Autocad – automatic scaling of lines, texts, dimensions in paper: Annotative styles

Let’s learn together how to automatically scale each element of the drawing, without becoming crazy and saving a lot of time when you use the paper space.

• 0 – set the drawing
• 1 – Automatic scaling of the lines
• 2 – Automatic scaling of the text
• 3 – Automatic scaling of the dimensions
• 4 – Automatic scaling of the objects
• 5 – Automatic scaling of the hatches

0 – set the drawing

Preliminary operations to do, otherwise you can become crazy to try understand why it does not work.

• write UNITS in the command bar and enter
• set millimiters. Standard layouts and scale in autocad are set in millimeters, so it is easier to start with this.
• set your Annotation scale, which means: in your model how do you want to see the lines-texts and so on scaled? In my case 1:50 (image above).
• switch on the annotation icons: the first one from the left is necessary. The second one with the flash I suggest you to switch it on only if you want every object available in every scale always (because it will create the scales, you will see), otherwise switch it off.

1 – Automatic scaling of the lines

How to obtain always the same empty space in dashed line, no matter the scale of the viewport? Follow these steps:

1. write LT and enter it in the command line
2. check the box for use paper space units for scaling (1st image above)
3. write PSLTSCALE in the command bar and enter (2nd image)
4. enter the value 1 (to learn why to use this value, read below)
5. regen in the paper space to see the result correctly scaled

Please note: you should use PSLTSCALE=0 when you don’t want to have scaled lines in the viewport in the paper space, but you want to see them as you see it in the model.
You should use PSLTSCALE=1 – as in this case – when you want to have scalable lines, depending the scale you have in the viewport.

Here you can find the result. The lines will have the same ratio of empty and solid part.

2 – Automatic scaling of the text

1. go to Annotate click in the first diagonal arrow to create a new text style (1st image)
2. create or modify a new style and pay attention to these two values (2nd image): check Annotative; write the Paper Text Height: the height you want to obtain in the paper, no matter the scale of the viewport, in this case: 2.
3. Each Annotative object should be set for the scale of use (image 3). For example, if you need to have the word “entrance” in a plan, both in 1:50 and 1:20 scale, you should add 1:100 and 1:50. See how below:

4. Click in Annotative scale, in the properties of the object. And add the scale you need. For example this text is scalable in all the scales listed (see the two images above).
5. For those scale who are not listed, the text will not appear (for example 1:30 in the example above). This is important because it is convenient for you to leave/add only useful scales. See the third image… for details you don’t need a very big text, so I will enter the annotation scale and leave only 1:2 scale.

Result of these steps: the word INGRESSO – made with this annotative method – has the same final height in the paper, while for example the symbol of the window is not correctly set.

3 – Automatic scaling of the dimensions

Similar steps are necessary also for the dimensions.

1. go to Annotate click in the diagonal arrow of the Dimensions menu (1st image)
2. create or modify a dimensions style and go to Fit
3. check Annotative (2nd image)
4. if you want you can set an annotative text (as you already created in the 2nd part of this guide) but it is not demanding
5. As for the text, even the dimensions can be set for the scale you will need them. Go to properties Annotative scale and choose the scale for which they are made for.
6. A tip (useful also for the text category), to be faster: if you want to have a dimension finalized for a certain scale – example 1:100 – you can draw in the model by clicking annotative scale 1:100, so all the new dimensions will be automatically set for that purpose, avoiding to add manually later in properties the right scale.

You can see below the result, and LAST TIP:

• if the dimensions are too close only in one of the scales involved, you can adjust the position without compromising the position for another scale – just by stretching the dimension itself. See the example:

4 – Automatic scaling of the objects

Very useful, it allows you to create symbols/blocks/objects that can be scaled automatically:

1. set the Annotation scale 1:1 in the Model
2. draw the object with the dimensions you desire in the PAPER SPACE: for example a North symbol with the diameter of a centimeter
3. add the text with the command from INSERT -> DEFINE ATTRIBUTES (1st image)
4. complete the Attribute Definition by checking VERIFY
5. create the block by adding both the drawing and the text/attribute created. Important: FLAG THE ANNOTATIVE box. Click ok
6. Add the correct scale to your objects, in the property as done before

Now also the symbols/blocks have the same scalability.

5 – Automatic scaling of the hatches

Very very easy:

1. set the Annotation scale 1:1 in the Model
2. create a new hatch by dimensioning it as you would like to see it in the PAPER SPACE
3. check Annotative box
4. add the annotative scale you need in the property box

Thanks a lot to this guide of OSNAP: https://youtu.be