Automated conversion from model to paper space

[BOPdesigner]

We have a lot of current and legacy data where we have an individual dwg file for each drawing sheet. Geometry is drawn 1:1 and then the drawing border is scaled up or down to fit nicely around the geometry in model space. I believe we started using AutoCAD just before paper space was introduced and for whatever reason nobody bothered learn and adopt it. Anyway is it coming back to bite us as now and I am wondering if anybody has been successful in converting drawing files where each file is one sheet to a single dwg file where each of those previous files model space content is now on a corresponding layout tab in the new file.

 

[francesca]

The easiest way is to add the layout to the AutoCAD file from a template using the Design Center (Ctrl-2). You can then freeze the layer the border is on in in the design file (or use LAYDEL to delete the layer and all its content). If you're fancy you could automate this with a LISP routine... You could use the command to move from one space to the other (CHSPACE), too.

 

[chicopee]

It seems that your drawings were created with version either R14 or earlier. I have come across some drawings where the borders and titleblocks were in model space. Since I did not have a lot of these drawings, I took them one at a time and opened them with version ACAD 2000 or newer versions; then I would scale these drawing to their actual dimensions in model space; copy and past the borders and titleblocks to paper space; and rescale the MS drawings when they opend up in paper space.