How to View Multiple Windows AutoCAD?

Viewing Multiple Windows in AutoCAD: A Step-by-Step Guide

Managing multiple views in AutoCAD can enhance productivity by allowing you to work on different aspects of a project simultaneously. Here’s how to efficiently view multiple windows in AutoCAD.

Opening Multiple Drawing Windows

1. Start AutoCAD: Launch AutoCAD 2025 on your computer.

2. Open Drawings: Navigate to File and select Open, or use the shortcut Ctrl + O to bring up the file dialog. Choose the drawings you wish to open.

3. Separate Windows for Each Drawing:

   • To ensure each drawing opens in its own window, access the options in the File Explorer settings. Look for “Always open each folder in its own window” and make sure it is checked.
4. Access the Task Manager: If there are multiple drawings currently open, and they tend to cluster, you can directly access them through the Windows Taskbar. Each drawing should be listed separately, allowing quick toggling between them.

Managing Views Within the AutoCAD Workspace

1. Using Layouts:

   • In the Drawing tab of the Browser, double-click on the layout you want to utilize. Right-click the layout icon and select New View to generate additional views within the same layout.

2. Creating New Views:

   • Upon selecting New View, a dialog will appear prompting you to choose where to project your new view. Continue placing any additional views by selecting preferred locations on the canvas.
3. Exiting the Command: Press ENTER to finish or terminate the command once you’ve positioned all desired views.

Displaying Open Files

1. Navigating the Command Line:
   • Enter FILETABCLOSE on the command line to manage visibility for your open files. You can also use Ctrl + Tab to cycle through and view all open files within AutoCAD.

Configuring the Taskbar Settings

1. Modify Taskbar Options: Type TASKBAR in the command line to adjust the settings. Set the value to 1 if you prefer a separate taskbar item for each opened drawing, making multitasking more straightforward. Setting this to 0 will display only the current drawing’s name.

Managing Layout Tabs

1. Showing Layout Tabs:

   • If the layout tabs are hidden, type LAYOUTTAB in the command line and set the value to 1 to make them visible. This allows for easier navigation between different layouts.
2. Options Menu: Alternatively, you can access the Options menu by typing OPTIONS in the command line. Under the Display tab, ensure that the “Display Layout and Model tabs” checkbox is checked, then click OK.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I customize the layout tab settings in AutoCAD?
Yes, you can customize layout tab settings through the OPTIONS command by adjusting the Display tab options to show or hide various elements, including layout and model tabs.

2. What should I do if my drawing tabs still do not appear?
If your drawing tabs are missing despite configuring the settings, try right-clicking on the drawing area, select Options, and check the appropriate settings to enable visible layout and model tabs.

3. Is it possible to open multiple views of the same drawing?
Absolutely. You can duplicate the same drawing into multiple windows or layout views by following the layout and view creation steps mentioned above, allowing you to analyze several sections of the same project simultaneously.