How to Show Lineweight in AutoCAD 2017?

Understanding Lineweight in AutoCAD

Lineweight is an essential feature in AutoCAD that affects how drawings are visualized and interpreted. It refers to the thickness and darkness of the lines used in your drawings, which can significantly impact readability and aesthetics.

Enabling Lineweight Display

To show lineweight in AutoCAD, follow these steps:

1. Access Command Line:

   • Open AutoCAD and ensure the command line is visible at the bottom of your workspace.

2. Input Command:

   • Type LWDISPLAY into the command line and press Enter.

3. Set Value:

   • When prompted, enter 1 or type On. This action activates the display of lineweights within your drawing.

4. Status Bar Option:

   • Alternatively, navigate to the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD interface.
   • Look for the “Show/Hide Lineweight” button. If it’s not visible, you may need to customize your status bar by right-clicking on the status bar area and selecting it from the menu.

Showing Lineweight in Paper Space

To ensure proper lineweight visualization in paper space, do the following:

1. Format Menu:

   • Click on the “Format” menu located at the top of the window.

2. Select Lineweight:

   • From the dropdown options, select “Lineweight” to open the Lineweight Settings dialog box.

3. Display Options:

   • In the settings dialog, find the checkbox labeled “Display Lineweight.” Ensure this box is checked to enable the visibility of lineweights in your layout.

Check Lineweight Visibility

If lineweights are not displayed as expected, you may need to adjust several settings:

1. Activate Lineweight Display:

   • Confirm that the lineweight display setting is enabled as previously described.

2. Monitor Resolution:

   • Keep in mind that sometimes the thickness of the lines relative to your monitor’s display resolution can affect visibility. Adjusting screen resolution settings on your monitor may help.

Setting Default Lineweight

Changing the default lineweight for new objects in AutoCAD can be done easily:

1. Layer Settings:

   • Access the Layer Properties Manager by clicking on “Layer” in the toolbar.

2. ByLayer or ByBlock:

   • Set your layer properties to either “BYLAYER” or “BYBLOCK” to inherit the default lineweight.

3. Current Lineweight:

   • Utilize the command CELWEIGHT to set the current lineweight, ensuring it matches the default defined in LWDEFAULT. A value greater than 0 will assign a lineweight in millimeters.

Working with Linetypes

Understanding lineweights also requires knowledge of linetypes:

1. Edit Properties:

   • Right-click in your drawing area and select “Properties.”

2. Linetype Generation:

   • In the properties palette, find “Linetype Generation” and choose “Enabled.” This ensures that the linetypes are displayed correctly, regardless of the polyline segments.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the default lineweight in AutoCAD 2025?

• The default lineweight is 0.01 inches unless modified in the settings.

2. Why might lineweight not appear when I print?

• Check if the “Display Lineweight” option is enabled in your layout settings and ensure that your plotting settings are correctly configured to recognize lineweights.

3. Can I customize lineweight settings for individual layers?

• Yes, each layer can have its unique lineweight settings, allowing for detailed control over the appearance of different elements in your drawing.