Change a linetype scale WITHIN a block instance?

Jim Canale

I frequently create closeup views of 2D objects in model space using the block definition and insert commands, and then dimension the scaled views.. I run into several problems. The dimensions won't be correct until I change the Dim Scale Linear variable for EACH added dimension. Also, scaling the block up in size does NOT change the scale of any lines within the block. How do i fix this?

Please refer to the attached drawing. I created two blocks (Detail_A, and Detail_B), and then inserted them at a scaling factor of 4. I did not include the dimension when I created Detail_A. I added it to the 4X view later. The dimension is not correct unless I change the Dim Scale Linear variable to .25. Notice too that the line scaling did not change by a factor of 4 when I inserted the enlarged views.

Anthony Apostolaros

I don't know how to do that with blocks, but have you considered doing it with viewports instead? You could create a layer for each scale, i.e. for the things that should be visible only at that scale. And then use VP Freeze to determine which of the two layers is visible in each viewport.

Also, you can give an object different color, lineweight, and linetype values in each viewport. To get different linetype scaling, use Center, Center2, or CenterX2 in the different viewports.

Jim Canale

Anthony Apostolaros said:

... have you considered doing it with viewports instead? ...

Anthony,
Sorry for the delay in response. I have been very ill. Thank you. Your suggestion sounds good. Viewports would probably be the ticket. But I wish I could simply create a block, including dimensions and see everything grow in size. It makes no sense to me that when you scale up or down a block containing dimensions, line scales and text sizes stay fixed while the dimension values are scaled up or down.

Anthony Apostolaros

Before the advent of paperspace, blocks were probably the most common way to print the same geometry at different scales. So there might be ways to do what you want with blocks -- I just don't know about them. I've never included dimensions or text in a block definition.

I've also never used Attributes or annotative scale or PSLTSCALE. Those might possibly solve your dilemma, but I don't know.

Jim Canale

Anthony Apostolaros said:

...So there might be ways to do what you want with blocks -- I just don't know about them. I've never included dimensions or text in a block definition. I've also never used Attributes or annotative scale or PSLTSCALE. Those might possibly solve your dilemma, but I don't know.

Thanks Anthony. I've been using Autocad or BricsCAD since about 2004, and every day I realize how much I don't know. I bet if I ever was able to work in an environment where I'm not the only person using BricsCAD, I'd learn how inefficient my work is. But I'm at the end of my career. 68 years old, stuck in this dead end, low paying job for 24 years because my health problems keep me from commuting to a good job. 3 years of engineering college, 2 at a MIT level school, followed by military service then 42 years of experience doing electrical or mechanical design, CAD, and machining, and the best I can do is $21 per hour. It's pathetic. My rapidly declining vision and poor health will end my career soon. I've enjoyed the CAD work. Hope I can do some of it in heaven.