?

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Solution Consultant in Datech Solutions, Tech Data Indonesia. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
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