Expert: Bill DeShawn - 8/15/2007

Question
Am trying to start a drawing with my units in millimeters
but I can't, the units are still being displayed in decimal
or inches. what do i do?

Answer
Jeremiah:
Create a new folder: C:\ACAD_Templates
1. Start a new drawing
2. Save the drawing as acad.dwt in the new folder
3. Create some layouts in the template drawing as you would if you were to draw in it.  Set the units to metric.
4. Save and Close the template drawing.
5. In _OPTIONS, Click on "File;Template Settings;Drawing Template File Location" and click on the (+) symbol, and click on the path.  Then hit the F2 key on your keyboard to edit the path.  There, type in the new folder name: "C:\ACAD_Templates".

6.  Now scroll down to "Default Template File Name for QNEW.  In the same manner, edit the file name to read ACAD.DWT.


Now when you open a drawing, if the Template file is complete (because AutoCAD will check it) what is supposed to happen (theoretically), is that when you open a drawing, AutoCAD will look in the template path for the template file and save it as the next drawing name: (Drawing1.dwg or Drawing2.dwg etc.)  From there, you save it as whatever drawing name you wish and start drawing.

If your STARTUP system variable is set to 1, you will get a dialog box at startup which will give you some startup optons.  Make sure you select "Use a Template".  

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn