Autodesk 12812-051462-9011 User Guide 3 - Page 2555

System vs. Display Units It is important to note the distinction between System and Display units. Display units only affect how geometry is displayed in the viewports. System units determine the actual scale of geometry. For example, if you import a DXF file (unitless) containing a 1 x 1 x 1 Box, 3ds Max could import the box's dimensions in inches or miles, depending on the System unit. This can have a significant impact on your scene, which is why you should always set up the system unit before you import or create geometry. Procedures To change units to feet and inches: 1 On the Units Setup dialog, choose US Standard. 2 Choose from among the display options on the drop-down list. ■ If you want to display measurements as feet with inches, choose how inches should appear: fractional or decimal. Also choose, for Default Units, Feet or Inches ■ If you choose one of the Fractional display options, choose the fraction on the drop-down list to the right. To enter fractions in numeric fields: ■ When you enter fractions in numeric fields, they are converted to the correct units. For example, if units are set to Feet w/ Decimal Inches, and Default Units is set to Feet, type 37/45 and press Enter for the result 0'9.867", or 37/45'. To enter a fraction and a units specifier, place the specifier after the divisor. For example, type 17/5', but not 17'/5. To convert between unit types: ■ You can convert between unit types by entering any valid unit specifier, along with the number, and then pressing Enter. The number is converted to the current unit display type. For example, if units are set to Meters, type 1/2 to get the result 0.5M. However, if you type 1/2' or 6" the result is 0.152M. 7810 | Chapter 26 Customizing the User Interface