How to Change Units Permanently in AutoCAD?

Understanding Units in AutoCAD

When working with AutoCAD, establishing the correct unit system is crucial for precision and accuracy in your designs. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to change the units permanently in AutoCAD.

Accessing the Units Settings

1. Open AutoCAD: Launch the AutoCAD application and create or open a drawing.

2. Enter the UNITS Command: At the command prompt, type UNITS and press Enter. This command will open the Drawing Units dialog box.

Selecting the Desired Unit Type

1. Choose the Unit Type: In the Drawing Units dialog, you will see various options for length units such as Decimal, Architectural, Engineering, and more. Select the one that suits your project needs:

   • Decimal: Used for metric measurements.
   • Architectural: Displays in feet and inches.
   • Engineering: Similar to Architectural but in decimal feet.
2. Setting Precision: Depending on the chosen unit type, select the desired precision level from the available options (e.g., 0, 0.0, 0.00).

Making Changes Permanent

1. Enable Save as Default: After setting the units, check the "Save as Default" option located at the bottom of the dialog box. This action ensures that your settings will apply to new drawings.

2. Scale Objects from Other Drawings: If you plan to import objects from different drawing units, select the "Scale Objects Inserted from Other Drawings." This feature helps maintain consistency across projects.

3. Confirm Changes: Click on OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.

Adjusting for Metric Units

If you need to set the AutoCAD to a metric standard:

1. New Blank Drawing: Start a new drawing or use the existing one.

2. Use the UNITS Command: As previously noted, type UNITS into the command line.

3. Select Metric Units: Change the unit type to either Millimeters or Meters, depending on your needs.

4. Save As Default: Don’t forget to click on "Save as Default" to ensure all future projects adopt this metric setting.

Handling Area Units

To alter area units specifically:

1. Enter the UNITS Command: Open the Drawing Units dialog.

2. Adjust Insertion Scale: Look for the “Insertion Scale” drop-down menu and select the unit corresponding to area measurements you intend to work with.

3. Final Adjustments: Confirm your selection by clicking OK.

Dealing with Units in Existing Drawings

To modify units for ongoing drawings:

1. Open Drawing Utilities: Select the Application button, navigate to Drawing Utilities, then choose Units.

2. Adjust As Necessary: Follow similar steps as outlined above to adjust the units and save the settings.

FAQ

1. How do I check the current unit system in AutoCAD?
To check the current unit system, enter the UNITS command into the command prompt. This will display the current settings in the Drawing Units dialog.

2. Can I change units in the middle of a project?
Yes, you can change units at any time using the UNITS command, but remember that changing units in an ongoing project may affect existing dimensions and scales.

3. What happens if I forget to save my unit changes as default?
If you don’t save your unit changes as default, they will only apply to the current drawing. New drawings will revert to the original settings unless modified again.