Menu path
User folder > Scales.dat file
🧾 What it does
The Scales.dat file allows you to define custom scale options for roof drawings in reports. When Roof Wizard generates a drawing, it first calculates a "best fit" scale to fit the roof within the drawing area, then automatically adjusts this to the nearest "proper" scale for comparison with other drawings.
For example, if the best fit scale is 1:187, the software will automatically adjust this to 1:200 (a proper scale) so the drawing can be meaningfully compared with other scaled drawings.
🔧 Default scale options
Roof Wizard includes these standard scale ratios:
Scale Ratio | Usage |
1:10 | Very detailed drawings |
1:20 | Detailed sections |
1:50 | Medium detail |
1:100 | Standard roof plans |
1:125 | Larger roofs |
1:150 | Large commercial roofs |
1:175 | Very large roofs |
1:200 | Overview drawings |
🛠 How to create custom scales
Navigate to your Roof Wizard User folder
Create a new text file named exactly Scales.dat
Enter your desired scale values, one per line (numbers only)
Add the word END on the final line
Save the file
💡 Example Scales.dat file
Your file should look exactly like this:
50 100 115 125 150 165 175 200 END
⚠️ Important requirements
Requirement | Details |
File name | Must be exactly "Scales.dat" |
Location | Must be in the User folder |
Format | Plain text file, one scale number per line |
Ending | Must end with the word "END" on its own line |
🧾 How drawing scales work
When you generate a report with a roof drawing:
Roof Wizard calculates the drawing extents using the diagonal line on template layer 999
The software determines the best-fit scale to fill the available space
This scale is automatically adjusted to the nearest "proper" scale from your scale list
The roof drawing is rendered at this proper scale for consistency
🛠 Microsoft Word integration
If you're using Microsoft Word to generate reports, you can include an unscaled roof drawing that fits entirely within a text box using the Key Text String ###UnscaledRoofDrawing. This displays the roof at whatever scale fits the text box, rather than using a proper scale ratio.
💡 Tips
Include scales that match your industry standards
Consider your typical roof sizes when choosing scales
Test your custom scales with sample drawings
Keep a backup of your Scales.dat file