Lesson 6: Properties

Properties

Control how your objects look by adjusting their color, linetype, thickness, and more.

You can set properties like color and linetype in two ways:

• For each object individually
• Or by assigning default properties to a layer

In the example below, different elements—walls, doors, electrical parts, furniture, and text—are colored differently to make the drawing easier to read.

The Properties Palette

The Properties palette is a powerful tool that shows all the main settings for an object.

To open it:

• Type PROPERTIES or PR
• Press Ctrl + 1
• Or click the small arrow on the Properties panel under the Home tab

If nothing is selected, the palette shows the default properties for new objects. For example, if you change the color to Red, every new object you draw will be red—unless it’s set to follow the layer.

Check and Change Properties of Existing Objects

Click on any object in your drawing, and the Properties palette will show its current settings.

You can:

• See its color, layer, linetype, etc.
• Click any value to change it
• Understand if something is set to ByLayer (which means it’s following the layer’s settings)

In the example, objects on the layer called 20 ELECTRICAL appear purple because that’s the layer’s default color.

Tip: If you select multiple objects, AutoCAD only shows the properties they have in common. Changing any of those will apply to all selected items.

To deselect everything, just press Esc.

Quick Access to Common Properties

The Properties palette can take up space. For quick changes, use the Properties panel in the Home tab on the ribbon.

It works just like the palette, but it’s simpler and faster to use when you don’t need all the details.

If you select an object, the panel will show its properties. You can easily change them right there.

Match Properties Tool

Want to copy the appearance of one object to another?

Use the Match Properties tool:

1. Click Match Properties (or type MATCHPROP or MA)
2. Select the object with the properties you want to copy
3. Select the objects you want to apply those properties to

This is super useful when you want several things to look the same.

Linetypes (Dashed, Dotted, etc.)

To use dashed lines or other linetypes:

1. In the Linetype drop-down, click Other
   
   
2. The Linetype Manager opens
   
3. Click Load, then pick the linetypes you want
4. Click OK

Dashed lines come in different sizes. You can adjust them using the global scale factor—higher numbers = longer dashes.

Once loaded, you can apply a linetype to:

• A specific object using the Properties panel or palette
• Or as a default for an entire layer in the Layer Properties Manager

Lineweights (Thickness of Lines)

Lineweights make lines appear thicker or thinner. This is useful for showing different types of objects, like walls vs. furniture.

You can:

• Set a lineweight ByLayer, or
• Override it by choosing a specific thickness

Note that on screen, different lineweights might look similar because they’re shown using pixels.

Tip: Keep lineweights turned off while drawing—thick lines can make it hard to snap to nearby objects. Turn them on only when reviewing or printing.

To adjust lineweight display:

1. Click Lineweight Settings at the bottom of the list
2. Choose whether to show or hide lineweights while working

No matter how they look on your screen, your objects will print at the lineweight you assign.