How to Change Measurements in AutoCAD 2012?

Understanding Measurement Adjustments in AutoCAD 2012

Adjusting measurement units in AutoCAD is essential for ensuring accuracy in your designs. Whether you’re switching between inches and millimeters or dealing with different dimension styles, this guide provides detailed steps for making those changes effectively.

Adjusting Dimension Styles

To modify the text height or other attributes for all dimensions:

1. Launch AutoCAD and type DIMSTYLE in the command line.
2. Alternatively, navigate to the Annotate tab found on the ribbon.
3. Click on the Manage Dimension Styles button in the Dimensions panel. This opens the Dimension Style Manager.
4. Select the dimension style you wish to modify or create a new one by clicking on New.
5. Rename your dimension style in the dialog box and click Continue.
6. Explore various tabs (Text, Lines, Symbols and Arrows) to make the desired adjustments—like changing text height.
7. Click OK to apply the changes.

Switching Measurement Units

To alter units from inches to millimeters or vice-versa, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Dimension menu and select Style to enter the Dimension Style Manager.
2. Click New to create a new style.
3. Assign a new name, choose a base style to start from, and set "Use For" to All Dimensions.
4. Access the Primary Units tab, and in the Suffix box, enter "mm" for millimeters.
5. Set the Scale Factor to 25.4 since there are 25.4 millimeters in an inch. Save your changes.

Altering Units Between Millimeters and Meters

To change the current drawing from millimeters to meters:

1. Open the Format menu and select Drawing Setup.
2. In the Drawing Setup dialog box, switch to the Units tab.
3. Change the Drawing Units from Millimeter to Meter.
4. Confirm the changes by clicking OK.

Measuring in AutoCAD 2012

To measure areas or lengths:

1. Find the Utilities panel on the Home tab of the ribbon.
2. Click on Measure and then select the Area command.
3. For single objects, use the right-click option and choose Object to measure the area directly from the geometry.

Customizing Units in CAD

Updating the units setting in CAD is similar to the process in AutoCAD 2012:

1. Choose Utilities and then Drawing Setup.
2. Click on the Units tab.
3. From the Drawing Units section, select your preferred measurement units.
4. If dealing with objects from different unit drawings, select Scale Objects Inserted from Other Drawings.
5. Define the length type and precision as necessary.

Converting Between Inches and Centimeters

To change scales from inches to centimeters:

1. Input the UNITS command.
2. When prompted, set the scale factor by entering 2.54 for inches to centimeters.
3. For the reverse, use 0.3937 for converting centimeters to inches.

FAQ

1. Can I measure areas using different units in AutoCAD?
Yes, you can measure areas in various units. The measurement results will be displayed in the units configured in your drawing settings.

2. How do I create a new dimension style?
To create a new dimension style, access the Dimension Style Manager, click New, assign a name, and customize the attributes as needed.

3. What do I do if my drawing units are not matching the dimensions?
Ensure that the units settings in your drawing are correctly configured and check that your dimension styles are appropriately set to reflect the desired units. Use the Drawing Setup and Dimension Style commands to make any necessary adjustments.