200 AutoCAD Commands and Shortcuts PDF eBook

Download the free eBook containing fully categorized list of 200+ AutoCAD commands, shortcuts, function keys and more

IN THIS ARTICLE

Understanding annotation scale of AutoCAD

Last Updated: March 7th, 2023By Categories: AutoCAD

The annotative property was added in the AutoCAD 2008 version and it is a useful tool for keeping annotation size constant in AutoCAD. Prior to the induction of the annotation scale of AutoCAD, the task of plotting objects with the correct scale for different viewports was a tedious job.

One had to make multiple copies of the same object for different scales and the objects were then put on different layers and for each viewport or scale of drawing only appropriate layer was turned on keeping rest of the layers off.

This process results in an unnecessary amount of data in drawing leading to confusion and larger file size and itโ€™s needless to say that it also causesย wastage of drafting time. The annotative property took this trouble out of drawing process.

Understanding Annotative property:

Letโ€™s assume that we have a floor plan with maximum exterior dimensions of 525 inches and 336 inches. Now in order to plot this drawing on a normal A3 size sheet of paper which is 420 X 297 mm we need to decrease the overall scale of drawing to appropriate size.

Letโ€™s select a scale of ยผโ€ = 1โ€™ which in laymanโ€™s term can be summed up as 0.25 inches on paper equals 1 feet on actual drawing. Now with this scale, the drawing looks like this on A3 paper.

Annotation Scale AutoCAD

Here all dimensions, text and blocks are clearly visible with respect to the viewport. Now here is another drawing in which onlyย the kitchen is included at a zoomed scale of 1โ€ = 1โ€™

Now obviously with a change of scale of viewport the scale of dimension text also changed in same proportion which you can see in the drawing but do we really need large dimension text as seen in figure 2?

Obviously, we donโ€™t need large text we want uniform text and dimension size throughout different scales of the drawing. So we can assign the annotative property to dimension and text and keep its size fixed in different scales throughout the drawing.

Figure 3 is again plotted at the scale of 1โ€=1โ€™ but with annotative property assigned to the dimension text in which size of dimension text is equal to its size in A3 sheet (figure 1) where the scale was ยผโ€=1โ€™ making it look more consistent.

Making Annotative dimension:

To make annotative dimension style type DIMSTYLE on the command line and press enter. A new dimension style manager window will pop up, click on the new button on right side of this window. Now give your dimension style a name, I am naming it as โ€œMy Anno Dimโ€ and check the annotative radio button then click on continue.

Annotation Scale of AutoCAD

Figure 4

New dimension style window will pop up with multiple tabs, select text tab and change the size of text to 1/8โ€ or whatever paper height of text you want to keep in all scales. Similarly, change arrow size from symbols and arrow tab to 1/8โ€.

If you already have a dimension style for your drawing and you want to make that style annotative then select your dimension style from dimension style managerย then go to fit tab and check the annotative radio button from the scale for dimension features panel.

Click on OK to close new dimension style manager and then click on close from dimension style manager window too.

Annotation Scale of AutoCAD

Figure 5

Now our drawing is prepared with a new annotative dimension. Make My Anno Dim dimension style current by selecting it from dimension style drop down andย add dimensions to the drawing in model space using current annotative dimension style.

Adding Scale to Annotative dimensions:

Before preparing the layout for final plotting we should decide the scales in which we want to plot our drawing. Letโ€™s assume that we want to plot the drawing on A3 paper size and on three different scales 1โ€=1โ€™, 1/8โ€=1โ€™ and ยฝโ€=1โ€™.

In order to make annotative dimensions visible on all of these scales, we need to add these scalesย to the dimensions. From status bar click on add scales…ย button Captureย to turn it on, you can also turn on show annotation objects button to see a real-time effect of the change in scale on your drawing, see figure 6 for reference.

6

Figure 6

For adding scale in anย older version of AutoCAD type OBJECTSCALE on the command line and press enter then select all dimensions for which you want to add scales then press enter again. Annotation object scale window will pop up, select add button and add scales to the list and click OK to close all open windows.

