How To Resize Polyline In AutoCAD?

Understanding Polyline Resizing in AutoCAD

To effectively resize a polyline in AutoCAD, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the tools and commands available in the AutoCAD 2025 interface. Resizing can impact not just the dimensions of the polyline, but its overall appearance and effectiveness in a drawing.

Steps to Scale a Polyline

1. Select the Polyline: Begin by clicking on the polyline you wish to resize. This can be achieved with a single left-click if your selection settings are configured for such.

2. Activate the Scale Command: Type SCALE into the command line and press Enter. This command allows you to resize the selected object.

3. Specify a Base Point: Choose a base point around which you will scale the polyline. This point acts as a pivot for resizing.

4. Enter the Scale Factor: After selecting the base point, type in a scale factor. For instance, to increase the size of the polyline by 200%, you would input 2. To reduce its size by half, you would input 0.5. Hit Enter to confirm your input.

5. Review the Modification: Once scaled, you can visually inspect the polyline to ensure it meets your design requirements.

Changing the Width of a Polyline

If you need to adjust the width of a polyline instead of simply resizing it, follow these steps:

1. Activate the PEDIT Command: Type PE into the command line and press Enter. This command is specifically for editing polylines.

2. Select the Polyline: Click on the polyline whose width you wish to alter.

3. Choose Width Option: Look for the width option in the command menu. You can type W to access this feature more quickly.

4. Input New Width: Enter your desired width value in the command bar and press Enter. The polyline will now adopt this new width.

Making a Polyline Thinner

If you want to reduce the existing width of a polyline, utilize the following method:

1. Initiate the Edit Command: Start by typing PE to invoke the polyline editing command.

2. Select the Desired Polyline: Click to select the polyline you want to modify.

3. Set New Width: Input the width change option, type W, and hit Enter. Specify a smaller width value in the command line and press Enter again.

4. Check the Results: Observe the polyline to confirm that it reflects the desired thinner appearance.

FAQs

What is the difference between scaling and changing the width in AutoCAD?
Scaling modifies the overall size of the polyline in proportion to a defined factor, whereas changing the width specifically alters how thick or thin the polyline appears without affecting its length.

Can I scale multiple polylines at once?
Yes, you can select multiple polylines before entering the SCALE command. All selected objects will resize simultaneously according to the scale factor you provide.

Why does a polyline appear thicker than expected?
A polyline may appear thicker due to a predefined global width setting. You may need to adjust the global width property or the specific polyline width to achieve the intended appearance.