How do I convert from imperial to metric
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Hi Guys
I have a model downloaded from the WH and it is drawn using the imperial system(feet and inches) - is there a way I can quickly convert it to metric. I have opened the preferences option in the window menu but it is only changing templates and doesnt change the measurements in the model. Cant find any reference to this in past posts. Thanks
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Window > Model Info > Units and if You want to convert - scale the model.
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Thanks Dedmin
Just goes to show you how little you know when you think you know so much!!! I will be learning stuff like this for years!
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Sketchup models everything in 'real size', so the units you have set in your 'Model Info' are for your assistance only - unlike AutoCAD where the units are just numbers and you choose to think of them as inches, metres or millimetres etc whilst drawing, and then you have to option-change or later scale the imported CAD data to suit.
Sketchup's internal units are always 'inches' but you can 'work' in any of the standard units available.
You can also use any units whilst working, no matter what your current model's units are set to.
For example your units are currently set to 'millimeters' but you want to draw something exactly 1'10" long instead of calculating 22x25.4 and then typing the line's value in 'mm' you can use the imperial size directly and type 22" or 1'10" in the VCB and the line becomes exactly that length - to confirm select the line and then check in 'Entity Info' and it's displayed as 558.8 [or perhaps ~559 if your accuracy is set to 0].
I often mix 'm' and 'mm' whilst working in my normal 'mm' unit-setup - if I want to Move something 252m I'll type 252m not 252000, [avoids the possible error of typing several zeros in a row].
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Thanks TIG for a very useful tip - i again did not know that you could mix and match imperial and metric in the same model - will help alot when modelling furniture plans from the US.
This forum is brilliant - and answers come really quickly from amazing members - I'm so glad to be a part of it!
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I looked all this up to be sure what I wrote in my tutorial was correct.
The American system is not, in fact, Imperial. It was derived from the British system some time before the Brits created the Imperial System. "At this time, only three countries - Burma, Liberia, and the US - have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric system) as their official system of weights and measures." (CIA World Factbook). Calling the system "American" is very nearly correct.
What we Americans call the "metric" system is more correctly called the international system as it includes measurements (metric), weights, temperatures and other standards. (Many call it the SI, for the French Systeme Internationale.)
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Hi folks.
Just to add a bit of information, when importing a file, use the Option button in the Import dialog window to specify the units of the file to be imported.
This will avoid an unwanted scaling at import.
Just ideas.
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