How To Change Units In AutoCAD 2017?

Changing units in AutoCAD 2017 is a straightforward process that involves adjusting several settings depending on the specific requirements for your drawing. Below is a detailed guide to help you through the steps.

Accessing the Units Command

1. Open Your Drawing: Start by launching AutoCAD and opening the drawing you wish to modify.

2. Initiate the Units Command: Type UNITS in the command line and press Enter. This action will bring up the Drawing Units dialog box, allowing you to make unit adjustments.

Changing Unit Types

1. Select Type of Units:
   • In the Drawing Units dialog, look for the Length Type dropdown menu.
   • Choose the appropriate unit type based on your needs (e.g., Decimal, Architectural, Engineering). Make sure to select the option that fits your project specifications.

Adjusting Insertion Scale

1. Set the Insertion Scale:

   • Navigate to the Insertion Scale section within the same dialog window.
   • Choose your desired insertion unit (e.g., Millimeters, Centimeters, Inches). This setting will determine how objects are scaled when they are inserted into the drawing.
2. Confirm Changes: Click OK to apply the new settings. This action saves your unit preferences for the current drawing.

Scaling Existing Objects

1. Select Objects to Scale:

   • If you want to scale existing objects after changing the units, use the SCALE command. Type SCALE into the command line and hit Enter.
   • At the prompt, select the objects you wish to scale, and press Enter.

2. Specify the Base Point: Choose a base point for scaling. For example, you can enter 0,0 to set the origin as the base point, which is often ideal when scaling multiple objects.

3. Enter the Scale Factor: Input the appropriate scale factor:
   • To convert from inches to centimeters, you would enter 2.54.
   • If converting from centimeters to inches, use 0.3937.

Viewing and Confirming Changes

1. Check Current Units:

   • To ensure that the units have changed, you can run the UN command again.
   • This will reopen the Drawing Units dialog box, allowing you to verify that your settings reflect the desired units.
2. Testing Measurements: Use the dimension tools to measure various elements in your drawing. This process confirms that the units are accurately set.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between the various unit types in AutoCAD?
Different unit types serve specific purposes: Decimal works for general measurements, Architectural is suitable for building projects with feet and inches, and Engineering is tailored for civil engineering with feet and decimal inches.

2. How can I set default units for all future drawings?
To set default units, you need to open a new drawing, access the UNITS command, and configure your preferences. Save these settings as the default template to use them in future projects.

3. What should I do if my drawing appears too large or too small after changing units?
After adjusting units, ensure that you scale all objects according to the new settings. Use the SCALE command as explained to maintain accurate dimensions within your drawing space.