importing OLD files

[saminizzle09]

Hi, Ive just been given a load of old DWGs that i need to update and add new LX bars into on Vectorworks. Usually importing files is no bother to me and i am able to get on with working but something very strange is happening to the scaling. 

every time i try to import the dwg the scaling between the import layer and the new lx bars layer is way out. both are set to 1:1 while im working on them, so when i draw a bar which is 3000mm wide it blows up and is huge! whats more odd is i can see on the original DWG file the scaling box someone has drawn is 1000mm. when i import it into vectorworks the scaling box reduces to 40 (im assuming cm) and the text indicating its size also changes. Its all very strange and im completely lost now!!

I have attached the DWG here. If someone could take a look for me i would be most appreciative. Its proably something really straight forward but im lost!

help!

379_01_02 GROUND FLOOR PLAN1.dwg

[zoomer]

The View Window or Viewport Scale is just for Text, Line Thickness or Printsize.
The Drawing is always 1:1.

When You import DWG's it is important to open these with the correct Unit Settings.
So for example if you import a feet and inches DWG in metric settings, it will have wrong scale
in a VW drawing no matter what viewing scale is set.

[zoomer]

When I try to import, the dialog says that it can't read units in DWG and "assumes" being meters.

As this way your Stair flight Width will be 920,0 m, I "assume" the DWG was in mm ?

Edited September 9, 2016 by zoomer

[PVA - Admin]

If you can't fix the scaling during import, you can import it into a new blank file and fix the scaling with Scale by Distance:
 

 

[saminizzle09]

9 minutes ago, zoomer said:

When I try to import, the dialog says that it can't read units in DWG and "assumes" being meters.

As this way your Stair flight Width will be 920,0 m, I "assume" the DWG was in mm ?

hi,

yeh the DWG was drawn in mm. everything on the DWG seems to be fine, the problems only occur when importing into VW. ive tried saving it as older/newer versions of DWGs but no luck!

[zoomer]

You can manually edit the Units the File will be read in in Import Dialog;
that way it should come in in Scale.

I always ask clients about their units they use.

If there is no info or you don't know the source of the file it is a bit try and error.
It is quite obvious which units could have been meant if both work metric.
Little harder if one party uses imperial units, then it is a bit about playing with
x times 2,54 or divided by 2,54, or even feet ...