Units and document properties setup in Solidworks - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Units and document properties setup

Goal

Understand how to set up units and document properties in SolidWorks to ensure consistent measurements and document standards across your projects.

Sample Data: Document Settings

Property	Value
Length Unit	Millimeters (mm)
Mass Unit	Grams (g)
Angle Unit	Degrees (°)
Decimal Places	3
Draft Standard	ISO
Material	Aluminum 6061
Document Template	Custom Metric

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Length Unit
  Shows the current length unit setting.
  Formula: Direct display from document property Length Unit = 'Millimeters (mm)'
• KPI Card: Mass Unit
  Shows the current mass unit setting.
  Formula: Direct display from document property Mass Unit = 'Grams (g)'
• KPI Card: Angle Unit
  Shows the current angle unit setting.
  Formula: Direct display from document property Angle Unit = 'Degrees (°)'
• Table: Document Properties Summary
  Displays all key document properties for quick reference.
  Data: As shown in sample data table.
• Bar Chart: Decimal Places Setting
  Visualizes the number of decimal places used in measurements.
  Data: Single bar with value 3 decimal places.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| Length Unit (KPI)    | Mass Unit (KPI)      | Angle Unit (KPI)     |
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|                      Document Properties Summary Table               |
|                                                                      |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                      Decimal Places Bar Chart                        |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Changing the document template selection updates all KPI cards and the properties summary table to reflect the new units and settings. The decimal places bar chart updates accordingly to show the precision level.

Self Check

If you change the Length Unit from Millimeters to Inches in the document properties, which components update?

• Length Unit KPI card updates to show Inches.
• Document Properties Summary Table updates the Length Unit row.
• Decimal Places Bar Chart remains the same if decimal places setting is unchanged.
• Mass Unit and Angle Unit KPI cards remain unchanged.

Key Result

Dashboard showing SolidWorks document units and properties setup with KPIs, summary table, and precision visualization.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of setting units in SolidWorks document properties?

easy

A. To create animations automatically

B. To change the color of the model

C. To add textures to the parts

D. To ensure all measurements are consistent and accurate throughout the design

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of units in design

   Units define how measurements like length and angle are interpreted in the model.

2. Step 2: Connect units to design consistency

   Consistent units prevent errors and ensure parts fit together correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   To ensure all measurements are consistent and accurate throughout the design -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Units control measurement accuracy = To ensure all measurements are consistent and accurate throughout the design [OK]

Hint: Units keep measurements consistent and accurate [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking units only affect display, not calculations
• Confusing units with colors or textures
• Assuming units can be changed anytime without impact

2. Which of the following is the correct way to change the length unit to millimeters in SolidWorks document properties?

easy

A. Go to Tools > Options > Document Properties > Units, then select 'Millimeter' from the length dropdown

B. Right-click the part and select 'Change Color' to millimeters

C. Use the 'File > Save As' menu and choose millimeters

D. Click on the model and type 'mm' to change units

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate the units setting in SolidWorks

   Units are set under Tools > Options > Document Properties > Units.

2. Step 2: Select the desired unit

   From the length dropdown, choose 'Millimeter' to set length units.

3. Final Answer:

   Go to Tools > Options > Document Properties > Units, then select 'Millimeter' from the length dropdown -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct menu path for units = Go to Tools > Options > Document Properties > Units, then select 'Millimeter' from the length dropdown [OK]

Hint: Change units via Tools > Options > Document Properties > Units [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to change units by right-clicking the model
• Using Save As to change units
• Typing units directly on the model

3. If a SolidWorks document is set to inches for length units and you create a line 10 units long, what will be the length in millimeters if you change the units to millimeters without resizing the model?

medium

A. 254 millimeters

B. 25.4 millimeters

C. 10 millimeters

D. 100 millimeters

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand unit conversion from inches to millimeters

   1 inch equals 25.4 millimeters.

2. Step 2: Calculate length in millimeters

   10 inches x 25.4 = 254 millimeters, but changing units without resizing keeps the number 10, so length is interpreted as 10 millimeters.

3. Step 3: Clarify the effect of changing units without resizing

   Changing units only changes the label, not the actual size, so 10 inches line becomes 10 millimeters line.

4. Final Answer:

   10 millimeters -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Changing units without resizing keeps length number same = 10 millimeters [OK]

Hint: Changing units alone does not resize model length [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming length automatically converts value
• Multiplying length by conversion factor incorrectly
• Confusing unit label change with resizing

4. You tried to set the angle unit to degrees in SolidWorks document properties, but the angles still display in radians. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You changed the unit in the wrong tab, not under Document Properties > Units

B. SolidWorks does not support degrees as angle units

C. You need to restart SolidWorks for changes to apply

D. The model must be saved before units change takes effect

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify where angle units are set

   Angle units are set under Document Properties > Units, not in other tabs.

2. Step 2: Recognize common mistake

   Changing units in the wrong place (like system options) does not affect document display.

3. Final Answer:

   You changed the unit in the wrong tab, not under Document Properties > Units -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Angle units must be set in Document Properties = You changed the unit in the wrong tab, not under Document Properties > Units [OK]

Hint: Set angle units only in Document Properties > Units [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Changing units in system options instead of document properties
• Expecting automatic restart after unit change
• Saving model before unit change is unnecessary

5. You want to create a drawing template in SolidWorks that uses millimeters for length, degrees for angles, and a specific font style for dimensions. Which steps should you follow to set this up correctly?

hard

A. Create a new drawing, set units in the view properties, then save as a part template

B. Set units and font style in Document Properties, then save the file as a drawing template (.drwdot)

C. Set units in the model, font in the sketch, then export as PDF

D. Change units in Tools > Options > System Options, then save as a part file (.sldprt)

Solution

1. Step 1: Set units and font style in Document Properties

   Document Properties control units and dimension appearance for the drawing.

2. Step 2: Save the setup as a drawing template

   Save the file as a .drwdot template to reuse settings for future drawings.

3. Final Answer:

   Set units and font style in Document Properties, then save the file as a drawing template (.drwdot) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Document Properties + save as drawing template = Set units and font style in Document Properties, then save the file as a drawing template (.drwdot) [OK]

Hint: Set units and fonts in Document Properties, save as .drwdot [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Changing system options instead of document properties
• Saving as part file instead of drawing template
• Setting units in model instead of drawing