Here goes... The short version.
One thing I do to help firms implement Projects in ADT or ACA is to create a new project (In Project Browser) using an out-of-the-box Project Template.
First I make copies of the out-of-the-box Model Template and Sheet Template. I load up the Model Template with consistant content and settings. I load up the Sheet Template with the companies titleblock and page formats. I also add or redirect fieldcodes in the titleblocks to the necessary information (Project Details, Sheet Custom Properties, Sheet Set Custom Properties, etc....) I then save them to a shared location.
Then, I create a new Project Template based on an out-of-the-box project template found at:C:\Docs & Settings\All Users\App Data\Autodesk\ADT 2007 or ACD-A 2008\enu\Template in the Project Browser.
Name the project your new company's Project Template.
Click OK to create the new Company Project Template.
Next, right-click on the bold project (apj) file that appears in the Explorer Window of the Project Browser.
Select Project Properties in the Context Menu.
Set up the necessary pathing for items such as, Default Construct, Element, Model View, Section/Elevation View, and Detail View Templates. (This is the Model Template you copied and tailored as your own) Add or Remove any Project Details to tailor them to your company's needs. I usually create field codes in Cover Sheet layouts and the titleblocks of Sheets in the Sheet Template to link to the Project Details for automation.
Select the Constructs and Views tabs. Create any necessary categories and sub-categories you may need to help organize the variety of drawing files of a project. I sometimes implement discipline specific categories with each having a variety of sub-categories for storing the drawing files.
Select the Sheets tab. Right-click on the Sheet Set at the top of the list and go to Properties. Here I is where I map the correct paths for the Page Setup Override file and Sheet creation template. Sometimes I add additional Sheet Custom Properties (Revision Date and Revision Description) and Sheet Set Custom Properties (Bid or Issue Date).
Each new project can utilize the new Company Project Template. The process of working with Project Navigator then becomes easy. Each new Construct, Element, View, and Sheet are created based on the Project Template's default properties.
Begin by creating Levels for each floor. Create any Divisions necessary.
Create a Construct for each Level by assigning it to the Level it describes in the Building. (There are a variety of options on how to do this.) Constructs usually include walls, doors, windows, or any other MODEL (not annotation) objects that span from the assigned Level to the Level above and are specific and unique to the layout of that Level only. Redundant layouts (bathrooms, elevator cores, etc...) can be saved as Elements and then attached (Xrefed in PN) to multiple Constructs via right-clicking on them in PN and attaching them with the options in the Context Menu. Stairs or Curtain Walls (objects seen in multiple Levels) can be Constructs on to their own because they span multiple Levels. The difference with them is that they are assigned to multiple Levels making them Spanning Constructs. Constructs and Elements can be overlayed on one another via drag and drop. This helps to maintain relative relationships of one drawing to another. (The inherent problems of manual xrefs).
Create the Plan Views of the Building. Floor Plans are "Live" views of the Building. Simply create them based on the General View type and have the View Wizard attach the correct Constructs and nested Elements based on the Level you designate. Right-click on each view and create a MSV (Model Space View) for each by giving it the name you wish the viewport to be called, the scale factor for annotation, and window the plan Double-click on the new MSV in the PN. Add the Titlemark callout to the MSV.
Create the Section/Elevation Views of the Building. These are 2D "Reports" of the Building. Open a floor plan MSV and add Elevation or Section callouts via the Tool Palette Set. Follow the pompts!!! In the Callout wizard, enter your MSV name(s) and set the scale. Select the button New View Drawing under Create in. In the View wizard, enter a name for the new View drawing and select a Category to store it in. Click Next. Verify that the Level assignments are correct. Click Next. Verify that the correct checkboxes of possible Constructs are correct. Click Finish. Pick an insertion point(s) for the results. Explore the new Views and their MSV's in PN.
Create Detail Views of the Building. Detail Views can be both "Live" or "Reports".
For "Live" Detail Views (ex. Enlarged Plan" open a Floor Plan' MSV View where the detail occurs and add detail boundary callouts via the Tool Palette Set. In the Callout wizard, uncheck the Generate Section/Elevation box. (This will allow you to create a cropped plan of the parent plan) Select the button New View Drawing under Create in. In the View wizard, enter a name for the new View drawing and select a Category to store it in. Click Next. Verify that the Level assignments are correct. Click Next. Verify that the correct checkboxes of possible Constructs are correct. Click Finish. Specify the extents for the MSV viewport. (preferrably larger than the detail boundary) Explore the new Views and their MSV's in PN.
For 2D "Reports" Detail Views in which you use Detail Components (ex. Wall Section or Enlarged Detail) Open the Plan, Section, or Elevation MSV and add Detail callouts via the Tool Palette Set. Follow the pompts!!! In the Callout wizard, enter your MSV name(s) and set the scale. Select the button New View Drawing under Create in. In the View wizard, enter a name for the new View drawing and select a Category to store it in. Click Next. Verify that the Level assignments are correct. Click Next. Verify that the correct checkboxes of possible Constructs are correct. Click Finish. Pick an insertion point(s) for the results. Explore the new Views and their MSV's in PN.
Create Sheets. Right-click on the correct Subset and create a new Sheet. Give the Sheet a Number and Title. Switch back to the Views tab. Expand all the View drawings to see the MSVs. Drag and drop them on to the correct sheet. The callouts will be coordinated by Project via fieldcodes. Titleblock data should be automated as well via the Company Sheet Template and its fieldcodes in the titleblocks. Sheet specific fields in the titleblock may need attention. Simply right-cclick on the Sheet in PN and go to Properties in the Context Menu.
Wheeewww. Give it a try. Try testing it with the OTB Project Template to help you reverse engineer your own project template. Matt Dillon and Paul Aubin are the kings of tailoring and utilizing the program. I would invest in their books.
Message was edited by: Bill.Knittle