Specifying Units and Precision

The UnitSystem command lets you set:

• Formats for linear and angular units
• Accuracy levels by specifying the number of decimal places
• The reference unit of measurement for Blocks and drawings in the drawing

You can set the linear and angular unit formats and precision independently.

The unit settings are saved with each drawing, and so they can be different for each drawing.

To specify units and precision:

1. Click Format > Unit System (or type UnitSystem).
   
   In the Options dialog box, the Drawing Settings page opens and Unit System expands.
2. Under Base angle:
• Set the base angle that specifies a direction for 0°. For example, surveyors normally set 0° as "up" on the page. This setting ensures the correct display of angle and distance for drawing lines; the display on the status bar updates according to the angle zero direction and the orientation.
• Select Clockwise to increase angles in a clockwise direction.
• Set the rotation angle, or click Select in graphics area  to set the rotation angle and second point in the graphics area.
3. Under Length, set the:
• Type of linear units.
• Precision from 0 to 8 decimal places.
4. Examples of linear units:
   
   

   Unit Type	Example 1	Example 2
   Architectural (Feet and Inches)	0'-1 1/2"	125'-0"
   Decimal	1.5000	1500.0000
   Engineering (Feet and Inches)	0'-1.5000"	125'-0.0000"
   Fractional	1 1/2	1500
   Scientific (Scientific exponential notation)	1.5000E+00	1.5000E+03

5. Under Angle, set the:
• Type of angular units.
• Precision from 0 to 8 decimal places.
6. Examples of angular units:
   
   

   Unit Type	Example 1	Example 2
   Decimal Degrees (Metric Units)	12.500	180
   Degrees / Minutes / Seconds	12d30'0"	180d0'0"
   Grads (400 grads equal to 360°)	13.889g	200.000g
   Radians (2 pi radians equal to 360°)	0.218r	3.142r
   Surveyor's UnitSystem (Compass bearings; N,S,E,W with deflection from North and South)	N 77d30'0" E	W

7. Under Units scale, in Block units format, select the reference unit of measurement for Blocks and drawings in the drawing. Select Unitless to prevent scaling of entities. If the units of a Block (or drawing) to be inserted differ from the units in Block units format, the Block is scaled. This insertion scale determines the ratio between the units in the source and the units in the target drawing.
8. Click OK.

Access

Command: UnitSystem

Menu: Format > Unit System