COE110 – Laboratory

Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Laboratory7
(INTRODUCTION TO LAYOUTS AND DETAILS)

OBJECTIVES:
• Describe a Layout and explain how they are used in an AutoCAD drawing.
• Apply the MSPACE and PSPACE commands to change the working space.
• Describe a viewport and explain how to create, edit, lock, and set the viewport scale.
• Apply the MVIEW command to create viewports on layout drawings.

Materials Needed

1. PC with AutoCAD

BASIC CONCEPTS

The ideal way to work in AutoCAD is to draw all real objects in Model space and draw all objects
that not real, in Paper space.

Model space is a limitless three-dimensional space where the real objects of the model are drawn.
For example, if you are drawing a house, everything that is part of the house such as the walls,
windows, doors, etc. are drawn in Model space. All parts of the house would be drawn at full scale
or full size, exactly as they exist in real life.

Paper space is a virtual two-dimensional space where all objects that are related to the plotted
piece of paper, called a layout, are drawn. Objects drawn in Paper space are things like the title
block, border, dimensions, notes, labels, and bills of material. Paper space is also drawn at full size
but the units are the same units as the paper, such as inches or millimeters. The Model space units
and the Paper space units do not have to be the same in a drawing.

Layouts
A layout represents a sheet of paper on which one or more scaled views of the model is created
complete with such thing as dimensions, notes, border, and title block. Layouts are drawn in Paper
space. They are an important and essential AutoCAD feature and should be used to plot all AutoCAD
drawings.

As many layouts as required can be created in a drawing. The AutoCAD 2D book supplies pre- drawn
layouts in two template files named ‘ 2D Layout English.dwt ‘ and ‘ 2D Layout Metric.dwt ‘. You can
create your own layouts and save them in a drawing or template file.

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Model and Layout Tabs

The Model and Layout tabs are located along the bottom of the Graphic window as shown in
Figure 18-1 and 18-2. There is only one Model tab in each drawing but there can be an unlimited
number of Layout tabs. You can create your own layouts tabs.

When the Model tab is enabled, all drawing objects drawn by you will be Model space objects and
exist in Model space. When one of the Layout tabs is enabled, as shown in Figure 18-2, the layout
drawing will be displayed. In a Layout tab, you can work in either Paper space or Model space.

The Working Space

The current space, which is either Model or Paper, is called the working space. When the MODEL
icon is enabled, the working space is Model and when the PAPER icon is enabled, the working space
is Paper.

When a Layout tab is enabled, the working space can be changed back and forth between Model
or Paper space by toggling the PAPER/MODEL icon in the Status bar. See Figures 18-3 and 18-4.
Click the MODEL icon to change the working space to Paper space or click the PAPER icon to change
the working space to Model space.

Figure 18-3
Model Space is Currently the Working Space

Figure 18-4

Paper Space is Currently the Working Space

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

The Paper Space Icon

When a Layout tab is enabled and the working space is Paper, the Paper space icon, as shown in
Figure 18-5, will display. When the icon is displayed, it is indicating to you that Paper space is the
working space and all objects drawn will be Paper space objects and exist in Paper space only.

If this icon does not display, even when a layout is displayed, all objects drawn will be Model space
objects and exist in Model space only.

Figure 18-5

The Paper Space Icon

AutoCAD Command: MSPACE

The MSPACE command is used to change the current working space to Model space.
Shortcut: MS
AutoCAD Command: PSPACE
The PSPACE command is used to change the current working space to Paper space.
Shortcut: PS

Viewports
A viewport is a rectangular or square hole cut through the sheet of drawing paper (the layout) so
that the model can be viewed through it. See Figure 18-6. It is a 2D Paper space drawing object.
The view of the model can be orientated and scaled. A layout can have an unlimited number of
viewports cut through it, all viewing the same model at different scales and orientations.

Each viewport will display all visible objects that exist in Model space. If the model is changed after
a viewport is created, the viewport will automatically display the changes since it is merely viewing
the model. The orientation and scale of a viewport can be adjusted at any time. After a viewport is
set, the display can be locked so that it cannot be accidentally changed. If changes are required,
the viewport display must be unlocked before they can be made. It is best to insert the viewport
on its own layer and turn that layer off before the drawing is plotted to avoid plotting the viewport
drawing object.

Paper space objects like dimensions, notes, title blocks, borders, and text are then drawn in Paper
space on the sheet of paper. They are drawn full size using the same units as the paper is measured.

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Figure 18-6
A Viewport

AutoCAD Command: MVIEW

The MVIEW command is used to create a viewport on a layout. It is a Paper space command and
the viewport it creates is a Paper space drawing object.

Shortcut: MV

WORKALONG: Working With Layouts

Step 1
Start a new drawing using the template: 2D Layout English.
Ensure that you select the correct template. The templates that you have being using to this point
in the book will not be used from this module on. The new templates that you will be using are
named: 2D Layout English and 2D Layout Metric.

Step 2
Save and name the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 18-1.

Step 3
Using what you learned to this point in the book, draw the object shown in the figure on
layer: Object. Draw any construction objects on layer: Construction. (Figure Step 3)

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Figure Step 3

You will notice that the drawing already contains the layers that you require to complete the lab
exercises.

Step 4
Freeze layer: Construction. The drawing should appears as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 4)

Figure Step 4

Step 5
Enter the OPTIONS command to open the Options dialogue box. In the Display tab, compare the
settings in the Layout elements area and change them, if necessary, to match the figure. Click OK
to close the dialogue box. (Figure Step 5)

Figure Step 5

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

MUST KNOW: Model space is a limitless three-dimensional space where the real objects of the
model are drawn full scale while Paper space is a virtual two-dimensional space where all objects
related to the plotted paper drawing are drawn.

