Scale Command Not Working

[JEFFJW9BB]

I imported a pdf and want to set the scale.  I have tried using the scale command and it will not change the scale to the reference dimension I want; an architectural scale.

Can you please check this drawing and see why that might not be happening? 

Thank you!

[paullimapa]

first you have to locate a clean dimension shown on the pdf like 30.0' shown in red here:

Next enter the SCALE command & enter ALL to select all objects imported 

For the base point object snap to endpoint of left line 

At Specify scale factor enter R for Reference

At Specify reference length again object snap to the same endpont of the left line

and object snap perpendicular to the line on the right

At Specify new length enter 30'

Enter ZOOM Extents to see the entire scaled up drawing

Now all the imported objects are properly scaled based on the 30' dimension shown on the PDF

[pendean]

@JEFFJW9BB So your PDF states the page size is 24x18

But your AutoCAD content is...

If I may ask, which steps did you try to get to the point you want? I assume you want to learn from your methods, but you could just follow the excellent tip above too.

[JEFFJW9BB]

Thank you for your reply.

I followed your steps above exactly but every time I do it I get a very long (30'?) line going straight up from the base point start.

When I object snap from the base point to the End I get a yellow dashed line which looks promising but after I enter the new length and "enter" I get the red line straight up.  I attach a file (scaling a pdf odd line.dwg) with the red line.

What could I be doing wrong?

I appreciate your help.

[paullimapa]

looks like you selected the LINE instead of ALL after entering the SCALE command.

This is the sequence as shown on the command line:

[JEFFJW9BB]

The problem is that after I select "all" objects and then click on the base point object line only that line object remains "on". everything else is "off".    What I understand is that everything needs to be selected while I do this operation but I can't do that.  

You say:  "For the base point object snap to endpoint of left line"

When I go to do that my cursor is just a little box.  I click on the base point object line and everything but the base point line has turned off.  This is my problem, I can't go forward because everything (except the base point object line) has turned "off".

Can you offer a suggestion for me?

Thank you again.

[paullimapa]

if you can record your sequence of steps and post that here would be best.

second option is to turn on the command line and do a screenshot of the sequence of the SCALE command as I did so we can see what you're seeing.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-E2D3C5EC-19AF-4694-84B4-2A36EF6A2E3D

[pendean]

@paullimapa Any reason a simpler quicker tool like ALIGN command's 'scaling' option would not used here (start with 1" before leaping to 30feet), a 2-step process at most @JEFFJW9BB (a good way yo fix your page size mismatch too)

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-C377D6FE-683E-4007-B06C-8FBBB1308E67

[JEFFJW9BB]

Thank you:

I did a copy and paste:

Command: SCALE
Select objects: all
16503 found
Select objects: 1 found, 1 total
Select objects:
Specify base point:
Invalid point.
Specify base point:
Specify scale factor or [Copy/Reference]:
>>Enter new value for ORTHOMODE <0>:
Resuming SCALE command.
Specify scale factor or [Copy/Reference]: R
Specify reference length <1.0000>: Specify second point:
Specify new length or [Points] <1.0000>: 30'
Requires numeric distance, second point, or option keyword.
Specify new length or [Points] <1.0000>: 30'
Requires numeric distance, second point, or option keyword.
Specify new length or [Points] <1.0000>:

[maxim_k]

Hi @JEFFJW9BB ,

New length should be 30, but not 30'

[maxim_k]

Plus - 

This:

Command: SCALE
Select objects: all
16503 found
Select objects: 1 found, 1 total <------
Select objects:
Specify base point:

Why we see that only one object selected for SCALE command?

The command line output should look like this:

Command: SC SCALE
Select objects: all
16503 found
Select objects:
Specify base point:
Specify scale factor or [Copy/Reference]: r
Specify reference length <0'-1.0000">: Specify second point:
Specify new length or [Points] <0'-1.0000">: <Ortho on> 30

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

When I downloaded your dwg and entered the UNITS command the Length Type showed Engineering which should allow you to enter the feet symbol ['] after the 30

The other way to enter 30 feet is 30x12 = 360 so try that.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

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@paullimapa wrote:

When I downloaded your dwg and entered the UNITS command the Length Type showed Engineering...

---

... and the OP wrote @maxim_k 

So there appears to be some confusion going on for the ask.

[paullimapa]

Mainly because I'm not familiar with how to use the ALIGN command to do this and OP wants to use the SCALE command 

[paullimapa]

and to add more confusion when you enter DWGUNITS command you get inches and not feet which also matches with the UNITS Insertions Scale

[pendean]

---

@paullimapa wrote:

Mainly because I'm not familiar with how to use the ALIGN command to do this and OP wants to use the SCALE command 

---

Draw a line at 1-unit long, horizontal for example.

ALIGN command

select all the content you wish to scale

select a point from left end of a known dimension or object that is horizontal (to match the line you drew), then select the left end of your drawn line

repeat for the right end

hit <enter>, reply yes to the prompt to 'scale'.

Now your known object is set to 1-unit. SCALE up by the factor you want to get the final result.

In this example I would ALIGN>scale that dimension to 1-inch first, then SCALE to get to your 30-foot measurement need.

[paullimapa]

Got it...thanks for these steps...now I know how to make use of the ALIGN command...cheers!!!