Changing values in Linear Dimension

[Evil_eyes]

So, i had to make a plan for a destilery (360x240 mm 1:100). I've made everything but i have to show it first before printing it in A2 or A1. I've scaled it to fit A3, but the values changed. I mean 360 became 229 and 240 became 153. So now i need to change the values, so the person who is inspection the plan to know that the dimensions are 360x240. Can someone help me?It's probably a piece of cake but I just can't find the option.

[ReMark]

You blew it when you "scaled" it. You should have just printed it to the A3 size from a layout where the scale would have be applied to the viewport.

[Evil_eyes]

Well i have the original file untouched. So it's not too late. So, when i have to print in in A2 or A1, I don't have to scale it?Because it would look small if printed in bigger paper size. Can u explain how to do this without scaling the plan manually?

[Dipali]

Try to use 'paper space' for printing purpose.

you can creat paper sizes in paper space & than use different dscale viewport to print it in different paper size.

have a look at the paper space tutorial on this site to learn more about it.

[Dipali]

here is the link

http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/paper-space-exercise.php

[ReMark]

Layout is the term now used for what was once referred to as Paperspace.

 

The idea is that you draw everything in model space (the default for AutoCAD) at FULL size. Then when you are ready to print, switch to a layout, establish a viewport (through which your model space objects are viewed) and apply a scale to the viewport. The advantage of this is you can have multiple layouts for each sheet size you expect to be printing.

 

As far as dimensions and notes that is up to you. Some CADtechs place everything but the title block and border in modelspace while others will place dimensions and notes in the layout. There is no right or wrong way only what works best for your given situation and work style.

[dbroada]

what we do is draw everything in ModelSpace (as ReMark has just said) on A1, A2 or A3 borders. Everything then gets printed on A3 @ scaled to fit. Providing you set your text heights properly everything is readable. Only if somebody INSISTS on it being 1:1 (or whatever) do we plot it out on the big printer.

[Evil_eyes]

Is this gonna help me?I'll plot this plan, most probably in A2, at a printing center. They can't resize the plan, so they can just print it in A2. For that reason, before printing it i have to make it bigger to fit the A2 so it can be seen better. That is why i'm asking how to make that without using the scale function and without changing the dimensions value (360x240). I'm sorry if i didn't understand something, but how is this paper space would help me?

[Evil_eyes]

I went to a layout view and then to page setup manager and used the plot scale group of options. Can i use this?

[stevsmith]

Only ever change the scale of the border to fit the drawing.

I wouldnt use the scale unless Im doing a blow up detail.

[Evil_eyes]

Can someone, understanding my problem and can help mi, give his skype acc, or ICQ acc, or MSN acc so he can explain me what to do, because now i'm totally lost and frustrated.

[Evil_eyes]

Don't bother. I found what i was looking for. When i scale the stuff the value changes from 360 to 225 (in this case to fit in A3). The in the properties of the linear dimension I used the text override. That is what i've been looking for.

[ReMark]

You really do not want to be rescaling and then overriding dimensions. If you have to share this drawing file with someone else it's going to cause problems. You need to learn about the use of layouts and do it quickly. In the long run it will be of great benefit for you to do so.

[ReMark]

The best place to start your education is right here at CADTutor. Look under the AutoCAD FAQ section > Getting Started > Modelspace / Paperspace.

[dbroada]

just in case my previous post was ambiguous, I only "scale to fit" at the printing stage. And to echo Mark's statement NEVER scale the drawing or use text override.

 

OK, there are occassions that you have to but what you are describing is not one of them.

[Evil_eyes]

Why is this gonna cause problems? This way it'll be bigger to fit A1 or A2 and i can replace the values H and L with the ones that are needed. In this case, I want to show that he height is 240 and the length is 360. After all this is just a preliminary design. No one wants from me to make a plan, that can be used (i mean like using the values) for building. Yes, it's it'll make it clearer for the professors (this is my graduation work), where every apparatus and room is, but there is nothing more. They said that it's ok and that i have to make it bigger so everyone can see it.

[dbroada]

if they all think its OK then do it that way but why use AutoCAD in the first place? If you didn't want it to a specific size you could have used something else.

 

The biggest benifit of a CAD system is everything is drawn correctly to size. This means Mark could give me a dwg file of his plant layout that (once converted to metric!) I caan just drop one of my cabinets into. We would both know that it all fits without blocking fire exits and that the doors open. No need to double check dimensions just in case somebody has not drawn to scale.

 

This is also another one of those areas that you have actually made it more difficult for yourself. If you follow his tutorial links you will be able to print on any size piece of paper without having to edit ANYTHING.

[Evil_eyes]

I'll have a look at the tutorial, but the plan is not even complicated. I have to change to values. That is all. I would really like to have enough free time to learn and practice on AutoCAD, but unfortunately I'm working so...You know. I know that AutoCAD is giving much more than you can see, but again one must have time to study all and really learn the benefits of this amazing program.

 

I drew everything with it's original measurements. The thing is that i do not need the draw to be in exact measurements. I did this so it can be as accurate as it can be. It was demanded from me to show how much bigger is one apparatus from another (like one time or two times bigger). Now u see that I do not really have to be so precise, and why I do not need this build-in option in AutoCAD. If, in future, i need to make a building plan, that is actually going to be used for building somethin, then I'll have to learn this paperspace.

[MaxwellEdison]

If you insist on scaling the drawing, do not override the dimensions. Change the Dim scale linear (under the Primary Units heading of the properties tab) by the inverse of what you scaled the drawing. For example, If your original dim scale was 50, and you scaled your drawing by a factor of 2 (doubled it), your new dim scale linear would be 25. This will scale all the measurements by half, you can select all your dimensions at once using QSELECT to avoid going through them individually.

 

I still do not recommend scaling the drawing. It is a bad CAD habit and frustrates anyone doing any edits or revisions (not to mention if you forget to turn on a layer) of the drawings in the future. If, like dbroada, you find paperspace (layouts) would be an unnecessary added layer of complexity for your drawings, still draw full scale. You can set up several DIMSTYLEs and TEXTSTYLEs to accomodate the various scales you would plot at. This will let you change your drawings annotations easier, without actually modifying the geometry.

[ReMark]

I think this drawing is being treated much like a hand sketch. A simple depiction of a building, not really to scale (as such), and therefore the dimensions could be anything. Fine. As he said, the professor is OK with this.

 

My question would be then "Why use AutoCAD in the first place?" You could have drawn the building in Excel (as our Environmental engineer does) because it is "just a pretty picture". You've wasted a perfectly good piece of software on just such a thing. I suggest your professor have his future students use Visio or some such program and leave AutoCAD for the serious students of CAD.