When “autocad linetype not showing,” set LTSCALE=1, PSLTSCALE=1, MSLTSCALE=1, run REGENALL, then match linetype scale to the viewport.
Dash, dot, and center patterns disappear when scale settings fight each other, when a viewport overrides display, or when the object can’t generate the pattern at its current length. This guide gives clean fixes that stick, so your dashed lines plot the way you expect across model and paper space.
Autocad Linetype Not Showing — Core Checks
Quick check: Confirm the object’s Linetype isn’t set to Continuous, the layer’s linetype isn’t overriding it, and the target pattern is actually loaded from acad.lin. If it’s missing, use LINETYPE > Load….
- Verify Object Linetype — Select the object, open Properties, and set Linetype to the intended dashed style.
- Reload The Pattern — Run LINETYPE > Load, pick the dash pattern from acad.lin, then assign it.
- Reset Global Scale — Set LTSCALE to 1 for paper-space-centric workflows; it’s a reliable baseline and reduces surprises later.
Why this works: AutoCAD uses a global linetype scale (LTSCALE) plus view-dependent switches that control how patterns adapt to model vs. paper space. A clean baseline prevents mixed results when you jump between tabs.
Quick Fixes That Solve 80% Of Cases
Most “autocad linetype not showing” reports trace back to three switches and one regen. Work through these in order; stop when the pattern looks right in both spaces.
- Set LTSCALE To 1 — Type LTSCALE ➜ enter 1. This normalizes global dash length for layouts and avoids model/paper mismatches.
- Turn On PSLTSCALE — Type PSLTSCALE ➜ enter 1. Dashes adapt to each viewport’s scale, so they read the same on the sheet.
- Turn On MSLTSCALE — Type MSLTSCALE ➜ enter 1. Dashes in model space respect the current annotation scale, improving preview fidelity.
- Regen Everything — Type REGENALL. Linework refreshes with the new scales.
Tip: After changing any of these, zoom to a typical detail area and confirm the dash length looks readable at your planned plot scale. If dashes are still too long or too tight, nudge the object’s Linetype scale in Properties (not the global value) until it reads clean.
AutoCAD Linetype Not Showing In Paper Space — Fast Checks
Layouts add one more layer: the viewport. A good viewport honors your scales and shows the pattern exactly as it will plot. If dashes vanish or look wrong in paper space, use this sequence inside the viewport (double-click to enter it):
- Regenerate In The Viewport — With the viewport active, run RE. The pattern refreshes using the current view scale.
- Confirm PSLTSCALE=1 — Type PSLTSCALE ➜ enter 1. This keeps dashes consistent between viewports at different scales.
- Check Annotation Scale — Set the status-bar annotation scale to the sheet’s intended scale. With MSLTSCALE=1, model-space dashes preview closer to final output.
- Match Object Linetype Scale — Select a problem line ➜ Properties ➜ tweak Linetype scale slightly until it reads well at the sheet scale.
Heads-up: You can’t force one universal dash length that looks identical in model space and across every viewport scale. Viewports at wildly different scales will display different dash counts; aim for sheet legibility, not identical model previews.
Model Space, Paper Space, And Viewport Scale
Core idea: Three layers control what you see:
- Global — LTSCALE sets the drawing-wide base. For layout workflows, keep it at 1.
- By Space — MSLTSCALE in model and PSLTSCALE in paper adjust dash spacing to the current scale.
- By Object — Linetype scale in Properties lets a specific line read correctly without upsetting the whole file.
Here’s a quick map from symptom to likely cause and fix:
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dashes look solid in layout | PSLTSCALE off, no regen | Set PSLTSCALE=1, REGENALL |
| Model preview looks off | MSLTSCALE off, odd annotative scale | Set MSLTSCALE=1, pick the correct annotation scale |
| One line never shows dashes | Object Linetype still Continuous or scale tiny | Assign pattern; adjust object Linetype scale |
| Polyline shows long solids between vertices | PLINEGEN off | Set PLINEGEN=1 |
| 3D polyline never shows dashes | 3D polylines don’t display linetypes | Convert to 2D linework for dashed output |
Polyline And Block Gotchas That Hide Dashes
Even with the right scales, certain object quirks can flatten a pattern.
- Enable Polyline Generation — Set PLINEGEN=1. The dash pattern restarts across each segment so multi-segment polylines don’t read as long solids.
- Check 3D Polylines — 3D polylines ignore linetype display. If you need dashed output, convert to 2D (e.g., FLATSHOT, CONVERT3DPOLYS, or redraw as 2D).
- Open Block Editor Cases — Some blocks preview linetypes differently inside the Block Editor than in the main drawing. Always confirm outside the editor before chasing a scale ghost.
- ByBlock Versus ByLayer — If nested objects are set to ByBlock, the final linetype depends on the parent block’s assignment. Set nested parts to ByLayer for predictable results.
Quick test: Explode one copy of a stubborn block and assign the dash pattern directly. If the dashed look returns, fix the block’s internal assignments and ByLayer usage, then redefine it.
When Scale Looks Right But Dashes Still Fail
If your settings look perfect and the pattern still refuses to show, check these less-obvious culprits.
- Object Too Short For Pattern — A tiny line can’t fit even one dash-gap cycle at the current scale. Shorten the dash length by lowering the object’s Linetype scale or draw the line longer and clip it in a viewport.
- Far-From-Origin Geometry — Extremely large coordinates degrade display math. Move the site closer to 0,0 using a base point or use a clean file with proper survey setup.
- Viewport Overrides — If a viewport has linetype or layer overrides, patterns may look fine in model but wrong on the sheet. Reset overrides in the layer manager with the viewport active.
- Mixed Viewport Scales — A 1:10 detail and a 1:200 plan won’t share a perfect dash length. Prioritize sheet readability; minor differences between viewports are expected.
- Corrupt Or Custom LIN File — If a custom pattern came from another source, reload a stock dash from acad.lin and test. If that works, rebuild the custom LIN with sane units.
Plot preview test: Always check Plot Preview. If preview looks correct but model view doesn’t, you’re chasing a screen-only issue. Keep the scales above, then tune object-level Linetype scale for on-sheet clarity.
Reliable Linetype Setup You Can Reuse
Lock in a base that works across projects. This setup yields consistent dashed output on layouts with minimal fuss.
- Template Baseline — In your seed file, keep LTSCALE=1, PSLTSCALE=1, MSLTSCALE=1, and common dash patterns preloaded.
- Viewport Routine — Create viewports ➜ set their scales ➜ activate each viewport ➜ run RE ➜ eyeball dash readability.
- Per-Object Touch-Up — Where needed, tweak an object’s Linetype scale so dashes read well at the chosen sheet scale.
- Polyline Discipline — Keep PLINEGEN=1 in the template. Use 2D lines for dashed output; avoid 3D polylines for dashed layers.
- Block Hygiene — Build blocks with all parts set to ByLayer. Test linetypes outside the Block Editor before saving.
Bottom line: Keep the global switches simple, let viewports adapt to scale, and adjust only the few objects that need special treatment. That’s the stable, low-maintenance way to keep dashed and centerlines readable on every sheet.