Annotation Scale of AutoCAD

Figure 7

Now click on scale drop down menu next to add scales button and select scale 1โ€=1โ€™ from the drop down menu, repeat the process for 1/8โ€=1โ€™ and ยฝโ€=1โ€™ scales also. Now the scales are added to the drawing and our drawing can now be prepared for plotting.

Do not add many scales to the annotative dimensions because it may cause a lot of background processes and as a result, your software performance may suffer.

Preparing layout views:

Go to layout tab and type PAGESETUP on the command line and press enter, select modify from page setup manager window and select ISO A3 paper size from the Paper Size drop-down menu of page setup window. Click OK to close page setup window.

Now create three rectangular viewports in paper space and assign scales of 1โ€=1โ€™, 1/8โ€=1โ€™ and ยฝโ€=1โ€™ to three viewports. You will notice that although we have different drawing components like text, blocks and geometries on different scales but the size of dimension text is constant throughout the viewports because of annotative property assigned to them.

If you change the scale of any of these viewports to the value other than the one which is assigned to annotative dimension then the dimensions will not appear for that scale. In order to make dimension appear for a new scale, you need to add that scale to the annotative dimensions as explained above.

Changing visibility of annotative object:

You can change the position of your annotative object according to the scale. For example,ย in the scale of 1โ€=1โ€™ the dimension appearsย in the middle of the dining table but for a scale of ยฝโ€=1โ€™ the dimension may be made to appear outside dining table for the same dimension as shown in figure 8.

Annotation Scale of AutoCAD

Figure 8

To change the visibility of these objects simply activate viewports by double-clicking within them and move dimensions using grips to the position where you want it to appear for the particular viewport, the position of the annotative object will not change in another viewport.

Conclusion:

The methods explained in this article can be used for assigning annotative scales to other objects like Blocks, Hatch and Mtext also. The annotative feature is a great time saving and productivity tool that should be used in the drawing wherever required.

This tool not only helps in making a more organized and professional drawing but it also helps in keeping useless clutter out of the drawing that you are forced to use if not using annotative property.

Do you have questions related to this tip? Let me know in comments below.

200 AutoCAD Commands and Shortcuts PDF eBook

Download the free eBook containing fully categorized list of 200+ AutoCAD commands, shortcuts, function keys and more

38 Comments

  1. vk February 26, 2023 at 2:33 pm - Reply

    good explanation.

  2. Solomon david November 24, 2021 at 11:59 am - Reply

    Sir, I am beginner in autocad. My doubt is if somebody asks me to draw a floor plan for a specified length and width, then how I select the scale suitable to that plan to fit in an A3 or A4 paper

  3. shavin younis September 4, 2020 at 12:26 am - Reply

    someone know what is the offset for exterior and interior?

  4. Miriam August 11, 2020 at 4:04 am - Reply

    Does anyone knows, why when I open a file in my computer the scales are correct, but when someone else opens the same file, the text scale is larger? I could fixed it with the annotative scale add/del, but don’t want to move anything, since the original drawing work in my computer. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

  5. S SOLANKI April 12, 2020 at 3:25 pm - Reply

    Sir, how should i change the height of text by command ” SCALE “. When i apply command Scale my select object is increase but the Text Height didn’t change.
    I want to increase the text height along with object when i apply SCALE Command.

    • Solomon david November 24, 2021 at 11:58 am - Reply

      Sir, I am beginner in autocad. My doubt is if somebody asks me to draw a floor plan for a specified length and width, then how I select the scale suitable to that plan to fit in an A3 or A4 paper

  6. Penelope L Goss December 20, 2019 at 10:27 am - Reply

    I am totally confused as I am attempting to set up Annotative dimensions on multiple x-refs so they show up properly in paper-space. OMG! I’ve worked with dimensions in Model Space with many plans to show various items in different scale then the viewport is set.

