How To Add Vertices To Viewport AutoCAD?

Understanding Viewports in AutoCAD

When working with AutoCAD, viewports are crucial for displaying different views of your model within paper space. They allow for an organized presentation of various parts of your drawings. Adding vertices to a viewport can enhance the flexibility of these elements, enabling you to customize their shapes to fit your design requirements effectively. Below is a detailed guide on how to add vertices to a viewport in AutoCAD.

Steps to Create a New Viewport with Vertices

1. Open Your Layout Tab: Start by navigating to the layout tab where you want to add the viewport. This is where you will arrange your views for printing or sharing.

2. Access the Viewport Tool: Go to the View tab located on the ribbon. Here, find the Viewports panel, and select ‘New’. This action opens the Viewports dialog box.

3. Choosing Your Viewport Shape: Once the dialog box is open, select ‘New Viewports’ from the tabs available, and under the Standard Viewports section, opt for ‘Polygonal’. This selection allows for creating a custom-shaped viewport.

4. Defining the First Corner: Click to specify the first corner of your viewport. Ensure that your mouse cursor is placed where you want this corner to be.

5. Adding More Vertices: Continue to click to specify each subsequent corner (vertex) of your polygon. The viewport will create a shape that connects the points you select. For a completed shape, ensure that you return to the starting point to close the polygon.

6. Confirm Your Shape: After defining all the vertices, hit ‘Enter’ or click the right mouse button to confirm the shape of your new viewport.

7. Adjust Sizes: If necessary, you can resize your viewport after it’s created. Click on the frame of the viewport, then drag the blue squares (handles) that appear around it to adjust its size. Click to set the new dimensions.

Editing Existing Viewports

If you need to modify an already existing viewport, you can easily do so as follows:

1. Select Your Viewport Frame: Click on the frame of the viewport to highlight it. This is important for making any changes.

2. Resizing Using Grips: When the viewport is selected, specific grips (blue squares) will appear. Click and drag these grips to resize the viewport as needed.

3. Setting the New Size: After resizing, click again to confirm the new dimensions. If you want to reposition the viewport, select it and drag the adjacent arrows to move it.

Converting Rectangular Viewports to Custom Shapes

For scenarios where you already have a rectangular viewport and wish to change its shape, use the following approach:

1. Select the Viewport: Highlight the viewport you want to convert by clicking its frame.

2. Use the VPCLIP Command: Type VPCLIP in the command line and press Enter. This command helps modify the shape of the existing viewport into a polygonal one.

3. Defining the New Boundary: Follow the prompts in the command line to either select an existing outline or specify new points to establish a new boundary.

4. Finalizing the Changes: Once you’ve defined the new shape, click ‘OK’ to confirm the changes and create your new viewport shape.

FAQs

1. Can I create multiple viewports in a single layout?
   Yes, you can create multiple viewports within a single layout in AutoCAD, allowing for various views and scales of your model.

2. What should I do if my viewport is not selectable?
   Ensure that the layer containing the viewport is not turned off or frozen. You can manage this through the Layer Properties Manager.

3. How do I unlock a locked viewport?
   To unlock a viewport, type MV (Enter), then type LOCK (Enter), and select the viewport to change its locking status.