n00b question, need some help :( 1

[Orphan]

Hey guys,

Well I have updated some construction drawings adding in a few gas lines and water lines as well as a storm water drain but now that it is done I have no idea how to export it into single pages as all the drawings are in the one file. The scale is set to 1:100 at A1.

This is with AutoCad 2009. The drawing does have multiple sheets. I haven't used autocad since 2006 and didn't use it that much so I'm lost, are there any tutorials around someone can link me to as I have had a hard time finding much information.

These are construction plan drawings fyi.

 

[IFRs]

Publish command?

 

[Orphan]

Hey IFRs, I guess that would be along the lines of it. I have only ever done the actual drawings not putting it in the plan space for to scale printing.

I have attached a picture of what I have. I wish to seperate each drawing onto a page for A1 printing at 1:100 scale with the grid border and various information in a table down the bottom. I don't expect you to tell me how to do it but if you could help me find a tutorial that would be of great help.

 

[IFRs]

It's hard to tell what you have. Read up on Paper Space vs Model Space. Put your title block in Paper Space. Put all else in Model Space. Use viewports to get what you want shown. Make multiple tabs, set their plotting setups, then publish.

 

[Orphan]

Ah the title block is what I am after I believe. I have attached a picture of what I am trying to achieve.

 

[Orphan]

Oops.

Ok the first picture I sent is the Model space and when I clicked on quick view layouts it has brought up all the drawings all layed out as the original plans (this file is from the engineer). It has the exact layout set up as the second picture I uploaded. Now to change the pages should I be drawing in the model space and it will automatically update on the layout pages? I really only delt with single drawings on a single lay out per file not multiple drawings and layouts all in the same file so I'm a little lost as to the proceedure.

Can you suggest a good online or video tutorial for AutoCad 2009 more aimed at the construction field? The only Cad I have been actively using in the last year is solidworks and that is for a few custom parts to get machined, haven't even made lay outs just simply sent them to the machinest to get stuff cut.

 

[IFRs]

You are in goo shape, I think. Ultimately you will have new tabs at the bottom of the window, each one should have the title block in it with a window into the Model Space. Create these windows using MView, etc. Then double click into the windwo, zoom and pan around, double click outside it and freeze the properties of the viewport. Any changes made in Model Space will show up in the windows.

 

[Orphan]

Thanks for the reply.

I have to do two seperate updates one showing the as constructed gas lines and another showing the as constructed fire reel locations and piping but the plans have a new revision so I have to use the same drawing/layout for both updates. Would I simply copy and paste the layout needed twice and then draw the updates on seperate layers and turn them on/off on the layouts needed?

How do I 'Publish' the three as constructed drawings as a PDF or should I just use a PDF printer sized at A1?

Thanks again for your help. Any suggestions as to the best learning resource for autocad 2009, I really need to learn how to use this program.

 

[IFRs]

I realize I'm not being much help, but here is more:

Use AutoCAD help for Publish
Publish to pdf then use Adobe or other to combine the separate pdfs into one file.

Draw on separate layers then change the visibility of the layers in each viewport.

AutoCAD for dummies? I learned by using but it took 25 years.

Good luck!

 

[Orphan]

Publish just seems to fail so I will have another go once I'm done with the drawings and if it doesn't work I will just print to A1 PDF.

I have already started the updates on seperate layers and have turned them on and off on the needed layouts which has worked perfectly.

Calling me a dummy aye haha. They do sell a lot of books so I guess they have to be at least relatively informative. I don't think the program will take THAT long to learn I think its more learning the propper way to orgnaise drawings and sort all that out that will take a lot of time. I mean it is pretty much just drawing lines so most of it seems to come down to organisation of those lines.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Orphan]

For some reason I am unable to get a dashed line to work. Any suggestions as to why? It just keeps making solid lines when selected. I am after a rather large scale dashed line compared to the standard lines weight, any suggestions as to how I would do this, they have put this in to show underground piping.

 

[IFRs]

Change the line type to dashedx2 etc, change the linetypescale for those objects, make your own linetype?

 

[RHTPE]

OR, set LTScale and PSLTScale to 1 when plotting from a layout tab.


Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA

 

[Orphan]

Well I have gotten everything to work how I want besides the dashed lines. I have selected the linetype in the properies tab and nothing then have went into Format>Linetype and changed the scale but there doesn't seem to be any change no matter what I set it to.

I wish the lines to be dashed in model space so I can see what they will look like. I have a 24" widescreen monitor so just zooming out shows me almost exactly what the viewport will display which makes working on it a bit easier than flick back and forth.

I have to head out for a bit but when I get back I will try to find a tutorial that explains it. Thanks.

 

[Orphan]

Ok the dashed lines are now scaled in model space but where are the LTScale and PSLTscale for the layout so I can make it look right in the layout?

The last thing I have to do is to trace a hand drawn curved embankment from the physical plans. I have already scanned and inserted the JPEG into model world but for the life of me can't figure out how to get it below the drawing so I can trace it. The curve is multidirection so makes it a bit hard to do freehand to any accuracy so I would much rather trace.

Last but not least in view ports do I simply click freeze on layer for the layers I don't wish to show on a layout? This seems to work for me but for some reason I thought it was the other way around that you untick the light bulb and then there was a button to display it only on that layout.

Thanks again for your help guys.

 

[RHTPE]

LTScale & PSLTScale can be entered from the command line. Just type "LTScale" and hit <Enter> or the space bar.

The "light bulb" is the indicator for Layer ON or OFF. The Freeze icon kinda looks like a sun. To insure that you are freezing layers in a particular Viewport, make sure you're on a layout tab, and work in Model Space through the VIewport.



Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA

 

[Orphan]

Thanks RHTPE. I have opened model space in the viewport and when I click freeze it the layer dispears is that suppose to happen? I thought it was suppose to keep the layer on in that viewport model view so when the Layer is off it still shows on that layout. Do I just freeze the layer in the viewports I don't want it to show in?

Any suggestions as how to get a JPEG behind the drawing so I can trace it?

 

[RHTPE]

Freeze the Layers you do not want to see or plot in each viewport. You will still be able to see the Frozen layers when you go to the Model Tab, as they would only be frozen in the Viewports.

You can easily insert a raster image (like a .JPG or .BMP). For your purpose I would hope there is a known distance on the image.

- Make an appropriate layer current.
- Insert your image file.
- Scale the image to get it to real units.
- Trace away.

This is the over-simplied description of the procedure. I'm sure you'll have more questions.



Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA

 

[Orphan]

I have done that but for some reason all the other layers seem to be under it rather than having the picture on the bottom. The JPEG is already on its own layer I just don't know how to get it under all the other layers so I can trace over the top of it.

 

[RHTPE]

Click on the red "A" at the upper left corner - that will bring up the old-style menu. Click on Tools. Click on Display Order. Click on Send to Back, then click on your image. End the command. Your image will now be "under" the lines.



Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA