Setting Units in Options files
- Last UpdatedMay 17, 2023
- 2 minute read
Isodraft loads the current units setting when the user enters the module but has its own units for defining bore and distance on Isometrics; these are built into the individual Isodraft options files. There is no change are to the way that bore and distance units are output but changes have been made to define the units required for some additional items.
Previous versions of Isodraft output units for Weight, Pressure and Temperature; these will be interpreted in current units and converted to the correct output value. For example Pressure is stored in Pascals but the user may require the equivalent in bar on the iso. To ensure this, the options file needs to contain the required output settings.
This is done by adding a block of code for setting units at the end of the options file. Each time an Iso is created, the options file is run as a macro so appending the correct units settings to this will ensure that Isodraft enter the detailing process with the correct units settings loaded. The process of modifying the option file will automatically append the current units so each option file can potentially redefine the current units.
The standard option setting process is to select Options>Modify from the main Isodraft menu bar to show the Modify Options form. After selecting an options file to modify, pick Dimensioning Options. A new button (Other Unit Settings) on this form shows the Current Session Units form as in Design:


The units settings can be reset using this form and need to be activated using the Set … Unit button.
Clicking OK on the options form will save the current units setting into the current options file. Once an options file has its own units settings, these will be loaded before generating isos or modifying the file.
Note:
Until an options file has been modified, the units displayed in the Current Session
Units form will be the current Design session units as on entry to Isodraft. When
an options file has been loaded, the units defined in the options file become current.
Existing Options files will have no unit definitions until they have been edited and
saved.
Isodraft does not currently perform any units conversion for UDAs. Isodraft will output them in database units.