Floating Viewports (.NET)

You cannot edit the model from Paper space. To access the model in a Viewport object, toggle from Paper space to Model space using the SwitchToModelSpace and SwitchToPaperSpace member methods of the Editor object. As a result, you can work with the model while keeping the overall layout visible. In Viewport objects, the editing and view-changing capabilities are almost the same as in ViewportTableRecord objects.

However, you have more control over the individual views. For example, you can freeze or thaw layers in some viewports without affecting others. You can toggle the display of the geometry in a viewport on or off. You can also align views between viewports and scale the views relative to the overall layout.

The following illustration shows how different views of a model can be displayed in Paper space. Each Paper space image represents a Viewport object with a different view. In one view, the layer for dimensions is frozen. Notice that the title block, border, and annotation, which are drawn in Paper space, do not appear in the Model space view. Also, the layer containing the viewport borders has been frozen.

When you are working in a Viewport object, you can be in either Model or Paper space. You can determine if you are working in Model space by checking the current values of the TILEMODE and CVPORT system variables. The following table breaks down the space and layout you are working in based on the current values of TILEMODE and CVPORT. is 0 and CVPORT is a value other than 2, you are working in Paper space, and if TILEMODE is 0 and CVPORT is 2 then you are working in Model space. If TILEMODE is 1, you are working in Model space on the Model layout.

Current space

TILEMODE

CVPORT

Status

0

Not equal to 2

Layout other than Model is active and you are working in Paper space.

0

2

Layout other than Model is active and you are working in a floating viewport.

1

Any value

Model layout is active.

Note: Before switching to Model space on when on a layout, the On property for at least one Viewport object on the layout should be set to TRUE.

When you are in paper space, AutoCAD displays the paper space user coordinate system (UCS) icon in the lower-left corner of the graphics area. The crosshairs indicate that the paper space layout area (not the views in the viewports) can be edited.

To toggle between Model and Paper space

This example shows how to toggle between Model and Paper space.

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
 
<CommandMethod("ToggleSpace")> _
Public Sub ToggleSpace()
  '' Get the current document
  Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
 
  '' Get the current values of CVPORT and TILEMODE
  Dim nCvports As Integer = Application.GetSystemVariable("CVPORT")
  Dim nTilemode As Integer = Application.GetSystemVariable("TILEMODE")
 
  '' Check to see if the Model layout is active, TILEMODE is 1 when
  '' the Model layout is active
  If nTilemode = 0 Then
      '' Check to see if Model space is active in a viewport,
      '' CVPORT is 2 if Model space is active 
      If nCvports = 2 Then
          acDoc.Editor.SwitchToPaperSpace()
      Else
          acDoc.Editor.SwitchToModelSpace()
      End If
  Else
      '' Switch to the previous Paper space layout
      Application.SetSystemVariable("TILEMODE", 0)
  End If
End Sub

C#

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
 
[CommandMethod("ToggleSpace")]
public static void ToggleSpace()
{
  // Get the current document
  Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
 
  // Get the current values of CVPORT and TILEMODE
  object oCvports = Application.GetSystemVariable("CVPORT");
  object oTilemode = Application.GetSystemVariable("TILEMODE");
 
  // Check to see if the Model layout is active, TILEMODE is 1 when
  // the Model layout is active
  if (System.Convert.ToInt16(oTilemode) == 0)
  {
      // Check to see if Model space is active in a viewport,
      // CVPORT is 2 if Model space is active 
      if (System.Convert.ToInt16(oCvports) == 2)
      {
          acDoc.Editor.SwitchToPaperSpace();
      }
      else
      {
          acDoc.Editor.SwitchToModelSpace();
      }
  }
  else
  {
      // Switch to the previous Paper space layout
      Application.SetSystemVariable("TILEMODE", 0);
  }
}

VBA/ActiveX Code Reference

Public Sub ToggleSpace()
    ' Check to see if the Model layout is active
    If ThisDrawing.ActiveLayout.Name <> "Model" Then
        ' Check to see if Model space is active
        If ThisDrawing.MSpace = True Then
            ThisDrawing.MSpace = False
        Else
            ThisDrawing.MSpace = True
        End If
    Else
        ' Switch to the previous Paper space layout
        ThisDrawing.ActiveSpace = acPaperSpace
    End If
End Sub

Related Concepts