I need help with AutoCAD

Factual Questions
1

I’m working on a term project using AutoCAD, and it is giving me trouble that I don’t know how to solve. I know there are a few AutoCAD experts on here, and I’d really appreciate your help!

The issue I’m having is with Layouts- they just don’t work!

Here is what I do each time;

I open AutoCAD (I have the Civil3D version, but I’m only using the basic Classic AutoCAD functions), and choose the acadiso template as required for this course. I then set units (mm) and set my drawing limits. I want to draw in 1:50 scale, on A4/8.5x11 paper, so I set my limits as lower left corner: 0,0 and upper right corner as : 14850, 10500.

Then I set up Dimension Style; In the FIT tab, I set an overall scale of 50, and in the Primary Units I leave the Scale factor as 1. Other than the font choice, I don’t change anything else here.

At this point I either draw an object or my whole image, depends what I’m doing.
As I understand it, I should now be able to draw a line, saying 4000mm, and the line shown will be 1/50th of 4000mm, on paper, if I set up the Layout properly.

So I go to Tools>Wizard>Create Layout

I select a name, then my printer, then Letter (millimeters), then Landscape, then no Title block (I will insert another later -but that’s a whole other problem), then when it asks for Viewport Scale, it all goes to hell. Selecting 1:50, as I was taught, doesn’t work, I just get a blank sheet as my layout. Selecting Scaled to Fit shows me my image, but that’s not what we need.

I have tried every variation in the list, but my object won’t show up, and it won’t show up the right size! What’s bothering me is that I’ve done this before, and as far as I can tell, I haven’t changed a thing in the way I ask AutoCAD to set up a layout, but clearly something is going wrong.

Regarding the title block, we have a template from the prof that “should” fit an 8.5x11 paper, but it never does, and I have no clue whatsoever what options should be clicked on or off to get it to not be a teeny tiny little box. Sometimes it fits, sometimes it’s huge, sometimes it’s tiny, and I don’t know why!

I enjoy this course, but I HATE the way we are being taught; that is, I hate having to learn a complex software like this on my own!

I appreciate any help you can give me! Thanks ahead of time!

2

All drawings are drawn in full scale. they are plotted in whatever scale you want.Thats why you can insert other drawings into your drawing seamlessly…

3

check out this site:
http://discussion.autodesk.com/index2.jspa?categoryID=8

there is a list of forums for specific versions of Autocad. Your question is appropriate for the the “Drafting techniques” forum,(scroll down near the bottom of the list )

4

To clarify, you draw in full scale in model space. To view it properly on the screen, then, you zoom out.

In paper space (which is where you deal with layouts), you can assign a scaling factor to a given viewing pane.

Then when you plot (i.e. print), you typically plot from paper space at a 1:1 scale, unless you are plotting a full size set of plans on 11x17 paper, for instance.

5

Say I need to draw a rectangle, 2 meters x 1 meter, but I want it printed in 1:50 scale.

I draw lines that are 2000mm and 1000mm respectively. I have my rectangle.

Now I want it on an 8.5x11" paper, in 1:50 scale.

I should be able to create a layout using the Wizard, and simply selecting 1:50 for the viewport, right?

I can’t do that. I tried 1:1, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:1_5, etc; the only thing that let me see my drawing on the paperspace AT ALL was “Shrink to Fit”. Otherwise all I ever get is a blank page. Restarting the software hasn’t changed anything.
I’ve actually just restarted my drawing completely. I was 2.5 hours into it, so I’m very annoyed. This second time around, it has allowed me to see the picture in paperspace, but AFAICT, I didn’t do anything differently at all. I just don’t understand what setting I’m selecting or not selecting differently each time.

6

I don’t know if this helps, but I’ve always plotted from the paperspace at 1:1, and set the scale factor in each viewport by using the scale function. The format for that was to use the following for the scale factor ‘1/48xp’ (for 1/4"=1’ scale) and’1/96xp’ (for a 1/8"=1’ scale). That way I could used different scaling factors for each plotted sheet. That way I could show a floorplan at 1/8"=1’ scale, and a detail at 1/4’=1’ scale on the same page.

