Imperial units and line width

I am a new user and on build 2.2.0.2. I'm learning at a slow pace, but I am learning however I've come across an obstacle I just can't figure out. I use imperial units (inch). I don't know metric. I would like a wider line when outputting to a printer. If it has to be wider while drawing as well then that's okay too. The only way I've found to be able to do this is to use metric (mm) in units. I've read many, many other posts and just can't figure out what to do. My needs are pretty basic. I'm needing to create drawings to printout as templates to be placed on a piece of wood to be cut out on a bandsaw. Most all of them will fit on a piece of paper letter size. I prefer to scale 1:1. I need thicker lines.
I guess my question is do I have to use metric units to increase line width when printing?

Thanks for your help,
BobE

Welcome!

Check Optons/Application preferences and Opions/Current Drawing Prefences. Both should have the same units, I have mm, you propably inches.

Yes, they are both set to inches as I use imperial measurements and don't know metric. My question is do I have to use metric units (as a default in Options) to increase line width when printing?

Thans for replying,
BobE

Line widths are always defined in mm, even when the drawing is set up in inches. It doesn't matter if the drawing is in metric or imperial.
You can not define a different linewidth just for printing. You have to draw with the desired line width.
It can be defined directly in the pen properties, or via Layer attributes if "By Layer" is set.
Pen properties can be defined when drawing, or altered afterwards with Tools - Modify - Properties for a single entity or -Attributes for several entities. Also Layer Attributes can be changed afterwards.

You may upload a sample file here if you can't solve it.

I thank you for your reply. I understand that line width is for drawing and printing. That's not a problem. What I've tried is just drawing a 2-point line then selecting it and doing modify -> attributes, setting a different length but nothing happens. I've also tried the modify -> properties selecting it and still nothing changes. I'm not familiar with the pen properties or the layer attributes methods you mentioned but I would think the modify and either attributes or properties method should work.
I do appreciate the replies and if more information is needed or I need to upload a file please let me know.

Thanks,
BobE

You might have draft mode activated.

But this only has effect in drawing view, not in Print Preview and real printing. Check Print Preview.

I believe Draft Mode is off.



I'm not sure how to get a screenshot to you but this should be a file of the environment.

Here is the file I've been using. It's not much but I'm trying to keep it simple.

 
OneLine.dxf

I have opened that file.
If you zoom in very closely at one of the line ends you will see there is a thickness. I have measured this with the Measure tool and got 0.083. As this is in inches (your units) multiply it with 25.4 and you get 2.108, nearly exactly the set line width of 2.1mm.
The line width also reacts to a change. So everything is ok. The line only looks very thin in relation to the length.

The sample line is 90 inches long. Your paper format in current drawing preferences is Custom with 0.3255 x  
 0.46035 inches. ???
You said most of your drawings fit on Letter size and you prefer scale 1:1.
So the issue comes from your drawing setup. If you draw a shape that fits into letter format and set this properly, and in Print Preview set the scale to 1:1, everything should be allright.

Thanks for all your help. I don't know how the printer got changed. I've never had an issue with the size of the lines on screen. They are what they are and I'm fine with that. The issue I've had is the lack of body in the lines on the printout.
Here's what I've found out after reading more in the manual and user guide. I created a layer and assigned the attributes there and now everything is working. From what I've seen when using the default layer (0) and using inches in the units you are not going to be able to change the line width.  You can change color and appearance (dot, dashes, solid, etc.) but the line width on the printout simply won't change.
Now as i said before I'm new at this and could very possibly be wrong but it seems to work for me for what I'm needing at this point in time.
Again, I thank everyone for their time and responses, but I think this is solved.

Thanks,
BobE

It shouldn't make any difference using Layer 0 or an other one.

What I have missed to mention is you might have had "Apply Print Scale to line width" on in Print Preview.
The purpose of this feature is to scale line widths  down if you want to print out let's say a drawing intended and set up as format A2 in a handy A4 size. Line widths would appear too thick otherwise. For normal use leave this button off.