Recently we've been getting a number of questions regarding the conversion to metric. Regardless of what version you have you can always work in metric. If you are using a metric coordinate system, then all distances are also in metric. The only area where you must use caution is in Areas. Where the program displays square feet, this is actually square meters. Acre data is invalid and should not be used. We are currently working on adding a metric configuration setting to address this problem.

An additional problem arises when attempting to work between imperial and metric units. For example, assume that you wish to convert a deed done in feet to a metric grid system. Party Chief's User Keys allow you to add custom programs to your keyboard. In this case you could install a function to convert feet to meters, and a function to convert meters to feet. You could then perform these conversions with just a single shifted keystroke.

To create a feet to meters conversion do the following.

• (Turn User mode off)
• (Enter program mode)
• .30480061 (multiply by conversion factor)
• (done entering program)
• FT2M (the program name)
• (store program by name)

Now turn User mode back on and assign the program FT2M to a user key using the Define function in the User Keys program. Create M2FT the same way using 3.28083333 as the conversion factor. Note that these conversion factors are for the US foot. You really should use more than 4 decimal places as the error can become significant in a long distance. This quick example shows you how you can customize the HP48 to meet your needs.

Key Notation
Indicates an HP48 key
Indicates an HP48 softkey (A-F keys, bottom line of display)
Left Shift	Right Shift	Alpha Key

Revision History
g:\word\ramss\tech\metric Revised 2/98
06/14/00 Freed from frames