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Measurements done in QGIS on my project are done properly using whatever unit is set in:

Settings > Options > Map Tools > Preferred measurements units

but the scale bar decoration and scale bar in print composer are still degrees. My data is all NAD83. Previously answered questions state that it must be changed in project settings but I don't see that menu option in QGIS 1.80.

How can I change settings so that my scale bar is in units other than degrees?

I don't have that option in the menu (are you using 1.80?), but I do have a button for 'CRS status' on the status bar. If I click that and change layer units to feet, which it indicates are only used when CRS transformation is disable, I get the following:

enter image description here

As you can see, the scale bar measurement is completely off. I can change the CRS to other systems than use feet other meters and it's more accurate.

Are there metric and imperial version of NAD83, WGS84, etc?

If the measure tool can give figures in feet or meters when using a CRS with degree units, why can't the scale bar do the same?

PolyGeo
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Veazer
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3 Answers3

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The Project properties dialog is available through the File->Project Properties or by clicking on button displayed at the bottom left of the QGis main window.

To change the unit to use go to Project properties->General->Canvas units.

Giuseppe Sucameli
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Note that if you are changing the project coordinate system, then this will almost certainly create inaccuracies if 'on the fly' transformation is not enabled.

It might be worth looking at this bug report which deals with the Scale bar units issue, albeit for a later version of QGIS.

Andy Harfoot
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You have to make sure that the layer CRS is correct. You get that information by rightclick on the layer -> Set CRS for layer. You can also look out for the extent entry in Layer properties, metadata tab. If that is around values suitable for degrees, take NAD83, else the CRS in ftUS or metres.

The project CRS may be different, and has to be if you want other units than the layer originally has.

If you are not sure what is correct, please post sample coordinate pairs of what you got and what it should be.

AndreJ
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