AutoCAD 2007/2008/2009 DWG Format

[#1]

Is there any way to set the default units to feet?

[#2]

does Format > Units > Insertion scale, Units to scale inserted content:
set to feet work?

[#3]

Command Ddunits, set feet there.

[#4]

hmm, tried this.

I guess I have two main problems connected to units.

1) I can't find a way to type just 10 (for example) in a draw command without a hash mark and have the draw command return 10'. Instead the draw command default to inches. A unitless 10 returns 10 inches

2) this is connected to dimensioning. Without scaling in the dimension style manager, I cannot get the decimal value to return in feet. Instead the decimal value returns in inches
a) in autocad training I was taught to format the drawing to architectural or engineering units (by: "format"; "units")
-this method allows you to draw in feet, but you must enter a hash mark, ex: 10 feet equals enter " 10' " at the prompt
b) when I format my dimensions to return ENGINEERING units I get the CORRECT units using above method in "a"
-HOWEVER, I'm looking for DECIMAL dimensions in feet (in civil engineering applications "tenths" (of feet) are used especially in elevations)
-when I use the DECIMAL selection in dimension style manager, my 10 foot line returns as 120.0, or inches

as far as I can tell, I'm kind of amused, because it seems like AutoCAD's root english dimension is inches, and I can't find a way to change that either with the "Ddunits" command or in the dimension styles manager. . .

my best solution is to manually set the scaling in the dimension styl manager to .083333 when using engineering units (in format units) and entering hash marks " ' " at the draw prompts; or simply leaving what seems to be the default units to inches and then manually setting the scaling to 12 in the dimension style manager

do you have any other ideas on how to go about changing the default units?

~josh

[#5]

It all matters on how the drawing was originally set up.
If scaling to the new format is too difficult, see attachment.


Good Luck!

[#6]

On 5/25/2010 4:26 PM, JOSHUA_JENSEN wrote:
> hmm, tried this.
>
> I guess I have two main problems connected to units.
>
> 1) I can't find a way to type just 10 (for example) in a draw command without a hash mark and have the draw command return 10'. Instead the draw command default to inches. A unitless 10 returns 10 inches
>
> 2) this is connected to dimensioning. Without scaling in the dimension style manager, I cannot get the decimal value to return in feet. Instead the decimal value returns in inches
> a) in autocad training I was taught to format the drawing to architectural or engineering units (by: "format"; "units")
> -this method allows you to draw in feet, but you must enter a hash mark, ex: 10 feet equals enter " 10' " at the prompt
> b) when I format my dimensions to return ENGINEERING units I get the CORRECT units using above method in "a"
> -HOWEVER, I'm looking for DECIMAL dimensions in feet (in civil engineering applications "tenths" (of feet) are used especially in elevations)
> -when I use the DECIMAL selection in dimension style manager, my 10 foot line returns as 120.0, or inches
>
> as far as I can tell, I'm kind of amused, because it seems like AutoCAD's root english dimension is inches, and I can't find a way to change that either with the "Ddunits" command or in the dimension styles manager. . .
>
> my best solution is to manually set the scaling in the dimension styl manager to .083333 when using engineering units (in format units) and entering hash marks " ' " at the draw prompts; or simply leaving what seems to be the default units to inches and then manually setting the scaling to 12 in the dimension style manager
>
> do you have any other ideas on how to go about changing the default units?
>
> ~josh

If you want to use Decimals, you can always enter the text manually when
the dimension gives you the option of Text.

[#7]

Your training missed a vital fact and was inaccurate.

AutoCAD draws in UNITS.

Nothing else.

You, the user, determines what 1unit means. It could be mm, CM, mile, foot,
inch, lightyear.

To correctly draw as you desire, 1unit=1foot, everything in your drawing
must reflect this fact. It must measure correctly, distance as well as
dimensions.

From your post so far, it would appear your drawing file is set as
1unit=1inch.

So you will need to scale your entire drawing down by 12 (1foot=12inches) to
confirm with the AutoCAD requirement (and your need) for 1unit=1foot.

Now your 120 line should actually reflect 1foot.

What discipline/AEC line of work are you in? I'm very surprised no peer in
your office or class (I bet even your tutor knows this, or you need to get
your money back) has brought this topic up before to you.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[#8]

Anything we have ever seen in this office from civil engineers is in decimal units, so if we use them as an XREF underlay in an architectural drawing, we scale them up by 12. Their drawings don't in and of themselves say "feet" though. If they absolutely need that hash mark after a number, they can add it as a suffix in the dimension style. OP, you can set up a template drawing for civil drawings if you're not satisfied with the existing template. You just have to change the units and then save as a template. However, if you're working with existing drawings, they will reflect what their template dictated, and you probably need to work with that instead of changing it. You can still represent 10'-9" as 10.75' in an architectural drawing...

[#9]

Dean Saadallah

I work in transportation. Trying to see how to universalize the units and dimensioning styles used between multiple users.

thanks all for the input

~josh

[#10]

>You can still represent 10'-9" as 10.75' in an architectural drawing...

Agreed. No matter how fancy you get with dimension label settings the thing to remember is the units command sets the format only and does not dictate what one unit equals. When setting the unit type to Engineering or Architectural you would normally draw everything in inches (1 unit = 1 inch) since both will display units in feet and inches.

In the end, no matter what the unit type is set to, the user decides what 1 unit equals.

ACADuser