Changing the Unit of Measurement for New Files

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

When I start a new drawing, my walls and other objects are measured in metric units. How do I change my unit of measurement for new files?

ANSWER

While it's possible to display both imperial and metric dimensions for any given plan, it's important to start a project using the preferred measurement type, as the measurement system assigned to the file cannot be changed after it has been created.

It is also critical that you use U.S. Unit files for your U.S. Unit templates and metric unit files for your metric templates, as the measurement system assigned to the file is used regardless of the Preference setting.

To specify the unit of measurement

1. Launch Chief Architect and select Edit> Preferences if you're on a Windows computer or Chief Architect> Preferences if you're on a Mac.
   
   
   
2. On the New Plans panel of the Preferences dialog, select between two measurement types: U.S. Units, also known as standard, imperial, or SAE, or Metric Units, also known as SI.
   
   
   
   
   Note: The default plan templates for U.S. Units are the "Residential Template.plan" and "Kitchen and Bath Template.plan," while the default plan templates for Metric Units are the "Residential Template - Metric.plan" and "Kitchen and Bath Template - Metric.plan." Metric templates will typically include "M," "Metric," or "ISO" in the file name.
   
   
   

   If the radio button is set to U.S. Units, but the plan template is a metric template, or vice versa, use the Browse button to navigate to the appropriate template in the software's Data folder and click Open.
   
   Never specify a *.layout file as your plan template.
   

   
   
3. Click OK to close the dialog to apply your change.
   
   
   
4. The plan that is currently open will not be affected by the change, however, when you select File> New Plan to open a new plan, it will use the specified measurement system.