How do I open an existing dwg and have it scale properly?

#1
I have a house roof truss drawing, scale of 1/8 = 1'-0" (US dimensions). This was drawn on Mac CAD software in 2009 (don't know which package).

I need to do area calculations. As a quick check, when I measure a distance between two known points, the result shows as 12", not 24" as printed on the drawing (half size).

What are the settings involved to correct this?

Thanks for your help!

Re: How do I open an existing dwg and have it scale properly?

#2
Messing with scale settings can cause unexpected problems later.

first, make sure you are in model space not paper space and then check the distance between two points. If it gives you 12" instead of 24" then what I would do is:
1) Select All
2) scale - factor 2 - base point 0,0,0 ENTER

This will scale the entire drawing by a factor of 2.

Model space should always be drawn to actual units (inches, mm etc,) so later you can scale them in paper space to the correct figures.

Good luck.

-Kam

Re: How do I open an existing dwg and have it scale properly?

#6
gigaboy wrote:
Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:53 pm
1) Control A for selecting all elements.
2) On command bar, I enter SCALE
3) I don't see where to enter FACTOR 2
4) keeps asking for a base point. When I enter 0.0.0 as you suggest, it's rejected. Cursor wants me to click somewhere, but where?
OK, this is what happens when you do things in your head . . .

SCALE <enter>
it will say select entities . . .
type All <enter>
it will say # entities selected . . .
press <enter>
it will ask for a base point . . .
type 0,0,0 <enter>
it will ask for a scale factor . . .
type 2 <enter>

The help reference <f1> and the user manual can walk you through this in detail.

best-
-Kam