7

If it makes you feel any better, that is probably the most commonly screwed up thing in AutoCAD. I worked for an engineering manager about 15 years ago who was a working manager, and pretty good at what he did as an engineer. But every time he was working through the model space / paper space thing, he had to call me into his office to go over it again.

-rainy

8

When starting over, everything seemed to work. So at least for my homework, I’m managing, but I do wish I could understand this software better.

Now, the fun part, is that it turns out that the version we were given (a CD) is only good for 30 days, and we CANNOT register it as students (as we were told). So now I have to download the “educational” version from the Autodesk website, and all I can do is desperately hope that when I reopen my files, they won’t be all screwed up. I do NOT want to spend the rest of the week in the school labs!

The scale/layouts/paperspace stuff IS screwy; it seem like we have to tell AutoCAD 386238 different times what scale we want. It’s annoying.

Here’s another question; is it at all possible to import a given layer(s) from one dwg file to another? I want to reuse the same elements, and I don’t believe that Autodesk didn’t think of how to do that!

Thanks for your help!

9

it’s easy. one way is to set up a template drawing (which Autocad uses automatically every time you start it up.)

Or if you already have a complex drawing and want to insert 50 layers at once, use a block. Create a drawing called my-stuff.dwg with all your layers in it,but nothing else (orl, maybe one little line or point). Then , in the complex drawing you are working on, just insert the block named my-stuff.

10

I’m glad you seem to have worked out your problems. Reading through your description, it sounded like you were doing everything right. However, I’d highly recommend inserting your titleblock into paperspace as soon as you’ve defined your layout. This will give you a better sense of scale and help you properly size your viewport and lay out your drawing. Remember, everything should be drawn to 1:1 scale with your drawing in modelspace and your titleblock in paperspace.

No worries there. The DWG format is compatible between all the various versions of AutoCAD.

Like rainy said, it really can get confusing for newbies. You just have to keep at it. Eventually, you’ll get it.

The simplest method to do this is just to copy and paste your elements into the new drawing. Their layer properties and status will also be copied over as well. If you need to re-use these elements often, then you should create a block which you can insert as many times as required. If you wish to do something like, say, insert a site plan over top of a topographic map, then you could use xrefs (external references). This is more complicated, but it would allow you to reference the same base elements over and over again in different drawings.

11

If I was just a few lessons further on, I might be able to help. Sorry. :slight_smile:

12

I’m glad that you’ve solved the problem, because I typed an answer yesterday and then deleted it, knowing that you are working in metric. I can work easily with standard US units (what Autodesk calls Imperial), but metric is different if you are doing site plans (I assume you are, using Civil3D). It has to do with the border using millimeters as units, and the site using meters as units. Scaling becomes one extra step. The advice given to you previously is good. Put your border/title block in the layout tab (paperspace) at 1:1. Create a viewport, and set the scale to what you want. Everything in modelspace should be drawn at full scale.

Try typing ADCENTER. The two letter alias DC may work as well. It should bring up a flyout. Follow the directory tree to the drawing you want. You can select fonts, linetypes, layers, blocks, dimension styles, etc. I set up a template drawing with my standard layers, fonts and dimensions at my typically used scales. Select them from the right window and right click.

Good luck.

13

Thanks for all your advice. I’m going to try and use as much of it as I can, but I’m constantly being forced to deal with even stupider issues; I added dimensions to an otherwise completed drawing, and half my drawing disappeared!!! I have no idea where it went, since none of my layers are turned off, and I literally did nothing other than add dimensions… I closed and reloaded my file, which brought my lines back, but I have to redimension the whole thing again.
.

Even creating a new laoyout; I added the template we have been using for the past 2 months on assignments (a title block) and for 20 minutes it wouldn’t let me explode it and edit it. What finally worked? Deleting it for the 18th time and adding it again the same way I had been!!! ARRRGGGHHHH!!

I am so on the edge of tears here! I HATE having to do everything 853262374 times, and so far, that has been my AutoCAD experience. What the hell is wrong with this bloody piece of software that it can’t follow it’s own instructions?!?!?!?!

14

I am sorry you are having so much trouble. I only ever work in model space, so that’s why I didn’t try to answer your original question.

Here’s a helpful tip: try using the “undo” command in a case like I quoted above. Just type the word “undo” at the command line and it will then ask you how many operations you’d like to undo. That’s very helpful to me when I commit an “uh-oh!”.

ETA: Does the computer you are using have adequate memory? I wonder if some of these problems are caused by your computer “freezing up” due to lack of memory.

15

I use the undo command (and button) a LOT. It wasn’t a case of something being deleted, it was just AutoCAD messing up. As soon as I reloaded the file, everything was back to normal.

I’m running it in XP with 1GB of RAM… I just looked up the minimum requirements, and it seems they recommend 2GB, though. I guess that’s the problem, though I didn’t seem to have this problem with the 30-day version that I just deleted. That was a whole other nightmare; I was completely unable to uninstall the old version - I spent 2 hours trying to do it, and finally just chucked everything into the recycle bin!

I’m having the same layout issues again; I have one that I like, but I want to see how it looks if I change the scale size. I was able to do it with one drawing, and following the exact same steps I can’t do it with the other one; I just get a blank paper in the paperspace. SO. FUCKED. UP.

I’ve basically been staring at AutoCAD for the past 48 hours… as soon as my husband gets home, I’m drinking myself stupid :slight_smile:

16

That’s very flaky behaviour, mnemosyne. I’ve never run into the problems you’ve been encountering.

You definitely shouldn’t be having these problems with just 1GB of RAM. I ran 2008 with 1GB for several months with no problems before I upgraded to 2GB. What video card are you using? I had some display problems several years ago with a non-supported card. My symptoms included a disappearing cross-hair and lines that wouldn’t refresh. Once I swapped it out for an updated card I was all set. IIRC, AutoDesk has a list of compatible cards on its website.

I suppose it’s also possible that you have a corrupted install. Your inability to uninstall the program is a good indicator that this might be the problem. Have you gotten the student version yet? I’d try to use system restore to go back to a restore point before you installed Civil 3D and then try to install the student version from that point.

17

I agree. If you couldn’t get a clean un-install there may be bits of the program left which get it confused.

I also agree about the video card.

I have seen problems with 1 GB memory in big, complicated drawings but for what little you are doing the 1 GB should be fine; that’s what I’m using.

18

I wouldn’t know how to go about doing that (reinstall), and either way, I can’t do it now because every homework assignment I have to do before Monday requires my computer! It’s not something I have time for, but I’ll look into it perhaps another week/after this semester!

This is actually a laptop, and I have no idea what the videocard is. It’s whatever came with a Compaq R4035CA.

I agree that the problems I’m having NOW are probably due to a bad install of AutoCAD, but that doesn’t explain the layout issues I had when I started this thread, which was with the original install of a different version (unless THAT one was corrupted… sigh). I really couldn’t uninstall at all; it wasn’t even an option! I tried to do it, and it gave me the install wizard thing, and running it led to it asking for the CD and at the end of it all, nothing had gone away. It was all still there. I unselected things in a list, thinking that if I ran the “install” with everything turned off, then it would work; nope. That just removed about 500MB of extras, but left the entire program in place.

One of my brother’s friends works for Autodesk… next time I see him, I’m giving him hell hehehe!

19

Oh dear. Well, if you want to check what the video card is, you can look under Control Panel –> System –> Device Manager –> Display Adapters.

AutoDesk has some forums. I know you are pressed for time, but perhaps some useful information could be found there.