About Display Representations

Display representations represent the first level of display control.

Display representations define how an object appears in a drawing. You can preview display representations by clicking (Floating Viewer) in the Display Manager. The Floating Viewer displays how a specific object appears in different display representations and view directions.

Display Representations in AutoCAD MEP 2023 Toolset

AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset includes, among others, the following display representations:

1 Line

• Used for centerline depiction of an object in 2D or 3D
• In some cases, also used for isometric drawings

1 Line Screened

• Same as 1 Line display representation
• Exception: Objects screened for use as background

2 Line

• Used for 2D or 3D contour depiction of an object in plan and model drawings
• Fast, underlying graphical display engine
• For speed, hidden lines and rise/drop symbology not shown

2 Line Screened

• Same as 2 Line display representation
• Exception: Objects screened for use as background

Model

Used for full 3D wireframe depiction of an object

Model Screened

• Same as Model display representation
• Exception: Objects screened for use as background

Plan

• Used for 2D or 3D contour depiction of an object
• Has a graphical display engine that is slower than that for 2 Line but with higher quality (and thus, better for plotting)
• Hidden lines and rise/drop symbology shown

Plan Presentation

• All objects screened so that the user can create display themes or apply interference detection highlighting and display only the affected objects
• Hatching shown

Plan Screened

• Same as Plan Presentation
• Exception: Hatching not shown

Plan High Detail

• Unused
• AutoCAD Architecture 2023 toolset display representation provided for use in AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset
• Turns on all architectural subcomponents (for example, all wall components)

Plan Low Detail

• Unused
• AutoCAD Architecture 2023 toolset display representation provided for use in AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset
• Turns on some architectural subcomponents

Schematic

Used for 2D symbolic depiction of 3D MvParts for schematic diagrams

Schematic Screened

• Same as Schematic display representation
• Exception: Objects screened
• For use in the MEP Presentation display configuration

Reflected

• Unused
• AutoCAD Architecture 2023 toolset display representation provided for use in AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset

General

Used for objects that do not require different graphics for different representations or types of drawings (for example, annotation, plumbing lines, and plumbing fittings)

General Screened

• Same as General display representation
• Exception: Objects screened

The color of the grayed out (screened) objects in the background of building systems design drawings is controlled by layer G-Bgrd-Std-Scrn. The colors of the hidden lines applied to objects in building systems design drawings are controlled by the following layers:

• E-Hidn-Std-High and E-Hidn-Std-Subd for electrical objects
• M-Hidn-Std-High and M-Hidn-Std-Subd for mechanical objects
• G-Hidn-Std-High for plumbing objects