diff --git a/src/Base/UnitsApi.cpp b/src/Base/UnitsApi.cpp
index b574adad6d..3db89f6949 100644
--- a/src/Base/UnitsApi.cpp
+++ b/src/Base/UnitsApi.cpp
@@ -151,6 +151,18 @@ QString UnitsApi::toNumber(double d, const QuantityFormat& f)
     return number;
 }
 
+//return true if the current user schema uses multiple units for length (ex. Ft/In)
+bool UnitsApi::isMultiUnitLength()
+{
+    return UserPrefSystem->isMultiUnitLength();
+}
+
+//return true if the current user schema uses multiple units for angles (ex. DMS)
+bool UnitsApi::isMultiUnitAngle()
+{
+    return UserPrefSystem->isMultiUnitAngle();
+}
+
 // === static translation methods ==========================================
 
 QString UnitsApi::schemaTranslate(const Base::Quantity& quant, double &factor, QString &unitString)
diff --git a/src/Base/UnitsApi.h b/src/Base/UnitsApi.h
index 8a76117007..45099a4f64 100644
--- a/src/Base/UnitsApi.h
+++ b/src/Base/UnitsApi.h
@@ -92,6 +92,12 @@ public:
 
     //double Result;
 
+    //return true if the current user schema uses multiple units for length (ex. Ft/In)
+    static bool isMultiUnitLength();
+
+    //return true if the current user schema uses multiple units for angles (ex. DMS)
+    static bool isMultiUnitAngle();
+
     // Python interface
     static PyMethodDef    Methods[];
 
@@ -99,7 +105,6 @@ public:
     static UnitsSchemaPtr createSchema(UnitSystem s);
 
 protected:
-    // not used at the moment
     static UnitsSchemaPtr UserPrefSystem;
     static UnitSystem currentSystem;
     /// number of decimals for floats
diff --git a/src/Base/UnitsSchema.h b/src/Base/UnitsSchema.h
index 112e82bb87..2aa3b28982 100644
--- a/src/Base/UnitsSchema.h
+++ b/src/Base/UnitsSchema.h
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ public:
     virtual QString schemaTranslate(const Base::Quantity& quant, double &factor, QString &unitString)=0;
 
     QString toLocale(const Base::Quantity& quant, double factor, const QString& unitString) const;
+
+    //return true if this schema uses multiple units for length (ex. Ft/In)
+    virtual bool isMultiUnitLength() {return false;}
+
+    //return true if this schema uses multiple units for angles (ex. DMS)
+    virtual bool isMultiUnitAngle() {return false;}
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/Base/UnitsSchemaImperial1.h b/src/Base/UnitsSchemaImperial1.h
index 35758f9360..9d9326c821 100644
--- a/src/Base/UnitsSchemaImperial1.h
+++ b/src/Base/UnitsSchemaImperial1.h
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ public:
     //virtual void setSchemaUnits(void);
     //virtual void resetSchemaUnits(void);
     QString schemaTranslate(const Base::Quantity& quant, double &factor, QString &unitString) override;
+
+    //return true if this schema uses multiple units for length (ex. Ft/In)
+    bool isMultiUnitLength() override {return true;}
+
 };
 
 /** The schema class for Civil Engineering in the imperial unit system
@@ -77,6 +81,9 @@ public:
     //virtual void setSchemaUnits(void);
     //virtual void resetSchemaUnits(void);
     QString schemaTranslate(const Base::Quantity& quant, double &factor, QString &unitString) override;
+
+    //return true if this schema uses multiple units for angles (ex. DMS)
+    bool isMultiUnitAngle() override {return true;}
 };