Mike, The suggestions others have given you are good. These are variables on how to approach this issue. It is not a "problem" or "virus" in AutoCAD, however. This is one of the design principles of AutoCAD. You do the model or object you want to detail in the "Model Space" at 1:1 - including dimensions. Then create a view of it in "Paper Space". In the "Paper Space" (set to the dimensions of your paper) is your title block and notes around the view or views. This view (or views) can then be scaled to the desired readable size, rotated in 3D (if you have heights to your components - that's another story), mirrored, zoomed in for details and have other dimensions added (in Paper Space), etc. without affecting the model in "Model Space". The best book to get for how to work with AutoCAD is "Inside AutoCAD (Version?)" and you can get it from Amazon for anywhere from $27 - $80 depending on the sale. If you have an older version of AutoCAD, check it out at the library. You'll want to reference: "ANNOTATING, DIMENSIONING, AND PLOTTING. / Paper Space Layouts." Good luck. Cherie Litson Sr. PCB Designer, Nytec President, IPC Cascade Chapter (425)703-0441 (MS Off) (425)883-3337 ext 207 (Nytec Off) (206)619-8844 (cell phone) -----Original Message----- From: Mike Clemente [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 3:39 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [DC] AutoCad Dimensioning Hi Everyone, I am using OrCad Layout for PCB design and create the fabrication drawing in AutoCad as follows: 1. Run Post Processor to extract Drill Drawing (board outline, hole symbols, and drill chart) from OrCad Layout, resulting in a DXF file. 2. Open DXF file in AutoCad and add necessary board dimensions @1/1 scale. 3. I then select all and create a Block, and then scale 1.5/1. The problem is when I explode the block to make any changes, the dimensions do not remain at the 1/1 scale, but change to whatever I scaled the block as. Ex. 1/1 dim=10.000, when exploded, dimension=15.000. What can I do to prevent this? If I don't create a Block first before scaling, the dimensions conform to the scaling factor and do not remain 1/1. Thanks in Advance, Mike Mike Clemente, C.I.D. Sr. PCB Design Specialist dZinit Applied Technologies Tel: 847-545-8170 Fax: 847-545-8175 Email: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------- DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil. To set a vacation stop for delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET DesignerCouncil NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil. To set a vacation stop for delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET DesignerCouncil NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------