How to Set LTSCALE and PSLTSCALE in AutoCAD?

Understanding Ltscale and Psltscale in AutoCAD

When working with AutoCAD, managing linetype scales is essential for accurate and consistent drawing presentation, especially when creating layouts and viewports. The LTSCALE and PSLTSCALE variables dictate how linetypes are displayed in different environments. This guide will explore how to properly set these variables and their significance.

What is Ltscale?

LTSCALE stands for Linetype Scale. It serves as a global factor that dictates the appearance of linetypes throughout your drawing. A setting of 1 means that the dash lengths defined in the linetype will correspond directly to the drawing unit, ensuring uniformity across different viewports.

Setting Ltscale in AutoCAD

To adjust the LTSCALE:

1. Open your drawing where you wish to change the linetype scale.
2. Access the Command Line: Type LTSCALE and hit Enter.
3. Enter the desired scale factor: For standard practice, a value of 1 is recommended. This maintains consistency across all scales in your drawing.
4. Hit Enter to confirm the change.

What is Psltscale?

PSLTSCALE, or Paper Space Linetype Scale, influences how linetypes appear within Paper Space layouts. Setting this variable ensures that linetypes display correctly when printed or plotted, particularly when viewports are scaled differently.

Setting Psltscale in AutoCAD

To configure the PSLTSCALE variable:

1. Open your active layout in AutoCAD.
2. Type PSLTSCALE in the Command Line and press Enter.
3. Set the value: Input 1 if you want linetypes to adhere to the paper space scale. If you prefer linetypes to remain consistent at the viewport scale, set it to 0.
4. Press Enter to confirm your choice.

Testing the Changes

After setting LTSCALE and PSLTSCALE, it’s important to verify that linetypes appear as expected.

1. Zoom in on your viewports to see the linetypes in action.
2. Open the Linetype Manager: Type LINETYPE in the Command Line and hit Enter.
3. Check the defined linetypes and their appearance. Ensure they meet your desired specifications by zooming in on various objects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do I need to set Ltscale and Psltscale differently?
Setting LTSCALE impacts the entire drawing, while PSLTSCALE ensures that linetypes maintain their appearance in relation to viewport scaling in paper space. Adjusting both helps you achieve a coherent design that looks good when printed.

2. What happens if I set LTSCALE to 0?
A value of 0 for LTSCALE is invalid. Instead, it is best to use a positive value like 1 or 0.5 to ensure your linetypes display correctly according to the scale of the drawing.

3. Can I save my Ltscale and Psltscale settings for new drawings?
Yes, you can save these settings in your template files. Open your template, set the variables as desired, then save your template for future use. This will ensure your preferred scale settings are available in all new projects.