Scaling Objects

[archlemon]

I find this method useful to scale objects from metric to english and vise versa. Ener the scale command, select your object. Use reference and select a basepoint (on the selected object) of a given line for which you know the new length desired. After you pick the basepoint enter the @ symbol as your first point then pick the other endpoint of the line on the selected object. Enter the new length desired. Voila.

[scwegner]

Or you could always use this:

;;; SCALECONVERT.LSP
;;; Scales objects from one unit to another


(defun c:scc (/ unit1 unit2 factor ss basept)

  (initget "Feet FT Inches MIllimeters MM Centimeters CM Meters")
  (if
    (not
      (setq unit1 (getkword "\nEnter starting units: [Feet/Inches/MIllimeters/Centimeters/Meters] <Inches> "))
    );not
    (setq unit1 "Inches")
  );if
  (initget "Feet FT Inches MIllimeters MM Centimeters CM Meters")
  (if
    (not
      (setq unit2 (getkword "\nEnter desired units: [Feet/Inches/MIllimeters/Centimeters/Meters] <Millimeters> "))
    );not
    (setq unit2 "Millimeters")
  );if
  (setq factor (cvunit 1.0 unit1 unit2))
  (setq ss (ssget))
  (setq basept (getpoint "\nSpecify base point: "))
  (command "scale" ss "" basept factor)
  
  (princ)

)

[murrayc.49304]

Archlemon's trick also works for details that have been scaled down to fit a title-sheet. Here at the company I work for, I am constantly scabbing details from other jobs that were drawn proportionally, but were scaled down [to fit a modelspace TS] because no one in my company knows how to use Paperspace properly.

I use the above mentioned trick all the time so that I don't have to reach for my calculator to try and figure out the scaling factor.

Oh, BTW.... the "R"eference trick that Archlemon mentioned ALSO works for the ROTATE command.

1.Enter ROTATE command,
2.Select objects
3.Pick basepoint (ie. endpoint of a line that you want horizontal to your screen)
4.Enter R for Reference and pick the same basepoint (ie. Shift+@)
5.Select the OTHER endpoint of the line.
6.Turn on yout ORTHO
7.Pick a point somewhere on your screen that will then make the objects horizontal to your screen.

[jaberwok]

These both also work when inserting scanned images of line drawings for tracing.

[bcowper]

Using reference for scaling and rotating seems to be one of those things a lot of Caddies are ignorant about. Once you find out how reference works for those commands you will never go back to the old way of figuring out rotation angles and measuring scale sizes.

If you need to scale and rotate objects you can use the Align command which does both at once.

[murrayc.49304]

Using reference for scaling and rotating seems to be one of those things a lot of Caddies are ignorant about. Once you find out how reference works for those commands you will never go back to the old way of figuring out rotation angles and measuring scale sizes.

If you need to scale and rotate objects you can use the Align command which does both at once.

The ALIGN command is also an awesome option. However, the ALIGN command is only useful if you have something to align your objects TO.