AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

When I draw a line, copy, or move something from one place to another without using Osnaps I notice that the coordinates change randomly. I have units set to Architectural but as I drag the crosshairs the label changes from something like  7'-8 1/16" <0.0000  to something like 7.04421E+01  and then as I continue to drag it changes bak and forth randomly.

I want to force the Architectural units. The "E+01" and similar does nothing for me. Just asking around the office, I find Im not the only one...

Anybody know how to force feet and inches all the time?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Your precision is setting too high that's all.

[#3 · Accepted solution]

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Patchy wrote:

Your precision is setting too high that's all.

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Actually, no, that's just a workaround.   It seems to be related to how far the cursor is from the origin.   If you're zoomed in very tight, AutoCAD will maintain Architectrual units even if the precision is 1/256, and if you zoom out really far, it will still switch to Scientific even at 1/2" precision.

I find this somewhat annoying myself.

[#4]

Ockham's Razor!! 

Thanks!!!!!

[#5]

Wow... you're right!! How strange... and what a pain!

[#6]

Turn those coordinates off and use DYN input instead, I don't think it ever shows the scientific value while in Arch units.

[#7]

Perhaps that's an option for some, but it doesn't answer the quesiton.

It's like reading a book, and every so often, you come to a word, page, or chapter that's written in a different language...  it makes no sense.

[#8]

Actually it does answer the question, the OP asked...

"Anybody know how to force feet and inches all the time?

The answer is it can't be forced to always feet and inches UNLESS you use DYN.

For a reason as to why that won't work, well Autodesk will have to answer that one.

[#9 · Accepted solution]

Though this post is solved with one answer, I came across a different answer today.  Thought I would share.  There is a system variable that controls the display of units.

System Variable = LUPREC

Set LUPREC to = 0 and the display of the curser coordinates will stay in feet and inches.  It will not affect UNITS or DIMUNITS or the calculation of unit precision under the hood.

More info on LUPREC here:

http://exchange.autodesk.com/autocadmep/enu/online-help/search#WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-4...

[#10]

LUPREC = "precision", so that's the same solution Patchy gave.  As I mentioned previously, even at LUPREC=0, the coordinates still switch to Scientific depending on the zoom level.

Demo --->  http://www.screencast.com/t/lvhzj2xy6wY5

It would be nice if Autodesk would just fix it so the 99.99% of AutoCAD users that don't ever want to see Scientific units, wouldn't have to....