    The architect wants me to learn Annotative Dimensions for use with multiple floor plans as well as multiple viewports of the several floor plans.

    Please help me! Beginner step by step Dimensions in Paperspace

    AutoCAD user sine ’89 Version 10 (DOS) and now using AutoCAD 2018 Windows 10.

  7. Shailesh Sanghai November 6, 2019 at 6:15 pm - Reply

    Thanks for your explanation. But I have a problem.After creating some Annotatie Scale, I had copied some object from other source thane after I got different Similar Annotative Scale listing such as 1:1, 1:1_1, 1:1_2 etc and if I try to edit this It is not editable or I can not delete it.What will be the problem.

  8. Bahar June 20, 2019 at 1:55 am - Reply

    Hi,
    Thanks for the good info sharing.
    Changing visibility of annotative object:
    You can change the position of your annotative object according to the scale. For example, in the scale of 1โ€=1โ€™ the dimension appears in the middle of the dining table but for a scale of ยฝโ€=1โ€™ the dimension may be made to appear outside dining table for the same dimension as shown in figure 8.
    I have problem with this portion I am using CAD19 and if you double click in view port any changes and moves you make to dimension it affect all other view ports and acts like a model not annotative object.

  9. urvi January 10, 2019 at 7:12 pm - Reply

    The viewport and annotation scales are synchronized when the annotation scaling controls are used. For example, when i change the viewport scale, the annotation scale updates to match the new viewport scale. However, as i zoom in or out of a viewport with my mouse wheel or by using the Zoom commands, the viewport scale updates while the annotation scale will remain unchanged.
    Whenever an annotation object is added to a drawing, the current annotation scale is added to the object as a participatory scale. AutoCAD Architecture objects identified as annotative will scale to match the current annotation scale.
    How can i resolve it ,I dont want that when i change the viewport scale, the annotation scale updates to match the new viewport scale.
    Please advice how could i resolve it.

  10. Muhammad Atif December 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm - Reply

    dear
    how r you?
    how we can scale up dwg without changing dimension???

  11. G.raja September 21, 2018 at 8:27 pm - Reply

    sir,

    source cad is very useful for us

    thank u

  12. Izuchukwu September 20, 2018 at 3:08 pm - Reply

    Thank you sir and God bless you. Izuchukwu from Nigeria.

  13. joshi vipul September 16, 2018 at 5:37 pm - Reply

    Dear Sir
    for the selection option which way in autcad in dwg five object & i’ve Required in one object dimension select object then result it

  14. K.harish September 11, 2018 at 9:51 pm - Reply

    Sir, recently i started learning AutoCAD . I have a problem to give dimensions. I use multleader for text dimensions but Iam unable to give dimensions on top of multleader .please tell me the solution.

  15. Muzaffer mohammed September 6, 2018 at 10:18 pm - Reply

    Hai sir
    This is muzaffer mohammed Iam a mechanical engineer and working as draftsman in Kuwait.I have doubt how to create scale in model space like 1:50;1:10;1:00 plz guide me ….

  16. LaurieB March 27, 2018 at 9:17 am - Reply

    Thank you, your page is so helpful to beginners like myself. The comments and responses are helpful to avoid learning bad habits

  17. Taurai Dhinha June 11, 2017 at 7:05 am - Reply

    Can I use a non standard scale for annonation, for example 3:1.

    • Jaiprakash Pandey June 11, 2017 at 12:46 pm - Reply

      Yes, you can add your own custom scale and use it for annotative dimensioning.

  18. Kasia February 3, 2017 at 8:46 pm - Reply

    Hi
    Is there any way of rotating and stretching annotative block (anno-leader with anno-text in a frame with hatch: dynamic blocks as well) in one scale but to not effect the same detail in other scale? I need to keep block as they are in scale 1:1250 and rotate them in scale 1:2500. would more than likely need to stretch them to avoid overlapping… any suggestions?
    Regards

    • Thomas January 5, 2019 at 9:50 am - Reply

      While in the block editor, check the box so that your block always shows itself aligned to any viewport no matter what.

