How To Make A Non Rectangular Viewport In AutoCAD?

Creating a Non-rectangular Viewport in AutoCAD

Creating a non-rectangular viewport in AutoCAD allows for enhanced flexibility when displaying model views in layouts. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to create unique viewport shapes such as polygonal or circular viewports.

Step 1: Preparation

1. Open Your Drawing: Load your desired drawing in AutoCAD.
2. Switch to Layout View: Click on the appropriate layout tab at the bottom of the window. If you don’t see any layouts, you can create one by right-clicking on an existing tab and choosing "New Layout."

Step 2: Set Up a Layer for Viewports

1. Layer Setup: Ensure you are working on a dedicated layer for viewports. You can create a new layer by going to the Layer Properties Manager and defining a layer specifically for layout viewports. It’s advisable to keep this organized for future editing and clarity.

Step 3: Drawing the Shape

1. Draw a Closed Polyline: Create a closed polyline that represents the boundary of your desired viewport shape. Use the ‘Polyline’ tool from the Home tab, and make sure to close the shape by clicking the ‘C’ command or choosing the ‘Close’ option.

Step 4: Creating the Viewport

1. Using the MVIEW Command: Activate the command prompt and type MVIEW, then press Enter.
2. Select the Option for Object: When prompted, choose ‘Object’ to indicate that you want to use an existing object as your viewport boundary.
3. Select Your Polyline: Click on the closed polyline you’ve created to convert it into a viewport.
4. Confirm: After selection, AutoCAD will convert the shape into a functional viewport.

Step 5: Adjusting the Viewport

1. View Adjustments: Once the viewport is created, you may want to adjust the view within it. Double-click inside the viewport to access the model space. You can then pan and zoom to fit the desired view.
2. Scaling: To modify the scale of the viewport, select the viewport and adjust its properties in the Property palette. This allows you to maintain the appearance you require.

Step 6: Clipping Existing Viewports (Optional)

1. Select the Viewport: If you have an existing rectangular viewport that you want to modify, select it.
2. Clip Command: Type VPCLIP in the command line and press Enter.
3. Select Clipping Object: Choose the polygonal option and follow the prompts to define your new shape using the coordinates of the existing closed polyline.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I change an irregular viewport to a rectangular one?

To revert an irregular viewport to a rectangular shape, simply select the viewport, type VPCLIP, and choose the rectangle option. Follow the prompts to define the corners of your new rectangular viewport.

2. Can I create a circular viewport?

Yes, you can create a circular viewport by drawing a circle and using the MVIEW command. After entering the command, select the circle to define it as your viewport boundary.

3. How do I unlock a locked viewport?

To unlock a viewport in AutoCAD 2025, first, type MV followed by Enter. Then, type LOCK and press Enter to toggle the lock status of the selected viewport.