How do you rotate a viewport in AutoCAD 3D?

Rotating a viewport in AutoCAD 3D allows you to change the orientation of the view displayed within that specific viewport on a layout tab.

Simple Steps to Rotate an AutoCAD Viewport

Based on common AutoCAD procedures and the provided reference, the primary method to rotate a selected layout viewport is straightforward:

Select the viewport that you want to rotate.
In the drawing area, right-click and choose Rotate.

This action initiates the rotate command specifically for the selected layout viewport boundary and its contained view.

Understanding Viewport Rotation

When you rotate a viewport using this method, you are rotating the boundary object itself and the view within it. This is different from rotating the entire drawing or changing the UCS within the model space view. This technique is essential for creating layouts where different views need to be aligned or oriented differently on the sheet.

Practical Application

Architectural Drawings: Align plan views to the sheet boundary, even if the building is not aligned to the world UCS.
Mechanical Parts: Orient different isometric or orthographic views for clarity on a title block.
Presentation Layouts: Arrange multiple views at various angles for visual appeal.

Alternative (Context-Dependent) Rotation Methods

While the right-click method is direct, sometimes you might use other AutoCAD commands or properties to achieve related rotation effects, though these interact differently with the viewport and the model:

Using the ROTATE Command: You can type ROTATE or RO, select the viewport, specify a base point, and then enter a rotation angle or use reference points. This performs the same action as the right-click method.
Changing the View's UCS: Entering the viewport (double-clicking inside it) and changing the User Coordinate System (UCS) and then using the PLAN command (PLAN CURRENT) can effectively rotate the view inside the viewport without rotating the viewport boundary itself. This affects what is displayed and its orientation relative to the screen or layout but doesn't physically spin the viewport object.
Modifying Properties: Sometimes, you can find a rotation property in the Properties palette (PR) for the viewport object, although the ROTATE command or right-click option is typically faster for interactive rotation.

Method	Applies To	Primary Use Case
Right-Click/Rotate	Selected Layout Viewport	Rotating the viewport boundary and contained view relative to the layout sheet.
`ROTATE` Command	Selected Layout Viewport	Programmatic or precise rotation of the viewport boundary and contained view.
Changing UCS/PLAN	View within the Viewport	Reorienting the view inside without rotating the boundary.

Remember that rotating a viewport affects its orientation on the paper space layout. The model geometry in model space remains unchanged.