Entering Values and Units

Wherever you type a size or an angle (in Properties, the tool options, the value by the cursor, the Variables and Points panels, and the options dialogs), the box shows its unit and takes values typed in other units: they are converted to the drawing's units for you.

The unit in the box

A box for a length shows the drawing's unit at its right: mm or in. A box for an angle shows °. A box for a count, a ratio or a factor (holes across, a K-factor, a scale) shows nothing. The Variables and Points panels show no unit, as a variable can hold any value.

Typing units

Type a number with its unit, with or without a space:

The units are mm, cm, m, in (also inch, inches and "), ft (also foot, feet and ') and, for angles, ° and deg. Fractions and mixed numbers are written as in Numbers: 3/8, 1 1/2, 2-1/4. In an inch drawing, inches typed as fractions stay fractions.

While you type, the box shows what the value comes to in the drawing's units (= 9.525 mm) where it shows the unit. When you press Enter or leave the box, what you typed is written in the drawing's units, so the drawing keeps an ordinary value.

Units in expressions

Where a box takes an expression, units can be used inside it: W + 10mm, 2*3/8in, MAX(1in, L1). Each value with a unit is converted on its own, and the rest is left as it is: in an inch drawing, W + 10mm becomes W + 0.393701. A number without a unit is in the drawing's units, as always.

A length unit in an angle box isn't converted (it is an error), and a box for a count or a ratio takes plain numbers only. Text in quotes is never changed.

The options dialogs

The number boxes of the options dialogs (the export options, Preferences …) show their own unit beside them and take values typed in other units the same way: type 3/8in in a box in millimetres and it shows 9.525 when you leave it. A box whose unit isn't a length or an angle (a percentage, a speed) takes plain numbers.

See also: Numbers, TOMM, TOIN, Properties, Tool Options, Variables.