topic Re: Switching units mid drawing in AutoCAD Forum

Switching units mid drawing

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 23:44:04 GMT

I need to be able to show the same drawing in both inches and mm. Is it possible to change the units back and forth after a drawing is completed?

Re: Switching units mid drawing

natasha.l — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 00:26:16 GMT

Hello @Anonymous,

I wouldn't recommend going back & forth changing the drawing units. If you have blocks & templates etc. it will make it a more manual process.

You can have an imperial (inches) version & a metric (mm) version of the drawing. Maybe xref to link them to one another.

Take a look at this video on how to change the units of a AutoCAD file.

Please "Accept Solution" if a reply or replies have helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

Re: Switching units mid drawing

GrantsPirate — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 00:34:39 GMT

I would stay in the units you started with and just add alternate units in your dimension style(s). Go into edit the dim style (DIMSTYLE) and look for the Alternate Units tab. Select the Display alternate units box, then adjust the options for what your alternate dims would be. Now the dimensions will show two units, example would be Imperial / metric mm.

Re: Switching units mid drawing

dgorsman — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 01:34:03 GMT

Yeah, changing units in AutoCAD just changes the name of the unit not actual physical values i.e. there's no conversion of values between 1" and 25.4 mm. It will change between 1" and 1 mm.

Re: Switching units mid drawing

pendean — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 03:42:07 GMT

why? explain your final intent/result, no one ever really does that. There is probably something else you can do instead.

Re: Switching units mid drawing

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 04:51:31 GMT

I do shop drawings for a kitchen showroom located in Los Angeles but the kitchens are made in Spain. I need to be able to show the same plans and elevations in both decimal and inches.

Re: Switching units mid drawing

S.Faris — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 05:36:44 GMT

Use the Alternate units and adjust the "Multiplier for Alt units" as required and also add a suffix for the Unit symbol. Refer to the attached DWG and check the "Alternate Units" set in the Dimension style applied, for reference.

Re: Switching units mid drawing

pendean — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:39:38 GMT

The AutoCAD-by-design approach is the one noted in reply #7 is how we all do it when working with overseas + local clients on the same project https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/switching-units-mid-drawing/m-p/9239449#M1005419

Re: Switching units mid drawing

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 19:12:25 GMT

Thank You Kent, that sounds like the perfect solution.