Importing PDF in Metric and setting the scale

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I'm very new to autocad, my main job is property development. I'm trying to insert a PDF in metric so I can measure floor/area spaces to get accurate costings/m2 of space. When I import the PDF the scale is 25.4:1

Is this 25.4 an inch in Milimeters? If so how do I set my scale to get an accurate measurement?

[cadffm]

Units: Look at wikipedia, 1in 25.4mm

If you know which unit it is and what unit you want, you can calculate the scale factor.

1/25.4

For example for scaleing mm to in.

[Anonymous]

I dont want to scale mm to in. I want to set the scale so when I measure an area I'm getting an accurate measurment. So if I want to measure the room in a house i want it to read the m2 measurement. 

[cadffm]

Then scale it to meter?
There is no option for converting the displayed output in gui)

Dimensions and fields can set to convert the value, but this is not what are you talk about.

Read this thread and lonks too.
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/units-of-area-in-properties-toolbar/td-p/7546683

Or exlain it again in other words, attach your drawing deg/pdf and a example what you want to see if <whatever you do exactly, which command? Where you want to see the square meter value?>

[Anonymous]

I still don't follow.

When I import a floor plan as a PDF I have to enter a scale, the PDF size is as follows:

PDF scale is 25.4:1

 

If I want to use the area measure tool to get an accurate area measurement to scale, 1:1, what do I set the scale as to get the 1:1 measurement.

[Anonymous]

I still don't follow.

When I import a floor plan as a PDF I have to enter a scale, the PDF size is as follows:

PDF scale is 25.4:1

What do I put in the scale to get a 1;1 measurement?

[ChicagoLooper]

Do this:

1. Open a metric template (don't use imperial).
2. Insert your PDF in the metric template.
3. Click and select the PDF.
4. Click SCALE icon (or type 'Scale' on command line) because you are going to scale the PDF to life-size measurements.
5. Click '0' on scale bar.
6. Click 'R' for reference.
7. Click '0' on scale bar (exact same spot as step 5).
8. Click '1' on scale bar.
9. For Specify length type in '1' (because you want scale bar to measure 1-meter from 0 to 1 while PDF is sitting in modelspace).
10. You may now measure meter length in meters and area in square meters.

Notes:

• If you don't have a scale bar or a 'known distance' to provide a reference for scaling, then you cannot accurately determine square meters. You can however, disregard all instructions and guess the square meters if you feel confident doing so.
• These instructions assume you want all measurements to be metric, such as square meters and not sq-feet.
• If you don't have a scale bar shown on your PDF, then you must use two (2) points on the PDF and input the distance between in meters meters. The exact distance between those points is essential so pick your two points carefully, e.g. corner-to-corner, length of table, etc., or any two points where you 'know' the distance.
• If you don't have a scale bar you may use 2 points instead, then use your point-1 in steps 5 and 7. For step 8, use point-2.
• For step 9, use the known distance from pt-1 to pt-2, e.g. 4.0-meters, 12.25-meters, etc.  

[ara_neresesian]

hi

first of all you have to know the scale of pdf file

but if you dont knew the scale  you have to find a dim in your pdf after that find the distance between that 2 point on autocad  screen 

then divide the distance value to that dim  value (dim on pdf )

scale the pdf with the result off that division .

good luck

but if you can send your pdf file to forums we can help you exact way.

good luck

[martyny]

I have just imported a pdf that is A3 and stated that it is 1:200 @ A3.

When I have imported into the metric template, and measure and work out the scale to use, my calculator says it needs to be scaled 1:5674.3909 to reach 1:1.

Therefore, since it scales at 1:200 from the paper copy printed actual size on A3 then AutoCAD is doing something to it during import.

How do I get AutoCAD to just import the paper at the size it is????

[martyny]

---

@martyny wrote:

I have just imported a pdf that is A3 and stated that it is 1:200 @ A3.

When I have imported into the metric template, and measure and work out the scale to use, my calculator says it needs to be scaled 1:5674.3909 to reach 1:1.

Therefore, since it scales at 1:200 from the paper copy printed actual size on A3 then AutoCAD is doing something to it during import.

How do I get AutoCAD to just import the paper at the size it is????

---

Added to this,

I have just imported the pdf and scaled by 25.4. This brings it back to the original paper size then I have to scacle by 200 to get to the correct 1:1.

Question is why is AutoCAD scaling the pdf at the point of import????

[ChicagoLooper]

You need to determine what 1:200 means. In AutoCAD, it typically it means something like 1mm=200mm, this is equivalent to saying 1mm of distance viewed on the printed hardcopy=200mm in 'real world' length. In a non-typical AutoCAD layout environment, the author (who might be confused) may also be trying to express 1mm = 200meters or 1cm = 200meters.

If your drawing is drawn to scale AND your sheet size is truly A3, then the dimensions of your sheet will be H297mm and W420mm (height X width, landscape orientation). Expressed in centimeters A3 is 29.7cm X 42.0cm and expressed in meters it is 0.297m X 0.420m.

Depending on how your draw in modelspace, e.g. mm, cm, or meters, you may use either the width or height of the actual pdf sheet to scale the drawing.

[pendean]

AutoCAD does not know mm from inches from meter from foot from kilometer from mile: it is a dumb program that only knows "units", something you alone in your head decide what that represents.

HTH

[cadffm]

Hi @martyny 

i am not a pdf-professional, so i can not explain it in detail, but enough for you (hopeful)

In some PDF files you will find information about the Paperunits, where AutoCAD says it would have to scale.
You can not change that yourself - a known problem.
Here is a documented example:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCA...