Feet and Inches in the Property Editor

[BobRockefeller]

QCAD v3.24.2 on macOS 10.15.3

I have my drawing set up in inches and dimensions set up for Architectural (3' - 4"). But I cannot figure out how to get the dimensions displayed in the Property Editor to show anything other than decimal inches.

What setting have I missed?

[RandallG]

Click top menu "Edit", then Drawing Preferences, then see second choice down the list called "Dimension Settings"

[Husky]

What setting have I missed?

I think that is not intended behavior. I compared the Property Editor display with the dim setting "Fractional" which works just fine ...

Please file a bugreport below: https://www.qcad.org/bugtracker

[andrew]

Currently, the property editor only supports decimal and fractional display of values.

The problem with the architectural notation is the ambiguity of the hyphen (-). QCAD supports mathematical expressions in all its input fields where values are expected. 3' - 4" could mean 3' and 4" or 3' minus 4".

One way to work around this could be to display (and input) values in the property editor as 3'4" instead. Or for example 4'10 1/4". We could use some input from users of this unit system to decide a way forward.

[BobRockefeller]

Currently, the property editor only supports decimal and fractional display of values.

The problem with the architectural notation is the ambiguity of the hyphen (-). QCAD supports mathematical expressions in all its input fields where values are expected. 3' - 4" could mean 3' and 4" or 3' minus 4".

One way to work around this could be to display (and input) values in the property editor as 3'4" instead. Or for example 4'10 1/4". We could use some input from users of this unit system to decide a way forward.

Would a double-space between the feet and inches values work for others? So we might have 1' 3 ½".

For extra credit, if the user entered a double space, the display could read 1' – 3 ½"; single spaces but using the En Dash character.

[Husky]

One way to work around this could be to display (and input) values in the property editor as 3'4" instead. Or for example 4'10 1/4". We could use some input from users of this unit system to decide a way forward.

I think 3'4" or 4'10 1/4" is unambiguously to read. An input in this style would be easy too. Would work for me just fine!

Would a double-space between the feet and inches values work for others? So we might have 1' 3 ½".
For extra credit, if the user entered a double space, the display could read 1' – 3 ½"; single spaces but using the En Dash character.

I see why you are suggesting this style but I think that isn't practical. Uncommon input styles will lead to mistakes and unexpected results.
No space or one space is something what you can figure out by yourself - without knowing it you will find the double-space solution only by accident ...

[BobRockefeller]

No space or one space is something what you can figure out by yourself - without knowing it you will find the double-space solution only by accident ...

I''d be happy with one space, then.

[andrew]

This has been implemented to the next (snapshot) release.

[BobRockefeller]

This has been implemented to the next (snapshot) release.

Nice! I'm off to hunt the snapshot release download page.