Apache OpenOffice Community Forum

I'm using OpenOffice Draw for the first time.

I'm editing a floor plan made by a friend using Libre Office. The dimensions of objects in the plan do not match the dimensions of the actual objects. I suspect that he measured accurately and drew the objects to the correct size, but then stretched the image so it would fill the paper.

For example, an object which is actually 24" wide is shown as being 25.58" wide.

He noted the scale of the image as being 1:30, but I suspect that that was the scale before being stretched, and likely also depends on printer settings.

If there is a relation between the background grid and dimensions, I don't see it. I haven't found a way to set the scale or the grid spacing. The Help says something about setting grid axes under "Format - Grid", but there is no "Grid" on the Format menu.

Can I keep the current size (or roughly the current size) of the drawing but change the scale so the dimensions are correct?

Can I set the grid spacing so that it has a simple relation to the scale? Like, each space = 3 inches.

What is the proper method to change the size of the image when printed (to fit the paper) without messing up the dimensions? When I do this, can the scale be updated automatically (as the dimensions are), or do I need to calculate the scale and put it on the plan manually?

Menu item Tools - Options - OpenOffice Draw - General.

There is a dropdown field for measurement scale. dropdown shows some "likely choices", but you can type in any scale as a proper fraction in the format <numerator>:<denominator>. AFAIK rulers and grid will remain related to page neasurements, but object and help line dimensions/positions will be scaled to "real life" measurements.

For scale specification, by convention either numerator or denominator usually will be 1, but that is not a requirement in Draw.

Also, you can type in a different measurement manually on the dimension lines. Whatever you type in will become the new "tag", override the number as measured, and is persistent when you resize the measurement arrow. To make the measurement arrow a measuring tool again, just delete everything you typed. It goes blank at first, but will update when you move a line end.

Note that while it provides basic dimensioning and measurement tools, Draw is not CAD software. The flexibility of grid association and output of technical data is a little limited.

Thanks, keme.

I don't know where this "dropdown field for measurement scale" is located. Where do I look for it?

Overall, I'm finding Draw to be easy to learn to use, mostly by trial and error, and the Help does help.
You have helped me with Writer, more than a year and a half ago.

Jeff Root wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 7:20 pm I don't know where this "dropdown field for measurement scale" is located. Where do I look for it?

The information was at the top of keme's post.

keme wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:49 am Menu item Tools - Options - OpenOffice Draw - General.

Here's a picture. Options are set with OpenOffice → Preferences on a Mac, Tools → Options on other platforms.
If this solved your problem please go to your first post use the Edit ☐ button and add [Solved] to the start of the Subject field. Select the green checkmark icon at the same time.

Oh good heavens! My eyes skipped over the first line of his post, because I thought it was part of the header. Thank you!