Hi, Not sure I follow you exactly. I use Draftsight, if you have the latest release please ensure you have it in classic view the toggle is at the top somewhere on the left as I will attempt to explain using the classic view. I think you are asking what the grid setting is ? At the bottom right click on the grid and a window will open showing the setting. You can check it by drawing a line of a known grid spacing with snap on then measuring it with dimension. To draw a straight line turn on Otho at the bottom near the Grid button. Without ortho using the line command the line will be straight but can be at any angle. To draw a line of fixed length just click on the desired start point then enter the length you want. So if Instarted my line at 0,0 with ortho on I start my line going vertical and enter 3 and the line will be that length. Another way is to use relative coordinates With the @ sign so from zero you could enter @ 0,3 and that will give you a length of 3 along the X axis. If this does not help post a dimensioned sketch and I'll draw it from that. Have you downloaded the tips & trick e book ? That s quite helpful

As far as I'm concerned, grids are one of life's great mysteries. Why would you ever want to use it? Turn 'ortho' on which limits the cursor to moving in x and y only, then turn on 'ortho' and 'esnap'. To draw a 3" line in x direction you then just click where you want it to start, move the cursor to right or left, type '3' and there you are.

While I'm on I also think using fractions is just making life complicated, I've been caught out on other people's drawings trying to take a dimension. If the resolution is set to 1/16 and the actual dimension is say 0.135, it returns 1/8 which is wrong. Stick to decimals, it's easier.