Dimensions are bigger in scale once exploded and dashed line-type shows continuous in nature

[madhuryya_prakash]

Hey all, I am in an urgent need to submit this drawing to our client. However, I have an issue. I need to submit the attached drawing in Meters as drawing units. However the original file was created in millimeters. Hence I had to external reference and bind it to convert to meters. I want the drawing to be exploded to select individual elements.

The issue - Once the block explodes, dimensions increases in scale. Any shortcut or tricks such that the dimension styles remains in its original scale as was drafted. Also the line-type scale has issue, the dashed line shows as continuous lines.

I know I can re draw the dimensions and that solves the issue, But I am really running out of time to submit this. Any tricks or tips are highly appreciated.

[paullimapa]

please attach the original dwg (in mm) before you attached and bound it.

[TheCADnoob]

Check out this and see if it helps

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-change-or-c...

Solution:

To convert the units of a drawing that contains dynamic blocks, use the SCALE command before using the DWGUNITS command. Follow these steps:

1. At the command line, enter SCALE.
2. At the Select objects prompt, enter All.
3. Enter 0,0,0 for the base point.
4. Enter the appropriate scale factor for the units to be converted:
   • Inches to Millimeters = 25.4
   • Millimeters to Inches = 0.0393701
   • Inches to Centimeters = 2.54
   • Centimeters to Inches = 0.393701
   • Feet to Millimeters = 304.8
   • Millimeters to Feet = 0.00328084
   • Feet to Centimeters = 30.48
   • Centimeters to Feet = 0.0328084
5. Enter -DWGUNITS.
6. Enter No at Scale objects in current drawing to reflect change in units. 

Notes:

• For the SCALE command method, adjust the dimension text and arrowhead height in the dimension style as needed.
• Layout viewports may need to be moved or resized, or the plot scale updated, when an alternate unit page size is selected after conversion. For example, when the imperial paper size is selected in a drawing that has been converted to metric.

[madhuryya_prakash]

Hey, @paullimapa , I have attached the original drawing made in mm. This needs to get converted to meters. Let me know if this helps. Thanks you!

[TomBeauford · Accepted solution]

Our Civil US drawings were based on decimal feet as the base unit but included Architectural pipes & structures with dimensioned based in inches. For Architectural dimension style we simply modified the scale so we could include both dimension types in all out drawings. If you modified the dimension style with a modified scale to a copy of the original drawing it should be all you need. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. I try to avoid ever exploding dimensions or blocks.

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

Lesson learned here is that next time make sure you confirm with the client the requirements for the digital file prior to start of project. This process of converting an already completely drawn file from mm to M takes lots of very tedious work. Adjusting the Linetype ended up being the easiest task.

But as @TheCADnoob outlined the process in his response, you do have to start with the SCALE process. I try going through the DWGUNITS process to let that scale for me but was not successful. There were some objects that got distorted. So basically with all layers Unlocked, Thawed & Off which is the way the dwg was saved I used the SCALE command to scale ALL which is everything in Model tab only with base point of 0,0,0 and using the Reference option with reference length of 1000 and then the new length as 1. This scales everything from mm to M. Next I ran the DWGUNITS command and selected the 6. Meters  option and defaulted through the rest but without letting it scale the drawing. Next I used the SCALELISTEDIT command deleting all unused scales. This process left 3 scales on the list which are being used: 1:125_XREF, 1:150, 1:100 & 1:1. Since there's no option to change each of these scale definitions I then created new ones to represent M for each: 1:500M, 1:125M, 1:100M:

After that back in Model tab I did a Zoom Extents and this is when the craziness begins.

Since you used a combination of Annotative & regular Dimension Styles, I had to modify all your non-annotative dimension styles changing each item where there's a number reducing by multiple of 1000. Some values I left since you also used the scale option. Here's an example of the SITE DIM style being changed from mm to M:

Then with that Dimension style set current I manually selected those Dimensions and used the -DIMSTYLE APPLY option to update them.

Then there were a number of Dynamic Blocks that disappeared like the Slope Arrow, Section Callout, Tag Level Plan, Door & Window Tags, . I had to Select Similar and add to the Annotative scale the new scales I added: 1:500M, 1:125M, 1:100M

For some reason a few of the Slope Arrows got turned the wrong way so I had to flipped them.

Then there was one Window Tag block (this was inside another block) that got mirrored.

Some of these blocks with Annotative Text did not show up so that needed to be edited again adding the new M scales:

Finally in the layout, I had to adjust all the Vports so the Standard Scales are now using the new M scales.

As for the LINETYPE, I set PSLTSCALE to 1 letting the Vport scale factor the linetypes and changed the LTSCALE from 1 to 0.01 which looks pretty close to what you had before. 

@madhuryya_prakash PS: You should still double check to make sure everything shows up the way they should before sending the dwg to the client.

[madhuryya_prakash]

That's a load full of help and support, can't thank you enough for this!, Yep for sure next time onwards would definitely be more cautious. I need to apply the same rules you said for the next 9 drawing files, which has go the same issues.

[madhuryya_prakash]

Thanks for your suggestion @TomBeauford , will try out this remedy as well!

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

You are welcome and good luck…cheers!!!