Dimension output in Decimal Feet

[jhgator1]

I am trying to make the output of my dimensions show as the following: 21.359'. Is there a way to have it show this way?

[gomez]

Under dim style change primary units to decimal and add ' to the suffix
area.


"jhgator1" <nospam@address.withheld> wrote in message
news:30210760.1110579264278.JavaMail.jive@jiveforu m1.autodesk.com...

I am trying to make the output of my dimensions show as the following:
21.359'. Is there a way to have it show this way?

[jhgator1]

The drawing was at full scale in architectural units before. When I change the units to decimal and add the " ' " for feet as a suffix, instead of something that was 4'-6", it now shows 54.00'. I need to be able to show the 4'-6" as 4.5'. Any other suggestions?

[John Schmidt]

Do these same steps you've already done, then, in dimstyle, go to the
Primary Units tab and put 1/12 as Scale factor in the Measurement Scale
window. This will have the effect of dividing your 54.00 by 12 so the result
is in feet.

John

"jhgator1" <nospam@address.withheld> wrote in message
news:24367883.1110831428572.JavaMail.jive@jiveforu m2.autodesk.com...

The drawing was at full scale in architectural units before. When I
change the units to decimal and add the " ' " for feet as a suffix, instead

of something that was 4'-6", it now shows 54.00'. I need to be able to show
the 4'-6" as 4.5'. Any other suggestions?

[LARRY]

Try making your "DLF" 1/12

[teiarch]

Your response is correct and a clever solution. Note however, that eventually a round-off error may occur in a long string of dimensons because a 1/12 (.08333333....) dividing scaling factor can never quite be resolved. Usually no big deal but the OP should be aware that this could happen and not spend hours trying to find an "error" that isn't of his doing.

[Chuck]

You are never guaranteed that a floating point value will be exact out to
the last decimal place. Entering "1/12" (rather than ".08333333") causes
AutoCAD to compute with the maximum accuracy available, which is all you can
ever expect. So I don't think this is a situation where accuracy is being
lost.

"teiarch" <nospam@address.withheld> wrote in message
news:2284238.1111114667466.JavaMail.jive@jiveforum 2.autodesk.com...

Your response is correct and a clever solution. Note however, that
eventually a round-off error may occur in a long string of dimensons because

a 1/12 (.08333333....) dividing scaling factor can never quite be resolved.
Usually no big deal but the OP should be aware that this could happen and
not spend hours trying to find an "error" that isn't of his doing.

[teiarch]

Chuck: Didn't imply lost accuracy. Simply advising that sooner or later, AutoCad will round up or round down in a dimension string and the subdimensions may not necessaily equal the overall dimension.

Just trying to save him some frustration looking for an error that really isn't there.

I've read too many threads where people don't understand when this happens.

[Ed A]

Oh, I see what you mean. Sorry. Good that you are trying to save people
from scratching their heads about that sort of thing.

Accuracy is still a potential problem here if the operator isn't careful.
I've seen many operators who are unaware that they can type fractions for
numeric input. Some have a sheet full of decimal "equivalents" that they
refer to, not knowing that they would be better off typing in a fractional
expression.

Even worse, there is the chance that you might enter "1/12" into an edit box
in a dialog, and the callback routine could end up rounding it, depending on
how the program was written. When I want to check for this, I usually type
an AutoLISP expression at the command prompt that will return the value in
decimal with lots of decimal places. I think I remember seeing this happen
when entering a text height into the mtext editor in AutoCAD 2000. Then it
happened to me in a dialog box routine that I wrote, which made me feel much
more forgiving!

Have a nice day.



"teiarch" <nospam@address.withheld> wrote in message
news:12684792.1111547665298.JavaMail.jive@jiveforu m2.autodesk.com...

Chuck: Didn't imply lost accuracy. Simply advising that sooner or later,
AutoCad will round up or round down in a dimension string and the

subdimensions may not necessaily equal the overall dimension.

Just trying to save him some frustration looking for an error that really
isn't there.

I've read too many threads where people don't understand when this
happens.

[teiarch]

Went there myself a couple of times before the light bulb went on....

[gpetty46]

Easier yet, Scale your entire drawing by a factor of "1/12" then follow the advise of gomez in the first response. You'll be drawing and measuring in real units of one foot.