---
title: "Managing units and UCS when importing/exporting"
slug: "cyclone-3dr-managing-units-and-ucs-when-importing-exporting"
updated: 2026-09-07T11:51:53Z
published: 2026-09-07T11:51:53Z
canonical: "rcdocs.leica-geosystems.com/cyclone-3dr-managing-units-and-ucs-when-importing-exporting"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rcdocs.leica-geosystems.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Managing units and UCS when importing/exporting

## Import

### Unit

It is asked to tell the unit of the imported data (most of the time, it cannot be read automatically). According to the current project unit, a scaling will be performed.

> [!NOTE]
> **Example**
> 
> A file storing data in meters imported in a project in centimeters: the point (1 m; 2 m; 3 m) becomes (100 cm; 200 cm; 300 cm).

> [!CAUTION]
> - If the file stores data at a wrong scale, the wrong scaling will be kept: use [Resize](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-applyscalec) to fix it.
>   - Example: a file in meters storing data in centimeters imported in a project in centimeters. The point (100 m; 200 m; 300 m) but (100 cm; 200 cm; 300 cm) in your mind becomes (10000 cm; 20000 cm; 30000 cm).
> - If the current project is set in the wrong unit, the scaling will be performed correctly but you may read inappropriate dimensions: use [Repair Project Unit](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-repairprojectunitc) to set the appropriate unit.
>   - Example: a file in meters imported in a project in centimeters. The point (1 m; 2 m; 3 m) becomes (100 cm; 200 cm; 300 cm). [Repair Project Unit](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-repairprojectunitc) updates (100 cm; 200 cm; 300 cm) to (1 m; 2 m; 3 m).
> - If a format stores unit (such as DXF, IGES or IFC), it is automatically read during the import. If the written unit is false, a wrong scaling will happen. Here, you can override the unit.
>   - Example: a file, said in centimeters, storing data well dimension-ed in meters imported in a project in millimeters.
>     - Using the unit from the file: the point (1 m; 2 m; 3 m) is read as (1 cm; 2 cm; 3 cm) thus is imported as (10 mm; 20 mm; 30 mm).
>     - Using the forced unit: the point (1 m; 2 m; 3 m) is red (1 m; 2 m; 3 m) thus is imported (1000 mm; 2000 mm; 3000 mm).

### UCS

Some formats store User Coordinate Systems (such as LGS, IFC). A transformation, including translations and rotations, will be applied to define the object position according to the chosen UCS.

> [!NOTE]
> **Example**
> 
> Coordinates given in the UCS of the source project will match the coordinates of the 3DR project WCS.

![ucs.png](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/ucs.png)

***Source and target coordinate system: result when chosing UCS2***

## Export

### Unit

It is asked to choose a unit to decide what numerical values to share. According to the current project unit and the target unit, a scaling will be performed.

> [!NOTE]
> **Example**
> 
> A project in meters exported to a file in centimeters: the point (1 m; 2 m; 3 m) becomes (100 cm; 200 cm; 300 cm).

### UCS

When a UCS is activated, it is possible to choose to export data given in this UCS (otherwise, the WCS will be used). Consequently, this UCS will act as a WCS in the exported file.

![ucs2.png](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/ucs2.png)

***UCS or WCS***

> [!WARNING]
> Some formats don't use UCS; others can store several UCS like LGS.

## Send to

### Unit

No scaling applied to numerical values:

- The point (1 m; 2 m, 3 m) from a project in meters becomes (1 in; 2 in, 3 in) in an [AutoCAD](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-sendtoautocad) document in inches.
- The point (1 m; 2 m, 3 m) from an [AutoCAD](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-sendtoautocad) document in meters becomes (1 in; 2 in, 3 in) in a project in inches.

> [!TIP]
> When using the [Send To](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-sendto) command, always make sure to work in the same unit in both applications.
> 
> Use [Change Current Unit](/v1/docs/cyclone-3dr-changecurrentunitc) to fix the current project unit globally.

### UCS

When a UCS is activated in the document, it is possible to choose to send the data given in this UCS (otherwise, the WCS will be used).

> [!WARNING]
> - Sending data: data are always inserted using the receiver WCS.
> - Receiving data: data are inserted using the activated UCS.