Expert: Bob - 7/4/2006

Question
Thanks for the reply. I agree I'm probably learning time-wasting habits! To clarify: I draw in metric at 1:1 scale. I'm stil baffled by layouts and viewports, so I output to A0 size PDF from model space using drawing limits, and that has produced a very acceptable result, but I accept its not the best way of doing things, but time was of the essence.
On checking the file that was emailed to me - the kitchen sink - it was a dxf file, which looked perfect, but the actual measurement of the sink was 4.59mm wide instead of the 1365mm it should be. No wonder it was SO miniscule on insertion.
I insert using Insert, Block, Browse ( for external block/ file ), Open, Scale 1, select insertion point on screen.
This is when these dots appear that are in fact the block.
I had another block of a dining set that was in imperial, which I gambled on scaling up by 25.4 to get metric dimensions and it was perfect.
Quite how to deal with these 4 and 5mm blocks I've been sent, I dont know.  Regards, Terence
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Followup To

Question -
Hi.

I've just spent three solid weeks new to AutoCAD, (but with manual drafting previously) and used an excellent video tutorial to get me going on a house plan. Made my own blocks of fixtures and fittings etc, but I was sent a 'blocks CD'of dwg & dxf files by a kitchen manufacturer. When I insert any of these blocks they are so miniscule I can hardly see them, but zoom down and there they are, perfectly formed. It happens with some other blocks i've tried to insert from other sources, too. What am I doing wrong? Baffled.

Answer -
Hi -- well, congratulations, although I am generally against "self taught" because time-wasting habits are often formed.
Lacking more info to really answer, particularly
a--whether you and the blocks are metric or imperial measure
b--method of inserting blocks
c--how you managed to tell me they were tiny without telling me the scale, to give me a clue -- 1/100? less? more? -- very important to know that. I would assume you tried measuring them so you could scale them up. No?
_______Just as in any business, one has to talk the lingo to be well understood, and, as you know, drafting is about precision and scale. "tiny" is an adjective, not a scale.

_______ but lets go at it:
1-- did you draw at 1:1 or attempt to draw at some scale? (total and complete no-no to draw at a scale)-- you did not say.
2-- when you insert the blocks- how are you doing it?  INSERT, toolbar, menu, Design Center?-- with most of those, there is a prompt for scale. One would imagine you are not inserting them at a scale of one, if your drawing is 1:1. (if one of you is metric and the other imperial, they need to be scaled.)

Fill me in, and I should probably  see the answer right away for you.

BOB

Answer
Hi -- 40 lashes for not making clear it was Metric -- but I figured it had to be.
SO, if you have Imperial blocks, insert them at a scale of 25.4
Kitchen sink, etc -- did you blow it up 25.4 and measure that? (if not, I cannot begin to imagine a reason why not) All you have to do is either read up on the SCALE command, or just scale it up until it measures about the right size (the only reason for exact precision is to cut the hole, and locate the drain, but those have some "give")
Plotting -- no title block?  If you print from Model Space, and scaling it, at the very least make a rectangle the size of a D sheet blown up by the inverse of your scale, or L-shapes at the corners, and plot using WINDOW.  Extents is old fashioned, Limits is quicksand.

BOB
PS -- THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD BOOKS, FIND ONE YOU LIKE