Is it possible to create multiple viewports in a single layout in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Yes — in BricsCAD, you can create multiple viewports in a single layout using the MVIEW command, which is the standard professional paper space method. This lets you show different areas or scales on one sheet efficiently. Limitation: each viewport must be managed carefully to avoid accidental zoom or scale changes.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: Multiple layout viewports often fail in production because users forget to lock viewport scales after setting them. Another common issue is placing viewports on non-plot or frozen layers, which makes them appear missing or blank at print time.
How to Create Multiple Viewports in One Layout
Command: MVIEW
Shortcut: MV
Quick Steps:
- Switch to a Layout tab, then go to the paper space area where you want the viewports.
- Type MVIEW and choose the standard rectangular option, then click two corners to create the first viewport.
- Repeat MVIEW to create additional viewports, then activate each viewport, set its view and scale, and turn on Display Locked = Yes in Properties.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Viewport Display Locked property
Expert Setting: After setting the correct viewport scale, set Display Locked to Yes in the Properties panel. This prevents accidental zooming or panning inside the viewport, which is one of the most common sheet setup errors in BricsCAD.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): The viewport boundary is too small or incorrectly placed, so the model view is clipped or hard to see clearly.
Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): The viewport is placed on a layer that is off, frozen, or set to not plot, making it seem like the viewport was not created.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The viewport scale was set, but the viewport was not locked, so later zooming changed the intended plotted scale.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
Quick Fix: Select the viewport, open Properties, and set Display Locked to Yes after assigning the correct standard scale.
Manager’s Verdict: Use multiple viewports in one layout when a sheet needs overview and detail views together. Avoid overloading a layout with too many viewports, because scale control, layer visibility, and plotting become harder to maintain.
FAQ
Can each viewport have a different scale?
Yes, each layout viewport can use its own scale.
Can I freeze layers in only one viewport?
Yes, use viewport-specific layer freeze settings.
Can I create non-rectangular viewports in BricsCAD?
Yes, you can create irregular viewport shapes from closed objects.
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