Accessing Drawing Units in AutoCAD
To open the Drawing Units settings in AutoCAD, begin by locating the Application menu situated at the top left corner of the AutoCAD interface. From there, navigate to ‘Drawing Utilities’ and select ‘Units’. This action will launch the Drawing Units dialog box, allowing you to view and modify settings as necessary. Alternatively, you have the option to quickly access this feature by typing the command UN into the command line and pressing ‘Enter’. This method provides a faster way to reach the same settings.
Understanding Drawing Units in AutoCAD
Drawing units in AutoCAD define the measurement system employed in your designs. Users can customize units according to their specific requirements, whether in feet and inches for architectural plans or millimeters for engineering designs. It’s crucial to select the appropriate unit type at the outset, as it impacts the scale and precision of the entire drawing.
Steps to Change Drawing Units
1. Launch AutoCAD and create a new drawing by choosing ‘New Drawing’ from the Application menu.
2. Upon opening the template selection window, opt for a template such as acadiso.dwt which is suitable for metric measurements and click ‘Open’.
3. Once the new drawing is open, type UN in the command line and press ‘Enter’. This action opens the Drawing Units window.
4. In this dialog box, you’ll see various options. Choose your desired unit type from the Length Type drop-down menu, which allows you to select from options such as ‘Decimal’, ‘Architectural’, or ‘Engineering’.
5. After selecting the appropriate unit type, adjust any additional settings as needed. This may include precision settings and metrics for angles.
6. Confirm your selections by clicking ‘OK’. This will apply your chosen unit settings to the current drawing.
How to Open Drawings in AutoCAD
1. Open the Start tab and click on ‘Open Files’.
2. Alternatively, access the Application menu and select ‘Open Drawing’.
3. You may also right-click on any existing file tabs and choose the ‘Open’ option.
4. For quick access, use the Quick Access toolbar to click ‘Open’.
5. You can open drawings directly by double-clicking files in Windows Explorer.
6. Another option is to simply drag and drop your drawing file from Windows Explorer into the AutoCAD workspace.
Common Questions About Drawing Units in AutoCAD
How can I convert units in AutoCAD?
To convert measurement units in AutoCAD, you can use the SCALE command. Begin by typing SCALE in the command line, select the objects you wish to scale, and specify a base point. Enter the appropriate scale factor to achieve the unit conversion.
What is the purpose of setting limits in AutoCAD?
The Limits command in AutoCAD establishes an invisible rectangular boundary to control the drawing area. This setting helps manage the grid display and defines the coordinates for points within the designated drawing limits.
Is there a free viewer for DWG files?
Yes, Autodesk provides a free viewer called DWG TrueView. This software not only allows you to view DWG files but also offers functionalities for plotting, creating PDFs, and converting between different DWG formats.
