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AutoCAD Line Type Scales
AutoCAD Line Type Scales
AutoCAD Line Type Scales
in AutoCAD 2014
By Bill Fane and David Byrnes from AutoCAD 2014 For Dummies
Even if youve engraved the drawing scale factor on your desk and written it on your hand,
AutoCAD 2014 doesnt know the drawing scale until you enter it. Keeping AutoCAD in the
dark is fine as long as youre just drawing continuous lines and curves representing real-
world geometry because you draw these objects at their real-world size, without worrying
about plot scale.
However, as soon as you start using noncontinuous dash-dot linetypes (line patterns that
contain gaps in them), you need to tell AutoCAD how to scale the gaps in the linetypes based
on the plot scale. If you forget this, the dash-dot linetype patterns can look waaaay too big or
too small.
The scale factor that controls dash-dot linetypes is found in a system variable called LTScale
(as in, LineType Scale). You can change this setting at any time, but its best to set it
correctly when youre setting up the drawing.
The following steps include directions for typing system variable and command names. To
set the linetype scale at the keyboard, follow these steps:
AutoCAD responds with a prompt, asking you for the scale factor. The value at the
end of the prompt is the current linetype scale setting, as shown in the following
command line example:
2. Type the value you want for the linetype scale and press Enter.
The easiest choice is to set the linetype scale to the drawing scale factor. Some
people, however, find that the dashes and gaps in dash-dot linetypes get a bit too long
when they use the drawing scale factor. If youre one of those people, set LTSCALE
to one-half of the drawing scale factor.
Alternatively, you can specify linetype scale in the Linetype Manager dialog box:
Click the Linetype drop-down list on the Properties panel of the Ribbons Home tab
and select Other. Then in the Linetype Manager dialog box, click the Show Details
button, and type your desired linetype scale in the Global Scale Factor text box.
Besides LTSCALE, there are three other similarly named system variables you can use to
control the display of dash-dot linetypes:
PSLTSCALE: Makes linetype spacing look the same in paper space viewports,
regardless of the viewport scale
CELTSCALE: Changes the effective linetype scale factor for new objects
MSLTSCALE: Visually displays dash-dot linetypes in the model tab based on the
annotative scale setting
If any of these sound useful and it is strongly encouraged that you enable PSLTSCALE
check them out in the online help index.
You should set linetype scale only when youre starting a new drawing from one of the
generic AutoCAD templates (acad.dwt or acadiso.dwt in the full version, acadlt.dwt or
acadltiso.dwt in AutoCAD LT) and youre not using the default linetype scale. Dont change
LTSCALE in existing drawings without knowing why youre doing it and what values to set
them to, in case someone before you set those values for good reasons.
Suggested values:
LTSCALE = 1.0
CELTSCALE = 1.0
PSLTSCALE = 1
MSLTSCALE = 1
To change a variables value, simply type it in at the command line and enter a new value
when prompted. These values are saved in the drawing, so its worth getting them right in
your template file.
Why have I suggested these settings? Let me run through each one in a little more detail.
LTSCALE
Use LTSCALE to change the scale factor of all linetypes for all geometry in a drawing.
Changing the linetype scale factor causes a REGEN so you can see the result of your
changes straight away.
If you only draw and plot from Model space, you can use LTSCALE to scale all your line
types to suit your plot scale. If you use Paper space layouts, just leave this set at 1.0.
CELTSCALE
Sets the Current Entity Line Type Scale i.e. whatever you are about to draw next!
The CELTSCALE is relative to LTSCALE. By setting CELTSCALE to 0.5 the next line
you draw will have a linetype scale factor which is half that of the lines drawn previously.
You can use this feature to vary the linetype scale of your lines as you draw them. You can
also change the line type scale of some geometry after youve drawn it by selecting the
geometry and looking for LTSCALE in the properties palette.
Dont forget to set the CELTSCALE back to match LTSCALE when youre finished.
PSLTSCALE
This variable controls the linetype scaling of geometry displayed in paper space viewports
Paper Space Line Type Scale.
This variable only has two settings. Setting PSLTSCALE to 0 (Off) will mean that the
linetype scale factor of your modelspace geometry will not be effected by the scale of your
viewport.
Setting PSLTSCALE to 1 (On) means that the line type scale of your modelspace
geometry will be scaled to match the viewport scale.
If you use paper space layouts, turning paper space line type scaling on ensures that all your
geometry will have the correct line type scale, no mater what the viewport scale is.
LTSCALE and CELTSCALE Still effect the Line type scale of your geometry. You
might need to use the REGEN or REGENALL command to see the result of any changes
in your viewports.
MSLTSCALE
This is a reasonably new (Since 2007), but extremely useful variable. Like Paper space line
type scaling, Model Space Line Type Scaling only has two options. Setting MSLTSCALE
to 0 (Off) is the default setting and will behave as Autocad always has.
Setting MSLTSCALE To 1 (On) will cause the Line type scale of any geometry in model
space to be scaled by the Annotation scale. This allows you to have a preview of how the line
type scale might look when seen through a scaled viewport.
