DWG file is opening with the wrong units

	Product:	MicroStation
	Version:	V8i, CONNECT
	Environment:	N\A
	Area:	DWG
	Subarea:	Open

Problem

The DWG file is opening with the wrong/incorrect units.

Solution

The DWG units need to be specified when you open the drawing in MicroStation. Since the file is DWG file type, the units used to create the drawing are not stored anywhere in the file.

1. Browse for a file to open within MicroStation, click on the DWG file so that it highlights but do not open the file.
2. Select the Options button to open the DWG Open Options dialog box.

3. In the DWG Open Options dialog box, you need to set the units you want to use when opening the drawing. The setting "Architectural or Engineering Units" should be set to "Inches" and the setting "Decimal, Scientific or Fractional Units" need to be set to the units in the DWG file. For example, if you want your DWG file to open in "US Survey Feet", then your DWG Open Options would look similar to the following:

4. To set the value, click on the current setting in the value column and select the new unit that you want to use.
5. Select the OK button to close the dialog box.
6. Open the DWG file.
7. You may encounter a dialog like this. You can opt to not display this again. Note how it reminds you what units will be utilized.

The DWG drawing should now open using the units that you selected. You can verify within the Design File Settings.

Note

For AutoCAD file formats 2000 and up, the preferred setting for the Units should always be: Design Center Units as that unit setting is what AutoCAD will use when opening a file.