Architects and engineers in many countries, such as the Philippines, use metric units of measurement. These units include millimeters, centimeters, and meters. Although some professionals and hardware stores in the Philippines still use imperial units, such as when specifying wooden materials (e.g., 2″ X 4″, 1″ X 4″), metric units are generally preferred. However, a few countries still use imperial units, including the United States of America, Liberia, and Myanmar. While Liberia and Myanmar are slowly transitioning to metric units, it seems that the US will continue to use imperial units for the foreseeable future.
All of the DWG files available in our store have been created using metric units, with a scale of 1:1 where 1 unit is equal to 1 mm. Please be informed that if you are planning to make a purchase from our store and happen to be based in a country where the imperial unit system is used, such as the United States of America, or your workflow requires it, you will need to convert the drawing units from millimeters to feet or inches. To assist you in this process, below are the suggested workarounds along with the necessary steps to complete the conversion.
Option 1 : Use -DWGUNITS command (only available in AutoCAD® 2019 and later)
Command -DWGUNITS. Then follow the prompts below in succession:
- Drawing units – choose 1 (Inches).
- Drawing unit display format – choose 4 (Architectural).
- Linear display precision – choose the appropriate unit.
- Scale objects from other drawings upon insert? Choose Y (Yes).
- Match INSUNITS to drawing units? Choose Y (Yes).
- Scale objects in current drawing to reflect change in units? Choose Y (Yes).
Option 2 : Use SCALE command
Open the drawing file, then command SCALE.
- Select the object or enter ALL.
- Specify a base point, or enter 0,0.
- Specify the following scale factors:
Millimeters to inches = 0.0393701
Millimeters to feet = 0.00328084
Feet to millimeters = 304.80
Feet to centimeters = 30.48
Feet to meters = 3.048
Option 3 : Use INSERT command
On a new drawing, command UNITS.
- Under the Length, Type, select Architectural.
- Under the Length, Precision, select your preferred precision.
- Under the Insertion scale, select Inches, then click OK.
- Command INSERT.
- Select the block you want to use. At this point, you should be able to insert any drawing in imperial units.
For precautionary measures, it is recommended to secure a backup copy of the file prior to executing any of the aforementioned steps.
Conclusion
If you have been interested in purchasing products from our store but are hesitant due to the drawing units used to create them, there is a workaround to overcome this obstacle. The disadvantage, however, is that all the value sets on the dynamic blocks, such as jamb and door widths in the Lookup parameter and the Custom section in the Properties tab, are labeled in millimeters. They will remain the same even after changing the units. If you wish to change the labels into imperial units, you will need to do so manually in the Block Editor.
Before purchasing a dynamic block, I suggest downloading the FREE Frameless Glass Door (Single Leaf) from the downloads page. Follow the steps outlined in this article to convert the block into imperial units, then use it in your project. This way, you can accurately assess whether it meets your requirements, and if the dynamic blocks you would like to purchase are worth the time you’ll spend converting. You need to register as a subscriber to gain access to the free dynamic door block and other assets valuable to your architectural practice such as Pro-Forma Owner-Architect Agreement and Pro-Forma CAD Library Folder. Register here.
Share your ideas or best practices in the comments below. Check out our dynamic CAD blocks and see how they will boost your productivity. We’ve done the groundwork for you. See them here.