Expert: Bob - 3/16/2005

Question
I have read a book on it, before I ever started this project.  The problem was that it talked about
setting everything up from scratch, not modifying an existing project such as this since I
converted a scan to an autocad file.  So I have no idea how this program that made the
conversion sets up its basic settings.

I don't have time to take a class, thus why I got a book.  I've had a 15 year IT career, so I learn
new software very quickly.  But autocad definitely has some quirks, or different ways of doing
things from any other software I've ever used.  I know its important to get these 'setup' items
right, thus why I wanted to ask and make sure I do it correctly.

I'm getting ready to start dimensioning and want to make sure I have everything else done
correctly before proceeding with that.

Like I said, I read the book, but feel kind of lost since I'm going about it from a different
perspective.  I was just hoping for a couple of quick shortcuts to finish up these items so I can
move on.  I'm not as concerned about printing as I will probably end up emailing this file out for
quotes, but I want it to be usable to the people I send it to.

Answer
Hi --
Sorry, I guess I think it is obvious that people should tell me stuff like whether they read the book, and what program they used to get the thing into Acad, and so forth, so I dont go in circles with you. Barring that, when they give me such a confusing question, I think they must have not studied, so it wastes my time preaching -- unfortunately, this is typical.

IT experience is not drafting experience (tho you may have that too) AutoCAD is based on drafting.

To be VERY clear, there is NO "existing project" concerning some stuff from some nameless program -- an existing project that I can help with is an accurately drawn AutoCAD drawing.

I cant advise you on the scan conversion thing -- for any kind of mechanical part that has to be precise, I would have drawn it from scratch. My take is that the scan conversion is for land contours and other imprecise drawings, not what you are doing, so you may have diverted yourself -- and even now, you do not make it clear what you have.

If you did not set up a blank drawing with the proper units, etc and insert the image, you have done something I can not relate to, and I do not at all understand what you are asking me.

You again fail to tell me whether the item is drawn accurately at one to one -- if it is, why is dimensioning a problem? If it is not, please wblock it or copy and paste it to a new drawing and scale it by measuring a known length.

I am sorry, but I do not have accurate information on which to give further advice. I has been a long, tough day, now 10:30 PM. I would have enjoyed giving you a plain answer, but how can I?

BOB

PS --Layouts are mainly for printing. Why would you need to use a layout (paper space) if you are sending out the drawing for quotes -- just dimension in Model Space, and forget scale entirely, if the model is accurate and one to one. If it isnt, perhaps give it to someone to fix.