Units
The Vectorworks program provides a wide range of measurement systems to select from and also provides the flexibility to create a customized measurement system. The selected measurement system is applied throughout the drawing, from the measurements that display on the rulers to those used in dimensions and worksheets.
Specifying units
Command |
Path |
Units |
File > Document Settings |
The Units command opens the Units dialog box, which organizes units settings on several panes.
Some areas of the program, such as irrigation (Vectorworks Landmark required) have separate unit specifications that are set elsewhere.
To select or change the current measurement system:
Select the command.
The Units dialog box opens.
Specify the units display parameters.
Units settings: Saved settings options
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Saved Settings Options |
See Using saved sets to save and apply saved settings |
Units settings: Dimensions pane
The Dimensions pane settings affect the units throughout the drawing and the rounding settings for primary dimensions.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Length |
|
Units |
Select the desired length measurement system from the list. If this setting is changed from one metric unit to a different metric unit, the Decimal precision and Dimension object precision values are automatically scaled by the same ratio, to maintain the same inherent precision the document had before. If the setting is changed from a non-metric unit to a metric unit, the precision values are automatically set to new default values suitable for the selected metric unit. |
Custom |
If the Custom unit is selected, click Custom to create a custom length measurement system; see below |
Show unit mark |
Displays the unit mark along with the unit value; if the Feet & Inches unit is selected, Vectorworks automatically displays unit marks and therefore, Show unit mark is grayed |
Show thousands separators in Dimension text |
Displays a thousands separator in the values of dimension objects; the separator used (a period or comma) depends on the current regional setting in the operating system. Separators are for display only; they are not used in the Object Info palette, or in the dimension text as it is being edited. |
Rounding style |
Rounding only affects how numbers are displayed; if the number 1.23456 is entered with a rounding of .00, the value is recognized as 1.23456 but displays as 1.23 |
Fractional |
Select for fractional rounding |
Decimal |
Select for decimal rounding |
Exact as fractions / non-exact as decimals |
Select for a combination of fractional and decimal rounding |
Fractional display for Dimensions |
If a fractional Rounding style is selected, select a style for the fractions that appear in dimensions: Standard: Diagonally stacked: Vertically stacked: |
Rounding precision |
|
Fraction precision |
If a fractional or combination Rounding style is selected, select the fractional precision value, up to 1/64 |
Decimal precision |
If a decimal or combination Rounding style is selected, select up to ten digits of decimal precision |
Dimension object precision
|
Select a precision value for dimension objects; to link the dimension value to the fraction or decimal precision value, click the link button to the right of the precision fields |
Decimal rounding base |
Select whether decimal rounding is performed using multiples of tenths, quarters, or halves; the option selected is reflected in the Decimal precision field |
Dimension rounding base
|
Select whether dimension rounding is performed using multiples of tenths, quarters, or halves; to link the dimension value to the decimal base value, click the link button to the right of the rounding base fields |
Decimal Options |
|
Leading zero |
For decimal rounding, displays a leading zero |
Trailing zero |
For decimal rounding, displays trailing zero |
Area/Volume/Angle |
|
Units |
Select the area, volume, and angular measurement systems from the lists. If this setting is changed from one metric unit to a different metric unit, the Precision value is automatically scaled by the same ratio, to maintain the same inherent precision the document had before. If the setting is changed from a non-metric unit to a metric unit, the precision value is automatically set to a new default value suitable for the selected metric unit. |
Custom |
If the Custom area or volume unit is selected, click Custom to create a custom area or volume measurement system; see below |
Precision |
For area and volume measurement systems, select up to ten digits of decimal precision. For angular measurement systems, select to display angular units in degrees (there are 360 degrees in a circle, and the angle mark is °), radians (there are 2pi radians in a circle, and the angle mark is r), or gradians (there are 400 gradians in a circle, and the angle mark is g); also, select up to eight digits of angular precision or specify degrees, minutes, and/or seconds. |
Units settings: Dual Dimensions pane
