Dimensions, text, and blocks disappear in AutoCAD layouts

Autodesk Support

Sep 22, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

Dimensions, text, and block objects in AutoCAD either in layouts or model space are not visible or disappear when:
  • The annotative scale has changed in the layouts or is different from model space.
  • A block inserted into a drawing.
  • Text has been added in the Layout, but it's not visible as it's being covered up on the drawing.
text in layout
Note:
  • Sometimes the REGEN command brings back these objects but they can disappear again.
  • The objects are visible in model space even though they are not visible in the layout.
 
 

Causes:

  • The drawing objects are set to use annotative scaling. 
Annotative and Annotative scale in properties palette
  • If the drawing-specific variable ANNOALLVISIBLE is set to a value of 0, annotative text or dimension objects are only visible if they support the selected (new) scale of the viewport.
  • The text or dimension style uses a font that is missing in AutoCAD.
  • The block or objects are on a layer that is set to not be visible (OFF or frozen).
  • The text height is large or small, so not in viewable area or visible at current zoom level. 
  • 'Plot paperspace last' under 'Plot options' is uncheck in the Page Setup of the Layout.
page set up window
 
 

Solution:

Do the following:

  • Control how annotative objects display:
    • Set ANNOALLVISIBLE to 1. This causes all annotative objects to be displayed, no matter the viewport scale.
    • Set ANNOAUTOSCALE to 4. This causes the newly selected annotation scale of the viewport to be automatically added to all annotative objects.
    • Use the Properties palette to manually add the desired viewport scales into the annotative scales list of the annotative object.
    • Use the Properties palette to manually change the Annotative property of the objects in question to 'No.'
    • Change the text or dimension style to a non annotative one.
  • Replace or restore the missing font in AutoCAD. See "One or more SHX files are missing. What would you like to do?" when opening a drawing in AutoCAD.
  • Repair the drawing. See How to repair corrupt AutoCAD files.
  • Turn on or unfreeze layers used with missing objects in the Layer Properties Manager.
  • Resize text and dimensions as appropriate for the view. See DIMSTYLE (Command) and In-Place Text Editor. 
  • Place blocks, that contain nested blocks, on the 0 (zero) layer. 
  • Enabler 'Plot paperspace last' under 'Plot options' in the Page Setup of the Layout.
plot options
 
 

Products:

AutoCAD for Mac; AutoCAD LT for Mac; AutoCAD Products;

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