actual scale / dimensions

[runningonfumes]

Forgive me for the basic question but here goes. How do I enable AutoCad 2000 to display the actual dimension for a line while drawing it or just using the measure tools. I would think that AutoCad would be sophisticated enough (if I could find the option)to take my scale and display the actual dimension. For example, if I was drawing a building outline on a 1/4" : 1 ' scale and I drew a 10" line, representing a 2.5' long wall, how do I have AutoCad display it as such?

Thanks much

 

[borgunit]

Do you draw 1:1 or are you saying that you draw a line 10 units long and you want to have it when it is dimensioned, measure 480 units (1:48 was your scale?). You can set this in your dimstyle settings, if this is what you want. You would need to override the measurement scale setting there. Is this your question?

 

[runningonfumes]

You are somewhat on to what I am talking about. It's probably because my math is wrong, I apologize.

When I draw a line and AutoCad displays the length, it shows me the length as if you were to measure the page inches with a ruler. So, again lets see if I can get this right this time - if I draw a line 10 units (1 unit is = to 1 inch on paper) I would like to see the real world number displayed instead (my building scale is 1/4" on paper = 1 foot in the real world).

I draw a 10 inch line (this is where my math was wrong before) I want Autocad to display 40 feet as the length. I also would like to see the dimensioning tool do this as well.

sorry for the confusion

thanks for responding

 

[smcadman]

I hope it is safe to assume that you are drawing 1:1 in model space, and are wanting to dimension it in paperspace.
Enter "dimstyle" in the command line, modify > primary units > scale factor. Enter your scale factor here.

Flores

 

[IFRs]

In my humble opinion, you should draw a line 40 units long if that is how long it is in real life. Always draw full size, 1 to 1. You can plot at 1/4" = 1' if you want, but always, always draw full size. Why would anyone do differently?

 

[runningonfumes]

Thanks everyone, you put my thinking straight. I have a tendency to think at the size of the plot - paper space. I'll draw 1:1 and plot down in scale.