  19. Chris December 28, 2016 at 11:47 pm - Reply

    I have follow the steps for the annotative dimensions but in paper space I see the different dimensions sizes. (I have 3 different viewport scales).
    What could be the problem?
    Thank you.

    • Chris December 29, 2016 at 12:20 am - Reply

      Another issue is that when I move one dimension in one viewport using the grips, the dimension moves in all viewports (?).

      • Jaiprakash Pandey January 4, 2017 at 7:33 pm - Reply

        If you apply the annotative property and then selectively change the scale of dimensions in the viewport then moving them will not cause the dimensions to move in all viewports.

    • Jaiprakash Pandey January 4, 2017 at 7:33 pm - Reply

      can you share the snapshot?

  20. mohammed osman June 24, 2016 at 4:16 pm - Reply

    Dear Sir,Pandey,

    my self mohammed osman

    i am electrical designer working in abu dhabi- UAE

    i read all the article but still confuse with annotation scale . can you please suggest me any video tutorial .

    thanks,

  21. Paul MT April 9, 2016 at 9:34 am - Reply

    I thought annotive scaling was introduced in 2007, the AutoCAD 2008 version It’s been around a lot longer than people think

    • Jaiprakash Pandey April 9, 2016 at 12:32 pm - Reply

      Yes Paul Annotative scaling was introduced in 2008 version, thanks for pointing it out.

  22. michaelviscetto April 8, 2016 at 1:46 am - Reply

    Dear Jaiprakash,
    Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together.
    I love annotative scaling and have been using it and teaching others how to use it since 2012.
    I also agree that annotating in Paper Space is a dangerous proposition and I personally do not recommend it.

    In regard to training others on how to utilize this tool some people get it quickly some get it slowly. It is a challenge to wrap your head around. Especially the old school drafters like me. I hated it until I understood it. However, with proper tools such as what you have provided us as well as a few other YouTube videos and patience, users will start to use it, understand it and begin to love it as I did.

    There are some tricks to it for sure. We need to understand what Annotative scaling expects from us. I have learned that keeping it simple and being very intentional about what objects are assigned what scale is critical to the success of this tool. Also, the ability to relocate the object โ€œScale Representationโ€ is a very unique and powerful tool. But as you mentioned, it needs to be done by selecting the object and using the grip to reposition it. If you select it and move it like any other object the entire object moves including ALL of the scale representations assigned to that object.

    Once again, thank you for taking the time to help others understand this tool.
    Be well.

    Michael

    • Jaiprakash Pandey April 8, 2016 at 2:06 pm - Reply

      Thanks Michael for your comment, I also agree that drafters are generally reluctant to use this property despite its great features.

    • shavin younis September 4, 2020 at 12:24 am - Reply

      what are the interior and exterior offset for this drawing please

  23. Bob Diaz April 8, 2016 at 12:54 am - Reply

    I know exactly what you are talking about. My problem is teaching it to my students. So I use google maps as an example. Some grasp it, others are still lost.

  24. Patricia Ellistone April 7, 2016 at 1:42 pm - Reply

    I don’t understand why you would have copied objects multiple times – just scale the viewports then annotate and dimension in paperspace.

    • Anonymous April 7, 2016 at 8:59 pm - Reply

      Aside from it being bad practice, dimensioning in paper space can become a major issue if you have to change the position of the objects within the viewport.

    • Jaiprakash Pandey April 7, 2016 at 11:02 pm - Reply

      It is completely your choice of using dimensions in paper space or model space but I would suggest you not to add annotations in paper space because there are chances of your dimensions easily becoming “un-associative” with change in position of viewport, moreover if an update in geometry is made in model space it will not reflect in the layout view directly. Dimensioning in model space also offers ability to manipulate layer visibility states according to viewports in paper space. Here is a great article by paul munford that will explain it more clearly http://cadsetterout.com/drawing-standards/autocad-dimensioning-in-model-or-paper-space/

Leave A Comment