The Dual Dimensions pane contains many of the same parameters found on the Dimensions pane, but its settings apply only to secondary dimensions. If dual dimensions are not being used, these settings have no effect. For more information on dual dimensioning, see Dual dimensioning.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Dual Dimension Length |
|
Units |
Select the desired length measurement system from the list. If this setting is changed from one metric unit to a different metric unit, the Decimal precision and Dimension object precision values are automatically scaled by the same ratio, to maintain the same inherent precision the document had before. If the setting is changed from a non-metric unit to a metric unit, the precision values are automatically set to new default values suitable for the selected metric unit. |
Custom |
If the Custom unit is selected, click Custom to create a custom length measurement system; see below |
Show unit mark |
Displays the unit mark along with the unit value; if the Feet & Inches unit is selected, Vectorworks automatically displays unit marks and therefore, Show unit mark is grayed |
Show thousands separators in Dimension text |
Displays a thousands separator in the values of dimension objects; the separator used (a period or comma) depends on the current regional setting in the operating system. Separators are for display only; they are not used in the Object Info palette, or in the dimension text as it is being edited. |
Rounding style |
Rounding only affects how numbers are displayed; if the number 1.23456 is entered with a rounding of .00, the value is recognized as 1.23456 but displays as 1.23 |
Fractional |
Select for fractional rounding |
Decimal |
Select for decimal rounding |
Rounding precision |
|
Fraction precision |
If a fractional or combination Rounding style is selected, select the fractional precision value, up to 1/64 |
Decimal precision |
If a decimal or combination Rounding style is selected, select up to ten digits of decimal precision |
Decimal rounding base |
Select whether dimension rounding is performed using multiples of tenths, quarters, or halves; to link the dimension value to the decimal base value, click the link button to the right of the rounding base fields |
Decimal Options |
|
Leading zero |
For decimal rounding, displays a leading zero |
Trailing zero |
For decimal rounding, displays trailing zero |
Units settings: Energos pane
The Energos pane settings affect energy analysis calculations and displays. See Energos energy analysis module for more information.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Energos (Architect required) |
|
Units |
Select Imperial (US) or metric units for all energy analysis parameters and calculations |
Display |
Select whether to display R-Value or U-Value for all energy analysis parameters and calculations |
Precision |
All units used for energy analysis are listed, in addition to three special categories that group the units for convenience. Select the item from the list, and then set its precision value. All Units: Sets all energy analysis units to the specified precision Thermal Conductivity: Sets the precision of W/m K or Btu/h ft F units Other Units: Sets the precision of all units except for the thermal conductivity Specific Units: Sets the precision of the selected unit of measurement |
Units settings: Structural pane
The Structural pane settings affect calculations and displays for Event rigging and structural analysis (Vectorworks Spotlight required).
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Mass/Distributed Mass/Force |
The same parameters are available for each category. |
Units |
Select the measurement system from the list |
Custom |
If the Custom unit is selected, click Custom to create a custom measurement system; see below |
Precision |
Select up to ten digits of decimal precision |
Show unit mark |
Displays the unit mark along with the unit value |
Units settings: Materials pane
The Materials pane sets the units for the calculation and display of material resources, independently from the document settings. Select the desired measurement system.
Creating a custom unit system
Command |
Path |
Units |
File > Document Settings |
To create a customized measurement system:
Select the command.
The Units dialog box opens.
Select Custom from the appropriate Units list, or if editing an existing custom measurement system, select the custom name from the Units list.
Click Custom.
The Custom Units dialog box opens. The available values in each field vary based on the custom unit type.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Unit Name |
Name given to the custom measurement system; for example, “Cubit” |
Unit Mark |
Mark (abbreviation) used to represent a unit in the custom measurement system; for example, “cbt” |
Mass for Length units (Distributed Mass only) |
Select the mass units to be distributed across the selected length units |
Smaller from Larger |
Set the number of custom units that occur per selected unit; for example, “There Are 2 Units Per Inch” |
Larger from Smaller |
Set the number of selected units that occur per custom unit; for example, “There Are 2 Inches Per Unit” |