When you set a print scale, you are defining the number of design units (working units) that equate to each paper (printed) unit. You can key-in this value in the Scale field, or you can click the Scale Assistant icon and use the Scale Assistant dialog to define the scale criteria either as Design to Paper or Paper to Design.

The default scale method can be specified using the MS_PLT_SCALE_METHOD configuration variable, with settings:

• 1 — the scale display is paper-to-design format.
• 2 — the scale display is design-to-paper format.

This variable overrides the user preference when the Print dialog loads. You may change the preference while working in the dialog, but the configuration value will be used when the Print dialog is exited and restarted.

As an alternative to setting the scale for the print, you can set the X (width) and Y (height) size dimensions for the print.

Changing the scale, or either size dimension (X or Y), automatically results in changes to the remaining parameters to maintain the aspect ratio of the print.

You cannot set the X or Y print size to values that would place part of the printed output outside the area of the selected page. When a new print scale is specified, however, the behavior depends on the currently selected print area.

• If the print area is View, the print size is adjusted according to the new print scale. Scales that result in print sizes too large for the paper size are not permitted. A view definition is never clipped to accommodate a print scale.
• For all other print areas options, the print area is recalculated using the original sheet definition, or fence, and the print size is adjusted according to the new print scale. If the new scale is smaller than the old one, the outer part of the print area may be clipped. If the new scale is larger than the old one, more of the design is included in the print area. The print area is always scaled about its center point.