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The Manual Scale tool allows you to resize a drawing to meet project needs. Drawings can be scaled by entering a scale ratio, defining a custom scale, or adjusting the width and height values based on known dimensions or a visual reference. This method is useful for making quick adjustments before refining alignment further.
In this article, we cover:
Launch the Manual Scale Tool
From the uploaded drawings, choose a drawing to scale. It is recommended to right-click on the drawing and select Temp. Hide Everything Else to hide all other elements to make it easier to focus on the chosen drawing.
To scale your drawing, launch Manual Scale:
- Double click on the drawing to access its settings, select Manual Scale from the Side Sheet Toolbar.
- Consider hiding the Scenario Tree (1) to get a better view of the map tile.
- Hover over Manual Scale and then select Manual Scale (2) from the Side Sheet Toolbar
- Drag the 3D handles on the edges or corners (3) to resize the drawing in the 3D Viewer
- Click on Move/Rotate to access the Move and Rotation handles which can be used to adjust the position.
- Click Done to apply the changes.
💡Note: manual scale via the 3D handles is the easiest but least accurate method to scale a drawing. Read on for alternative options.
Scale by Ratio
A drawing's scale can be set by entering in the drawing's scale ratio. The scale ratio is typically found in the title block, near the bottom center, or in one of the corners of the drawing. In some cases, different drawings sheets have different scale ratios -so make sure to check each individual sheet instead of assuming its scale.
💡 Note: Some drawings may not include a scale. In such cases, it is recommended to use Align & Position or Scale by Distance, as Manual Scale relies on having a known ratio.
Apply a Standard Scale Ratio
After locating the drawings scale ratio, the ratio can be applied to the drawing in cmBuilder by selecting it from the Scale dropdown available in the Manual Scale Side Sheet.
- Click the Scale dropdown in the Side Panel.
- Select the ratio that matches the scale shown in your drawing.
- Click Done to apply the changes, or use the Reset Size button to start over.
Once a ratio is selected, the drawings will resize in 3D based on the chosen scale, while maintaining height and width proportions. The dimensions in the drawing can now be relied on.
💡 Tip: The available values (Imperial or Metric) depend on your User Settings, so make sure your units are configured correctly before selecting a scale.
Apply a Custom Scale Ratio
After locating the drawings scale ratio, the ratio can be applied to the drawing in cmBuilder by selecting it from the Scale dropdown available in the Manual Scale Side Sheet. If the scale ratio listed on the drawing is not available in the dropdown, choose custom and enter the ratio.
- Select Custom from the Scale dropdown. Two fields will appear below the collapsed dropdown.
- Enter the two scale ratio values -units are allowed, unit conversion will be calculated automatically.
- Click Done to apply the changes, or use the Reset Size button to start over.
💡 Tip: Using smaller units (such as inches instead of feet) improves precision and reduces rounding errors.
Use Width and Height Scaling
- Drawings can be scaled by entering values in the Width and Height fields of the Side Sheet (4). Alternatively use the + and – controls to adjust the size incrementally for more precise control.
- To restore the drawing to its default original size, click Reset Size (5) in the Side Sheet to remove any applied scaling and revert the drawing back to its default dimensions.
- Click Done (6) to apply the changes.
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