Using different units of measurement on the same drawing

This article applies to:

  • Revu 20

Jump to other versions:

Define separate units of measurement for length, area, and volume

While your Page Scale dictates the default unit of measurement on your drawing, you can set independent units of measurement for specific markups by following the steps below.

To set independent measurement units for length, you’ll need to be using Revu 20.2 or above. Update your software via the in-app installer or visit the Download Center.
  1. Open the Measurements panel.
  2. On the PDF, perform a measurement or click on the measurement markup you want to set an independent unit for.
  3. On the Measurements panel, you’ll see selections for Length, Area, and Volume (depending on the measurement type). You can also set units of measurement from the Properties Toolbar.
    The Measurements Panel in Revu 20
  4. Select a unit of measurement for Length, Area or Volume. The units will be automatically reflected for the selected markup, independent of page scale.
  5. With the Properties Toolbar enabled, you’ll also be able to quickly adjust your measurement units at any time.
    Adjusting measurement units using the Properties Toolbar

Setting custom units of measurement as Default

Set as Default allows your length, area, or volume measurements to always display your independent units. To enable this:

  1. After applying independent units to a markup, right-click the markup.
  2. Click Set as Default.

Other versions of this article

Revu 2019

Define separate units of measurement for area and volume

You can set independent units of measurement for area and volume. To define separate units of measurement:

  1. Open the Measurements panel.
  2. On the PDF, click on the measurement markup you want to set an independent unit for.
  3. On the toolbar, click the Units dropdown. Selections for Area and Volume will appear.
  4. Select a unit of measurement for Area or Volume. The units will be automatically reflected for the selected markup.

Setting custom units of measurement as Default

Set as Default allows your Area or Volume measurements to always display your independent units. To enable this:

  1. After applying independent units to a markup, right-click the markup.
  2. Click Set as Default.
The Store Scale in Page function works on a per-page basis. So if you’re working with a multi-page PDF, you’ll need to make sure you set it for each page.

Independent units can be applied to areas and volumes retroactively. To recalculate a previously measured area or volume with a newly set unit of measure, just click Recalculate. All measurements on the page will be recalculated with the current units of measurement.

Take your measurements

Once the Independent Units are set, all measurement tools will utilize the units you selected.

Revu 2018

Define separate units of measurement for area and volume

You can set independent units of measurement for area, volume, and the default unit of measurement used for linear measurements.

Make sure to calibrate the page before taking measurements. To define separate units of measurement:

  1. Click the Measurements panel.
  2. Fill the Independent Units checkbox. Selections for Area Unit and Volume Unit appear.
  3. Select a unit of measurement for Area Unit and Volume Unit.
  4. To keep this configuration when the PDF is saved, fill the Store Scale in Page checkbox. Otherwise, these settings will be discarded when the PDF is closed.

    If the Store Scale in Page option isn’t available, scroll down to the Options section of the Measurements tab and select Use Embedded Scale.

The Store Scale in Page function works on a per-page basis. So if you’re working with a multi-page PDF, you’ll need to make sure you set it for each page.

Independent units can be applied to areas and volumes retroactively. To recalculate a previously measured area or volume with a newly set unit of measure, just click Recalculate. All measurements on the page will be recalculated with the current units of measurement.

Take your measurements

Once the Independent Units are set, all measurement tools will utilize the units you selected.

Revu 2017 and older

There are times when you’ll need to use separate units of measurement on the same page. For example, you might need linear measurements in feet-inches, and volume measurements in cubic yards (e.g. for concrete or dirt).

Make sure the page is calibrated

It’s always a good idea to make sure the page is properly calibrated before taking any measurements. If you’re not sure that it is, please follow these steps listed below. Otherwise, skip to the next section.

  1. Locate a known length on the page.
  2. Open the Calibrate tool using one of the following methods:
    • From the Command bar, go to Measure > Calibrate measure-calibrate.
    • From the Scale section of the Measurements measure tab, click Calibrate.
  3. A dialog box might appear with instructions. If it does, click OK.
  4. Click the first point of the known length, then click a second point to finish the line. Hold down the Shift key to snap the two points horizontally, vertically or diagonally (as appropriate). When the second point is selected, the Calibration dialog box opens.
  5. Enter the distance that the line between these two points represents on the drawing and select the units in which measurements are to be reported.
  6. Click OK.
Scales, units of measurement, and Store Scale in Page are set on a per-page basis. So if you’re working with a multi-page PDF, you’ll need to make sure you set them for each page.

Now, remember that the unit of measurement used when calibrating the drawing will be the default for all measurements on that page. Up next, we’ll define separate units of measure for Area and Volume.


Define separate units of measurement for area and volume

You can set independent units of measurement for Area and Volume; which will exist separately from each other, and the default unit of measurement used for linear measurements.

  1. Click the Measurements measure tab.
  2. Select Independent Units. Selections for Area Unit and Volume Unit appear.
  3. Select a unit of measure for Area Unit and Volume Unit.
  4. To keep this configuration when the PDF is saved, select Store Scale in Page. Otherwise, these settings will be discarded when the PDF is closed.

    If the Store Scale in Page option isn’t available, scroll down to the Options section of the Measurements tab and select Use Embedded Scale.

The Store Scale in Page function works on a per-page basis. So if you’re working with a multi-page PDF, you’ll need to make sure you set it for each page.

Independent units can be applied to areas and volumes retroactively. To recalculate a previously measured area or volume with a newly set unit of measure, just click Recalculate (as always, if you’re not sure the page is properly calibrated, it’s a good idea to calibrate it first). All measurements on the page will be recalculated with the current units of measurement.


Take your measurements

Once the Independent Units are set up, your Area and Volume measurements will use the units of measurement you’ve selected . All other measurements will utilize the unit of measurement selected when calibrating the page.

 

 

How-To

Revu 20

Revu 2019

Revu 2018

Revu 2017 & Below

Measurement

Markup

Some documents need to use separate units of measurement on the same page. Learn how to use separate measurement types within the same document. 

Related Articles