How to Reduce Polyline Width in AutoCAD?

Adjusting Polyline Width in AutoCAD

Reducing the width of a polyline in AutoCAD is essential for precise drafting and design. A polyline, being a connected sequence of line segments, can sometimes appear thicker than desired due to its global width setting. Here’s how to effectively reduce the width of your polylines in AutoCAD 2025.

Method 1: Using the Properties Palette

1. Select the Polyline: Start by clicking on the polyline that you wish to modify.
2. Open the Properties Palette: If the Properties palette isn’t visible, you can toggle it by pressing CTRL + 1 or by navigating to the View tab and selecting the Properties option.
3. Find the Global Width: In the Properties palette, look for the “Global Width” option. This setting dictates the thickness of the polyline.
4. Set the Width to Zero: Change the Global Width value to “0”. This effectively reduces the polyline to a thin line.
5. Close the Properties Palette: You can click anywhere outside the palette or hit the ESC key to exit.

Method 2: Using the Command Line for Multiple Polylines

1. Activate Command Line: Ensure that your command line is visible. If not, you can enable it from the View tab.
2. Execute Quick Select: Type QSELECT in the command line and press Enter.
3. Configure Selection Criteria: In the Quick Select dialog box, set the ‘Object Type’ to ‘Polyline’, ‘Property’ to ‘Global Width’, and the ‘Operator’ to ‘Not Equal to’. Leave the value field blank.
4. Select Polylines: This will highlight all polylines that have a global width set to something other than zero.
5. Adjust the Width: Once selected, open the Properties palette and set the Global Width to “0” to apply the change to all selected polylines.

Method 3: Using the Edit Polyline Command

1. Activate the Edit Polyline Tool: Type PE in the command line and press Enter.
2. Select the Desired Polyline: Click on the polyline you want to edit.
3. Choose the Width Option: When prompted, type W for Width and press Enter.
4. Input New Width: Enter the desired width value. To make the polyline thinner, type a value less than the current width or just input “0” for the thinnest line.
5. Confirm the Changes: Press Enter to finalize your changes.

Method 4: Resetting Polyline Width to Default

1. Enter Pline Command: Type Pline into the command line and hit Enter.
2. Pick the Polyline: Click on the polyline to select it.
3. Reset the Width Value: Type L for Lineweight, followed by 0, and press Enter. This action resets your polyline width back to default.
4. Finish the Command: Finally, press Enter again to complete the command.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the significance of global width in AutoCAD?
   Global width in AutoCAD defines the thickness of polylines, impacting how they appear in your drawings. It ensures consistency across multiple segments of a polyline.

2. Can I change the width of multiple polylines at once?
   Yes, by using the Quick Select feature, you can choose multiple polylines and modify their global width in the Properties palette simultaneously.

3. What if my polyline still looks thick after reducing the width?
   Ensure that the lineweight settings in the drawing setup or the viewport may also affect how the polyline is displayed. Check these settings for any overrides.