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    Valued Contributor
    bodhran
    Posts: 69
    Registered: ‎10-14-2010
    Accepted Solution

    System Variable "-dwgunits"

    1965 Views, 19 Replies
    02-07-2011 05:44 PM

     

    Hi guys,

     

    Just wondering if any of you have come up against this one and how you are handling it??

     

    This system variable is playing havoc with our blocks, causing them to insert at incorrect scale!!

     

    Regards,

     

    B

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    *Expert Elite*
    pendean
    Posts: 14,974
    Registered: ‎11-06-2003

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 04:53 AM in reply to: bodhran

    Havoc, How? The variable simply sets the file you are in to the correct Units. What are your settings for INSUNITS and this variable? What are your blocks set to with this variable?

    What are your UNITS intent?

     

    Are the problems with Annotative Blocks only?


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    Mentor
    namssurt
    Posts: 249
    Registered: ‎06-07-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 04:58 AM in reply to: bodhran

    If dwg units are inconsistent between blocks and drawings into which they are inserted the problem you described will happen. Remember that autocad doesn't work in meters, light years or feet etc but in units. The fact that each unit in your drawing is an inch or a mm is simply a choice that you indicate in your drawing setup. If you were drawing the galaxy it would make little sense to make your units inches since the numbers would be so large as to cause them to be unusable. Similarly if you are designing microcircuits you don't want to design them using light year units as the numbers would be too small.

     

    Beyond that, you and the other people you work with need to make some decisions, set a standard and incorporate that standard into all your templates and blocks, and work from there.

    jg
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    Valued Contributor
    bodhran
    Posts: 69
    Registered: ‎10-14-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 12:42 PM in reply to: namssurt

     

    Sorry guys I'm afraid it's not that simple.

     

     

    If you haven't had the problem with the "-dwgunits" "undocumented system variable" then you on't under stand, it actually over rides the insunits.

     

    If oyu haven't come up aginst this problem then you're lucky!!

     

    Please refer to the links below for better explaination:

     

    From Autodesk forum – AutoCAD 2008

     

    Posted July 2009

    http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2008/DWGUNITS-documentation/m-p/2527820

     

    Posted August 2009

    http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2008/Insert-block-scale-issue-INSUNITS-seem-correct/m-p/253468...

     

    Regards,

     

    B

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    Mentor
    namssurt
    Posts: 249
    Registered: ‎06-07-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 12:57 PM in reply to: bodhran

    And how is that different than clicking on format, units on the Autocad classic menu? Admittedly there is an extra option available for setting when you use the command line, but -hatch has extra options over accessing hatching by clicking draw, hatch. The issue you are having is simply that the inserted items are not using the same units as the drawing into which they are being inserted.

    jg
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    Valued Contributor
    bodhran
    Posts: 69
    Registered: ‎10-14-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 01:00 PM in reply to: namssurt

    Well what you're describing will set the units to say metres but the -dwgunits setting could be set to inches there fore the block will be scaled by a factor of 25.......

     

    Try it out, set the units in a dwg and then type -dwgunti and set the unit there to something differnet and then check you original units again.

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    Mentor
    namssurt
    Posts: 249
    Registered: ‎06-07-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 01:22 PM in reply to: bodhran

    It does exactly what I expected it to do. after using the -dwgunits command, go back to the clicked format units and you'll see it changes the units there. It is consistent. text based interface does a few more things, but both methods are in sync.

     

    It just proves that someone in your operation is not being careful about their units. It does exactly what it's supposed to.

    jg
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    Valued Contributor
    bodhran
    Posts: 69
    Registered: ‎10-14-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 01:34 PM in reply to: namssurt

     

     

    they can be out of sync!!

     

    As shown in the attached!!

     

    Further in you insert a block with the -dwgunits out of sync in will "infect" not only the receiveing drawing but all other drawings open.

     

    Have you look at the links I posted?? If you haven't encountered this problem and don't hae a solution to it please don't post again.

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    *Expert Elite*
    pendean
    Posts: 14,974
    Registered: ‎11-06-2003

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 02:47 PM in reply to: bodhran

    SAVEAS command in the file you are having a problem, create a new one. Delete all top-secret info in it. PURGE.

     

    INSERT a block and confirm the problem still exists.

     

    Highlight/point to the block. QSAVE.

     

    Post two files here: the problem file above and the external block file you are having an issue with.

     

    Recap: you post TWO dwg files here.

     

    That will sort it one way or the other.

     

    Stop posting useless screenshots and links to documents: the problem is more important to solve than little rants on public forums about who knows more than the other.


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    Valued Contributor
    bodhran
    Posts: 69
    Registered: ‎10-14-2010

    Re: System Variable "-dwgunits"

    02-08-2011 02:49 PM in reply to: pendean

    Please re-read original post.

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