Smart Client Extension for AutoCAD
Smart Client DWG Editor

Focus the Drawing by Zooming

You can control a drawing’s magnification in the drawing window by working with the Zoom features. Zooming in magnifies the drawing so that you can focus on a particular area, and zooming out shows a larger portion of the drawing.

Use the commands on the Ribbon's View/Navigate group to adjust the drawing’s zoom. You can also use the right-click menu.

When you save a drawing, you save its current zoom setting. The next time you open the drawing, AutoCAD displays it at the zoom setting at which the drawing was saved.

To zoom in

From the Ribbon, click View/Navigate/Zoom/In. 'In' is one of the zoom selections that appear when you click the arrow next to the Zoom list in the Navigate group. By default the list shows Extents.

To zoom out

From the Ribbon, click View/Navigate/ Zoom /Out. 'Out' is one of the Zoom selections that appear when you click the arrow next to the Zoom list in the Navigate group. By default the list shows Extents.

To use the real-time zoom

  1. From the Ribbon, click View/Navigate/Zoom/Realtime. 'Realtime' is one of the Zoom selections that appear when you click the arrow next to the Zoom list in the Navigate group.The cursor changes to a magnifying glass with “+” and “-” signs.
  2. Hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse:
  3. To shrink the drawing, drag toward the bottom of the window.
  4. To enlarge the drawing, drag toward the top of the window.

To magnify an area of your drawing

  1. From the Ribbon, click View/Navigate/Zoom/Window. 'Window' is one of the Zoom selections that appear when you click the arrow next to the Zoom list in the Navigate group.
  2. With the mouse, select the two corners of the area to magnify.

To view an entire drawing in the drawing window

From the Ribbon, click View/Navigate/Zoom/Extents. 'Extents' is one of the Zoom selections that appear when you click the arrow next to the Zoom list in the Navigate group.

The entire drawing zooms to fit into the drawing window.

This command is helpful if you are unclear as to what AutoCAD is currently displaying. Run this command to see the entire drawing, and then use the other zoom commands to display the area that you need.

To return to the drawing’s previous zoom setting

From the Ribbon, click View/Navigate/Zoom/Previous. 'Previous' is one of the Zoom selections that appear when you click the arrow next to the Zoom list in the Navigate group.

To zoom while executing a command

You may be in the process of using a command, when you realize that you need to zoom the drawing. You can zoom in or out without leaving the active command by executing the AutoCAD Zoom command from the right-click menu.

For example, you would follow this procedure to zoom the drawing while running the AutoCAD Home/Draw/Line command.

  1. From the Ribbon, click the Home/Draw/Line command and choose the first point.
  2. Right-click on the drawing window and select Zoom.
  3. You receive the Zoom Realtime cursor. Drag the mouse to enlarge or shrink the drawing.
  4. When you reach the desired zoom setting, right-click and choose Exit from the menu. This exits the AutoCAD Zoom command.
  5. You can now draw the second point of the line.