Expert: Bob - 1/21/2011

Question
Using AutoCad 2006 in mechanical design, both imperial and metric, I want to switch the units I'm using between imperial and metric so I can have one set of templates, not an imperial set, and a metric set. (And also one set of blocks, line types, etc, etc.)  I started using Autocad "R12", with a digitizer, then migrated through various versions to AutoCad 2008.  Now, at a new job using 2006.  I'd say I'm intermediate level us using Cad, but this is my first experience (in 16 YEARS!) interchanging metric.

In case it matters, imperial unit is inch, metric unit is mm.  Converting currently using scale function and 25.4 or .03937007874 for "Alternate" dimensioning scale factor.

Answer
Hi -- NOT MY FIELD, but my best intuition to solve it -- hope it helps!


In general -- I would tend to keep the separate templates, to ensure that each type of drawing came out right. It is fairly easy to make 2 tool palettes pointing to the same drawing containing all your blocks, one inserting them at metric scale, one at imperial. (which is no good if text indicating the size is blocked.) You can probably make dynamic blocks with both sizes included, as well.

I am a bit at a loss, because you don't give a few more bits of information..
1-- do you mix the 2 unit types in the same drawing, or drawing A is imperial, B is metric?
AND -- do you often need the same drawing to come in both systems?
2-- how do you plan to handle the sheet sizes, as metric countries typically use unique paper sizes? (one purpose of having separate templates)
OR -- are you plotting from model space (so ancient that you must state so clearly)?
3-- I hope you have gathered those blocks in a few large, categorized drawings, rather than having one drawing for each block.
AND -- do you place your blocks in tool palettes, rather than typing?

In other words
A--explain the PURPOSE, as I never understand questions without the purpose, as a better solution may come to mind when I know the story
B-- I learned at the end of R14, and eventually taught for a few years, so I was always moving on to new features. SOME of the guys who learned "back when" use AutoCAD as if it were R12 (to me).  I am not so good at understanding how to assist with that, and I have a hard time
to be as polite as I should, as I am the kind who always wants a new trick.

I DID look up a similar question on the AutoCAD 2006 Discussion Group --here it is
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Drafting-Techniques/Automatic-scaling-of-drawing-i...
IN THIS CASE -- he wanted to mix the 2 in the same drawing (you may not)
He needed lisp, but did not post in the lisp group

Perhaps poking around in the Groups for people whose work is similar would give you better help that I can


BOB