It simply changes the number of 'units' in the drawing to match the new scale we're about to set. In our example, changing the number of units in our line will not make the line longer or shorter – as long as we rescale the drawing correctly.

That's exactly why you need to resize the objects in your drawing when changing the scale. So for an object that was originally meant to measure 10 feet, changing your units to inches would then require the object to actually measure 120 units (in this case, 120 inches, or 10 feet). If you did, in fact, change your units, you would eventually need the line to be measured in the number of your new units that match its measurement in the original units. However, the issue of scale forces a new wrinkle into this perfect unitless world. Whether you change your units to inches, meters, millimeters, angstroms, or parsecs, the line will continue to measure 10 units. For example, a line drawn from the coordinates 0,0 to 0,10 in Decimal Feet will be 10 'units' long.

Convert to Architectural Scale: Type 12, and press Enter.ĪutoCAD is technically a 'unitless' system.

Convert to Engineering Scale: Type 1/12, and press Enter.

The Command line will prompt you to Specify Scale Factor. The Command line will prompt you to Specify base point.

Select the entirety of your drawing in Model space. The Command line will prompt you to Select objects. In Model Space, type SCALE in the Command line, and press Enter. This step will apply your new scale to all objects that are currently in your drawing – from linework to plants, irrigation equipment, hatches – everything! Step 1: Resize All Objects in Your Drawing You need to convert an existing drawing from Engineering Scale to Architectural Scale, or from Architectural Scale to Engineering Scale.įor example, you may have reached an advanced stage in your drawing, only to have a client, supervisor, or design committee request that you submit your plan in a different scale.įortunately, you can convert your scale quickly in just a few steps.

Architectural autocad