Scale Bar

[antonf26]

For the scale the text automatically changes to the scale Im using in the design layer using the link value, sheet data.scale. Is there a way for the scale bar to automatically change with the scale from the design layer? (like the scale text link)

[Robert Anderson]

Hi antonf26, 

 

Do you mean you want the text size of the scale bar to change? The scale bar itself, of course, is necessarily drawn at world scale. The actual disstances and markings on the bar ought not to change!

[antonf26]

Is it possible for the scale bar to change automatically without having to put the scale bar in every single time? For example, having it set as a title block style.

[Robert Anderson]

The title block exists on the sheet, which  has a 1:1 scale. (The viewports on the sheet each have their own scale property.) If you don't want to put the scale bar in the Design Layer, you can put it in the notation of the viewport, where it will display correct scale.

[antonf26]

Would I have to put a scale on every viewport that I produce?

[Robert Anderson]

Yes. It kind of makes sense, since you can mix-and-match viewports (drawings) of different scales on a sheet. I usually put mine just below the drawing label.

[antonf26]

Is there a way then to have a set viewport ready? Like a template one or a style? The same way you would have a title block style where you can still edit it?

Edited September 23, 2019 by antonf26

[Robert Anderson]

No reason why not. Just create a viewport, give it some nominal layer and class visibility settings, and put your standard notations (drawing label, title block) in the Notations group. You can copy and paste it like any other Vectorworks object. 

[Boh]

I like my scale bar to be along the bottom of my sheet. Typically 1scsle bar per sheet. The prob for me putting scale bars inside vp annotations is that everytimr the vp is moved the scale bar moves.

 

It would be nice if scale bars could link to viewports without actually being in its annotation space.

[collins]

Hi Boh, can I ask how you ended up using scale bars in general after this discussion?

[Boh]

Hey @collins. Low tech manual approach I’m afraid.

I don’t like any of the styles provided in the scale bar tool and I like my scale bars to live at the bottom of my sheet so I have made my own set of scale bar symbols that I place manually on my sheet (I.e. not in vp annotations).

So I have a scale bar for 1:100,1:50, 1:25 etc. They are all kept in a shared library file so can quickly be brought in to a file.

If there are vps of different scales on a sheet I just don’t have a scale bar, rather just have the scale noted in the drawing label.

[collins]

Hi Boh,

I have ended up doing the same and place each scale bar on each sheet at 1 to 1.

It took a little while to figure out how to do it but works fine for now. 

Thanks

[unearthed]

@Boh It would also be nice if a scale bar could be anchored to a specific location on a page. Yep, I like my bars simple too, although I always put them in the vp, then even if I forget to adjust font size (why oh why is that not automatic !!!) at least the bar is there.