Using MSLTSCALE is a really good way of checking that your linetypes are going to look
as you expect them to, without having to Flick back and forth between Paperspace and
Modelspace.
Do you know how to which Linetype definitions you should use to meet the ISO Technical
drawing standard? Read these posts on defining ISO linetype definitions to find out more.
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Filed Under: AutoCAD Tutorials Tagged With: AutoCAD Productivity, Line Type
Definitions
Comments
1. yogendera says
hello
i have autocad 2015 student version and my line settings are @ by default that means
when i enter co-ordinates for the next point i takes previous point as the base point
instead of the (0,0) can you help me out. please
Reply
Hi Yogendera,
Is this article helpful?
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-
explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-
1CAE0A1F-EE69-4EAF-AD67-7745D45C0CF7-htm.html
Paul
Reply
2. rhoda says
This was a good article, I never knew about MS & PSltscale before. But Im still
having an issue which I cannot find an answer to at all. Ive set ALL ltscales to 1, and
my Hidden lines show correctly in paper space, but not in model space (it is still
showing continuously). I even tried copying everything into a new drawing.
Thanks in advance.
Reply
Hi Rhoda,
Most likely you used the wrong template for your drawing. Check out theses
posts by Edwing Prakoso at CAD-Notes.com
http://www.cad-notes.com/what-will-went-wrong-if-i-use-imperial-template-
for-my-metric-drawing/
http://www.cad-notes.com/fix-autocad-drawing-unit/
Paul
Reply
3. marco says
Hi,
Nice article. Never knew there were so many choices in editing line scale. I do have
one question/issue. After setting all values to 1, I drew a center line as a test and
found that when drawn in short lengths, I found that the breaks werent visible. After
stretching the line out I could see the breaks. would this be a case where you would
set the CELTSCALE to a different value? What would be a good value to use without
the center line from looking to small?
Than k you.
Reply
Hi Marco,
How long is the line? If it is very small you may not see the dashes. Try
drawing a line 100mm long to test the linetype scale.
You could also try using the model space scale to preview what the line type
scale will look like when you plot it, or create a viewport in paper space and
set that to different plot scales.
Finally, dont forget to refresh your view to regenerate the drawing each
time type RE at the command line and press the SPACEBAR to complet the
command.
Paul
Reply
4. Steve says
Great article, MSLTSCALE has solved all of my problems. Cant believe Ive put up
with linetype errors in my viewports for sooooo long now.
Cheers man!
Reply
Hooray! Go Steve!
Reply
5. Lucy says
Hi,
I was just wondering how you change the scale of a single line? Every time I go to
change it all the others change too!
Reply
Hi Lucy,
Then select your line, you will see a property of Line type scale. You can
change this single entities LTscale property here.
Paul
Reply
6. Letitia says
Hello Paul,
Letitia
Reply
Hi Letitia,
I would start by looking at the STB/CTB file that you are using. This can
override the Line types that you are plotting.
Also, Check and see whether the same problem happens when you plot to
PDF/DWF this will illuminate the plot driver as a culprit.
I always suggest that you post in the Autodesk forums, there are a lot of
knowledgeable folk there who could help you out. If you do post me a link
so that I can Join in :)
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Printing-and-Plotting/bd-p/30
Paul
Reply
Letitia says
Thank you! That was it! I had accidentally set them all to solid when I
created the ctb file. Thank you so much. This has been driving me
crazy! LOL
Letitia
Reply
Reply
7. jeff says
I have been working in AutoCAD since version 12 (1995-ish), and have run across
this very issue for years. Knowing about the MSLTSCALE, PSLTSCALE,
CELTSCALE, & LTSCALE settings (all set to 1), I still run accross a drawing from
time to time that just will not properly display the linetypes when working in model
space. I am not sure if it is just a bug, but have found the fix to be to just copy
everything out of the bugged drawing, and into a fresh template drawing. Unless
there is another setting that I am missing, I truely believe that it is just a bug which
can not fixed within a drawing. Any additional thoughts that anyone has to offer on
this subject, I would certainly be interested.
Thanks,
Jeff
Reply
Hi Jeff,
In this case I would look very carefully at the template file that I used to create
the drawing (ACAD.dwt or ACADiso.dwt).
Edwin Prakoso has a very good explanation of why this important on his
CAD-Notes Blog:
http://cad-notes.com/2012/03/what-will-went-wrong-if-i-use-imperial-
template-for-my-metric-drawing/
Paul,
Reply
8. Cheryl says
Thanks for the info. I was hoping it would fix an issue Im having with my autocad
2010 template but unfortunately it didnt. I changed all ltscale settings in my
template to 1 as suggested, but everytime I launch a drawing with the template my
linetype scales changes to 2. Even when I change it to 1 in the properties
manager then save and close it reverts back to 2 when I reopen the drawing. Any
ideas on how I can fix this?
Reply
Hi Cheryl,
Reply
9. iPinda says
Reply
Reply
Although a confusing topic, great post! I work with the McGraw Hill Sweets
Network, and we offer a great selection of cad details.
Reply
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