Step 6
Enable layout: Module Layout A by clicking it. Your Graphic window should match the figure.
(Figure Step 6)

Figure Step 6

A layout is a piece of paper that can be plotted. The model is located behind the paper but cannot
be seen until a hole (viewport) is cut in the paper using the MVIEW command. The paper size in
Module Layout A is A size or 8 1/2X11 inches.

Step 7
Paper space should be the working space. To check that, ensure that the PAPER icon is enabled on
the Status bar. (Figure Step 7)

Figure Step 7

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Step 8
Set layer: Viewport as the current layer. Enter the MVIEW command, as shown below, to create a
viewport on the layout. (Figure Step 8)

Command: MVIEW

Specify corner of viewport or

[ON/OFF/Fit/Shadeplot/Lock/Object/Polygonal/Restore/LAyer/2/3/4] <Fit>: P1

Specify opposite corner: P2

Command:

Figure Step 8

Selecting two opposite corners in the MVIEW command creates a viewport. The locations for P1
and P2 can be selected by eye. Their exact locations are not important. Imagine the viewport as
cutting a hole in the piece of paper to view the model located behind the paper. Since a viewport
is a drawing object, you can delete it and recreate it if you want to change its size or location. Ensure
that you are in Paper space to delete a viewport. The AutoCAD 2D Advanced book teaches you how
to resize viewports.

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Step 9
Change the working space to Model by clicking the PAPER icon on the Status bar. After you do that,
it will display MODEL as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 9A and 9B)

Figure Step 9AFigure Step 9B

Note that when the working space is Model, the crosshairs will only display inside the viewport (the
hole in the paper).

Step 10
Enter the ZOOM Extents command to display all model objects in the viewport. (Figure Step 10)

Figure Step 10

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Step 11
Change the working space to Paper space. (Figure Step 11)

Figure Step 11

Note that when the working space is Paper, the crosshairs will display to cover the complete
Graphic window. This means that you can draw anywhere in the Graphic window. All objects drawn,
while the working space is Paper, will be Paper space objects.

Step 12
Open the Properties window. Without entering a command, select the viewport. It will highlight,
as shown in the figure, and grips will display on the four corners. While the viewport is selected,
pull down the Standard scale property and set it to 1:2. (Figure Step 12A and 12B)

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Figure Step 12A

Figure Step 12B

Step 13
While the viewport is selected, pull down the Display locked property and set it to Yes. (Figure Step
13)

Figure Step 13

When the Display locked property is set to Yes, the viewport cannot be altered by zooming and
panning. That means that the scale cannot be changed. It is best to always lock the viewport display
after it is set to protect it from accidentally being changed.

Step 14
Your completed layout should appear as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 14)

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Figure Step 14

The model in this viewport is set to a scale of 1:2 or one-half size of the original size of the model.

Step 15
Enable the display of layout: Module Layout B. (Figure Step 15)

Figure Step 15

The paper size in Module Layout B is B size or 11X17 inches.

Step 16
Using what was taught in Step 8, enter the MVIEW command, two times, to create two viewports.
After creating the viewports, change the working space to Model and click inside the left viewport.
Enter the ZOOM Extents command. Click inside the viewport on the right and enter the ZOOM

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Extents command again. Change the working space to Paper and the layout should appear similar
to the figure. (Figure Step 16)\

Figure Step 16

Step 17
Using what was taught earlier in the work along, select the viewport on the left and set the scale
to 2:1. (Figure Step17)

Paper space must be the working space to select the viewport.

Step 18
Change the working space to Model and click inside viewport on the left. (Figure Step 18)

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Figure Step 18

Step 19
Without changing the zoom, pan of the model as shown in the figure. Change to Paper space.
(Figure Step 19)

Figure Step 19

Step 20
Using what was taught earlier in the work along, use the Properties window and check to ensure
that the scale is still set to 2:1. Lock the display. (Figure Step 20)

Figure Step 20
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Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

The model in this layout is set to a scale of 2:1 or two times the size of the original model.

Step 21
Using what was taught earlier in the work along, zoom and pan the model in the right viewport. Set
the Custom scale to 3 and lock the display. (Figure Step 21A and 21B)

Figure Step 21A

Figure Step 21B

Figure Step 21C

The model in this layout is set to a scale of 3:1 or three times the size of the original model.

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

Step 22
Turn layer: Viewport off. Your layout should appears as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 22)

Figure Step 22

Step 23
Save and close the drawing.

Figure 18-7

Layout Paper Sizes

USER TIP: Type your textbox content here

There are two completely different spaces to work in when you are drawing in AutoCAD. They are
called Model space and Paper space. The real objects that you are drawing should be drawn in
Model space and all other objects that are part of the description of the object, are drawn in Paper
space. Objects created in Model space can only be modified when the working space is Model and
should always be drawn at full size using the appropriate model drawing units. Objects drawn in
Paper space can only be modified while the working space is Paper. The paper units may differ from
the model units.

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

After you use the MVIEW command to create a viewport in the layout, you should always execute
the ZOOM Extents command immediately after. Before you enter the ZOOM Extents command,
change the working space to Model. After executing the command, you will be able to see all the
visible model objects in the viewport. You can then zoom and pan the model to set the desired
view.

Zoomed to the Extents

View zoomed and Panned

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Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

LABORATORY ACTIVITY:

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 COE110 – Laboratory
Manual PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO – College of Engineering

PLATE 2

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