How To Change Global Width In AutoCAD?

Understanding Global Width in AutoCAD

Global width in AutoCAD refers to the thickness of polylines or lines that are consistently applied across a drawing. Adjusting this feature can help enhance the visual clarity of your designs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change Global Width

Single Polyline Adjustment

1. Select the Polyline: Click on the specific polyline you want to modify. Make sure it’s highlighted.

2. Open the Properties Palette: To view the attributes, either right-click on the selected polyline and choose ‘Properties’ or type PROPERTIES into the command line and press Enter.

3. Modify Global Width: Within the Properties palette, locate the section labeled ‘Global Width’. Change its value to your desired thickness. Alternatively, setting it to zero removes any additional width.

Adjusting Multiple Polylines

1. Initiate Quick Select: Type QSELECT into the command line and press Enter. This allows for filtering selections based on specific attributes.

2. Define Selection Criteria: In the Quick Select box, set the ‘Object Type’ to ‘Polyline’, then proceed to the ‘Properties’ dropdown and select ‘Global Width’. For the ‘Operator’, choose ‘Not Equal To’ and set the value to zero.

3. Finalize the Selection: Click OK. All polylines that match the criteria will now be selected.

4. Edit Properties: With the desired polylines highlighted, access the Properties palette again. Adjust the ‘Global Width’ to your preferred thickness, which will apply to all selected items simultaneously.

Setting Default Width for Polylines

1. Access Layer Properties: Click on the Home tab and navigate to the Layers Panel. Choose ‘Layer Properties’ from the dropdown.

2. Select Lineweight: In the Layer Properties Manager, find the ‘Lineweight’ column. Click on the current lineweight setting and select a new value that will serve as the default for polylines on that layer.

Troubleshooting Polyline Thickness

If you notice unexpected thickness in your polylines, it could be a result of the global width being set to a larger value. To identify and troubleshoot thick lines:

1. Inspect Global Width: Select the polyline in question and open the Properties palette. Check the value of ‘Global Width’ and adjust as necessary.

2. Check Layer Settings: Sometimes, the thickness can also arise from the layer properties. Access the Layer Properties Manager and verify the lineweight assigned to the layer.

Displaying Line Thickness

To visually confirm the thickness of lines in your drawing:

1. Activate Lineweight Display: Type LWDISPLAY into the command line and set it to ‘On’. This will allow you to see the actual line weights reflected in your view.

2. Use Status Bar Options: Alternatively, you can enable the Show/Hide Lineweight button in the status bar for quick access to toggle the visibility of lineweights.

FAQs

1. Can I set a default global width for new polylines in AutoCAD?

Yes, it is possible. You can set a default lineweight for a layer in the Layer Properties Manager. New polylines drawn on that layer will adopt its default settings, including lineweight.

2. What command do I use to change the width of an existing polyline?

You can use the PEDIT command. Select the polyline, choose the Width option, then input your desired width value.

3. How can I convert existing lines to polylines with specific widths?

Start the PEDIT command, select the lines you wish to convert, and choose the option to convert them to polylines. After conversion, you can immediately set their global width through the Properties palette.