Units, Decimals, and Text Size

The Display group on the Measure tab of the ribbon sets how every length is shown: in measurements, size boxes and the readouts. It changes only how numbers are shown. The model is not changed.

The Four Controls

• Units: in, ft, mm, cm or m.
• Decimals: Auto, or 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 places. Auto shows the digits that are really there, up to six. It is not shown in the read-only sample on the public site.
• Format: Decimal or Fraction. It shows only while Units is in or ft, because fractions only mean something in inches and feet. Fractions are rounded to 1/64 in.
• Text size: a slider that makes the measurement labels smaller or bigger. It is not shown in the read-only sample on the public site.

Step by Step: Read a Part in Fractions of an Inch

1. Click the Measure tab.
2. In Display, set Units to in.
3. Set Format to Fraction.
4. Measure something. A hole that is 0.4375 in across now reads 7/16 in.
5. For a size box, such as the width of a rectangle, you can type either form. The box accepts 1 1/2 in, 1.5 in or 38.1 mm.

Step by Step: Make the Labels Easier to Read

1. On the Measure tab, find Text size.
2. Drag the slider right to make the measurement text bigger, or left to make it smaller.
3. The labels on the model change as you drag.

Where It Is Remembered

Your choices are kept in your browser and used the next time you open the viewer. The sample on the public site always opens in inches with fractions and does not keep changes.

Tips and Common Problems

• Format is missing. Units is set to mm, cm or m. Switch Units to in or ft.
• A number shows too many places. Set Decimals to 2 or 3.
• A size I typed came back changed. The box reads your number in the unit you typed. If you typed a bare number, it used the Units setting. Type the unit to be sure.
• Grid spacing has its own unit box. See Grid and Redraw.

Related Pages

• Measuring
• Materials and Weight
• Grid and Redraw