How To Show Broken Lines In AutoCAD?

Understanding Broken Lines in AutoCAD

Broken lines, or dashed lines, often represent specific features in technical drawings. If these lines aren’t displaying correctly in AutoCAD, various settings may need adjustment. Below are the steps and troubleshooting methods to ensure broken lines appear as intended in both Model Space and Paper Space.

Steps to Display Broken Lines in AutoCAD

1. Adjust Model Space Linetype Scale

Begin by modifying the linetype scale setting for Model Space. To do this:

• Open your AutoCAD drawing.
• Type LTSCALE in the command line and hit Enter.
• Set the value to 1 (or a value appropriate for your drawing, if different). This defines the scale of linetypes in Model Space.

2. Set Paper Space Linetype Scale

Next, ensure the Paper Space Linetype Scale is configured properly:

• For Paper Space, input PSLTSCALE in the command line and press Enter.
• Change the value to 0 to synchronize the display of the dash pattern in Paper Space with what you see in Model Space.

3. Verify Viewport Settings

If you are using viewports in Paper Space, confirm that the viewport settings are configured correctly:

• Double-click within the viewport to activate it.
• Use the zoom tool to ensure you can see the area of interest.
• Adjust the viewport scale if necessary by selecting the viewport and changing the scale to a suitable ratio, such as 1/4" = 1'-0".

4. Check Layer Properties

Sometimes, broken lines may not appear due to layer settings. Ensure all layers are visible:

• Open the Layer Properties Manager.
• Look for any layers that are either frozen or turned off. Unlock, thaw, and turn on all relevant layers to ensure visibility.

5. Regenerate the Drawing

After making adjustments, force AutoCAD to regenerate the drawing to reflect changes:

• Input the command REGEN and press Enter. This command refreshes the display and updates the drawing based on the latest changes.

6. Confirm Linetype is Assigned

Ensure that the object in question has the correct linetype assigned:

• Select the entity (line, polyline, etc.).
• Check the Properties palette to confirm that the desired linetype is applied. If not, choose the appropriate linetype from the dropdown menu.

7. Resolve Overlapping Objects

If multiple objects overlap, it may obscure the dashed lines:

• Use the MOVE command to reposition the lines slightly to ensure clarity and visibility.
• After modifying positions or performing editing tasks, run REGEN again to update the display.

FAQs

Q1: Why don’t my dashed lines show up in the print preview?
Ensure that your plot settings are configured to use the correct linetype. Open the Plot dialog, check the settings under the "Linetype" section, and confirm that "Use Object Linetype" is selected.

Q2: Is there a difference between linetypes in Model Space and Paper Space?
Yes, linetype scaling can differ between Model Space and Paper Space depending on the settings of LTSCALE and PSLTSCALE. Adjusting these values ensures consistent appearance across both spaces.

Q3: How can I ensure that my dashed lines are visible on different devices?
Test the drawing on different devices by performing test prints or exporting to PDF. Adjust the linetype and layer visibility settings accordingly, then verify the results on each platform.