How to Set Global Width of Polyline in AutoCAD?

Understanding Global Width in AutoCAD

Setting the global width of polylines in AutoCAD can significantly enhance the visual quality of your drawings. The global width influences how thick the lines appear when printed or viewed on-screen, allowing for a more uniform aesthetic across your design.

Steps to Set Global Width for Polylines

1. Open Your Drawing
   Launch AutoCAD 2025 and open the drawing file that contains the polylines you wish to modify. Ensure that all relevant layers are visible.

2. Select the Polylines
   You can change the global width for multiple polylines at once. Begin by typing QSELECT into the command line and hitting “Enter.” This command enables you to select objects based on specific criteria.

3. Configure Object Type
   In the Quick Select dialog, change the Object Type to “Polyline.” This ensures that only polylines will be selected for the next steps.

4. Specify Selection Criteria
   Under the Properties section, set the "Global Width" option. Select “Not Equal to” and enter “0” to filter out polylines that do not have a set width. This allows you to focus only on those polylines that require adjustment.

5. Execute the Selection
   After setting the criteria, click “OK” to confirm your selections. AutoCAD will now highlight all the polylines that match your specified conditions.

6. Open the Properties Palette
   With the desired polylines selected, open the Properties palette by right-clicking and choosing "Properties" or typing PROPERTIES in the command line.

7. Adjust the Global Width
   Find the "Global Width" option in the Properties palette. Input your desired width value (for example, 0.25) in the field provided. This new width will be applied to all selected polylines.

8. Confirm Changes
   Press “Enter” to apply the new global width to all selected objects. Review the adjustments visually on the screen to ensure they meet the desired specifications.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Polylines Not Changing Width: If the polylines do not reflect the changes, ensure no overriding properties are applied via the layer settings.
• Visible Output Differences: If the changes are not evident in your drawing, verify that the line weight display settings are enabled. You can check this by typing LWDISPLAY in the command line and setting it to “On.”

FAQs

1. What is a polyline in AutoCAD?
A polyline is a continuous line composed of one or more segments, which can include straight lines and arcs, treated as a single object. This feature is beneficial for creating complex shapes and paths.

2. How do I check if my line weights are visible in AutoCAD?
To view line weights, type LWDISPLAY in the command line and set the value to “On.” You can also enable the Show/Hide Lineweight button on the status bar for quick access.

3. Can I adjust the width of a polyline after drawing it?
Yes, you can modify the width of existing polylines by using the PEDIT command and entering the “Width” option. This allows you to set new width values for specific segments of the polyline.