Topic: Default LTSCALE

[Rob...]

Someone is trying to tell me that AutoDesk has recommended to use 0.5 for LTSCALE. Has anyone heard anything about this? It just does not make sense to me.

[M-dub]

I've never heard that before...

[StykFacE]

It makes sense to me because in the vertical products they have all their LT scales set to 0.5 in the default templates. By "makes sense" I mean that it is consistent with the claim that Autodesk recommends it.

[Rob...]

I wonder if this is their way of "fixing" a problem with linetypes that has been around since I started using AutoCAD. I've always had to use the *2 version of the linetypes.

[StykFacE]

I don't know but I think it's a good guess Rob. Personally, a 0.5 LTSCALE is preferred in my opinion if AutoCAD is being used for scaled floorplan drafting. Any other trades, such as machinery design, etc - I wouldn't be able to accurately comment for or against the 0.5 LTS setting.

[Rob...]

In my opinion, anything other than 1.0 would be for special circumstances. Our CAD manager is telling us to use this even though it changes the way our linetypes look. It just doesn't make sense to change our long established standards because "that's what AutoDesk" is doing without some across the board changes to our linetypes.

[CAB]

I use 1.0 mostly but drawing details at real size I have to use some fraction of one to get the visual results I want.

[Drafter X]

Oh, I love this subject.
 
I don't know where it comes from, but yes .5 seems to be default, and if you look at plotted drawings, they tend to look best there.  Now I prefer an LT scale of 1 so I make custom linetypes to work that way and do not use default line types so I can avoid this whole issue.  I have had horrid problems with drawings from outside my organization where PSLTScale, LTScale and an objects LT scale are all set to values other then one and getting proper plotting is a nightmare.
 
My rule, use LT Scale 1 and make your line types plot properly with the definition, cause why in the hell would 0.5 be normal instead of 1?  But thats just me.
 
 

[StykFacE]

It just doesn't make sense to change our long established standards because "that's what AutoDesk" is doing without some across the board changes to our linetypes.

I agree completely. The reason 0.5 works for me is because in the MEP world, a 24x24 diffuser with a hidden linetype doesn't look as good when the LTS is set @ 1. This is one example of many. And ultimately it's a preference anyways.

[Drafter X]

Psh, autodesk is dancing around a ton of disciplines, tell him a genuine former two time 'Ask the Expert' said that is a very loose standard and if it was intended to be a set standard you couldn't change it.
 
Love pulling the 'appeal to authority' arguement, LOL

[Jeff H]

I always use 1.0 and define my linetypes what I want them drawn at when printed.

Autodesk

*HIDDEN,Hidden __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
A,.25,-.125
*HIDDEN2,Hidden (.5x) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A,.125,-.0625
*HIDDENX2,Hidden (2x) ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
A,.5,-.25

*MyHiddenIsBetter x(0.5),MyHiddenIsBetter__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
A,.0.0625,-0.03125

*MyHiddenIsBetter,MyHiddenIsBetter__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
A,.125,-.0625

*MyHiddenIsBetter x(2.0),MyHiddenIsBetter__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
A,.25,-.125

Speaking of which here it helps with things like this nice little thing for linetypes with letters(they added new 'U' parameter a couple years back)
This works with Romans and some other fonts but if using another font you have to figure out the height of letters

Red is text height so if using 1/8" change  red to 0.09375(3/32") to 0.125
Green is text height/ 2
Blue is the number of letters* text height(only add half for lower case)

*Electrical Line,Electrical Line ----E----E----
A,1.25,-0.09375,["E",(Hgce)Romans(LineTypes),s=0.09375,x=-0.046875,y=-0.046875,u=0],-0.09375

*1-Phase Primary Overhead,1 Phase Overhead Primary ----1oOP----1oOP----
A,1.25,-0.09375,["1%%COP",(Hgce)Romans(LineTypes),s=0.09375,x=-0.046875,y=-0.046875,u=0],-0.375

I also will define one (x2) and (x0.5) but will add one like this so for the tight spaces the Letters will show up and be the same height
Notice the last number adds only half the value of text height since it uses a lower case.

*(Existing)Electrical Line x(0.1),Existing Electrical Line (.1x) -Ex-Ex-
A,0.125,-0.09375,["Ex",(Hgce)Romans(LineTypes),s=0.09375,x=-0.046875,y=-0.046875,u=0],-0.15625

[Matt__W]

...define my linetypes what I want them drawn at when printed.

+1   

[M-dub]

Man, I hate that picture...

[dgorsman]

1.  Use what the client tells you to
2.  If the client doesn't say, use what works for your drawings
3.  If you don't know what works, use the Rule of One: global LTSCALE = 1, object LT scale = 1, MSLTSCALE = 1, PSLTSCALE = 1.  Then pick your linetypes to show what you want.
4.  The only "right" answer is to use the correct LIN file - acadiso.lin for metric drawings, acad.lin for imperial drawings.

[danallen]

...use the Rule of One: global LTSCALE = 1, object LT scale = 1, MSLTSCALE = 1, PSLTSCALE = 1.  Then pick your linetypes to show what you want.

agree

every since R12 I've always had scaled down versions of the common linetypes such as HIDDEN4 & HIDDEN8. this avoids the need to have LTSCALE set to 0.5 to get smaller dashed lines