Moving to Paper Space = Autodesk Problems

[Winks87]

I am trying to convert our company to use paperspace for Autocad dwgs.  ran into the following issues:

1.  paperspace dimensions dont update to viewport changes -unless Im missing an "update" command.

2.  How can I make the Mechanical Detail command work in paperspce?

The following are some general paperspca questions:

3.  Should I dimension in model space or paper space?

4.  I can use the mechanical section line command in paperspace, but does anyone use the mechanical detail command?

5.  Is the "LAYOUT" tab in mechanical (2013) for 3d stuff only?  I cant get it to work w/2d stuff.

6.  Generally speaking, does creating views in paper space a better/easier workflow?  Is it more efficient?

[Steve_Bessette]

Paperspace (Layout Tab) is typically reserved for model / drawing documentation.  Within the layout you are able to crete viewports which act as a picture frame into the model space.  When dimensioning in paperspace it is important to make sure that you use OSNAP and attach the dimension string to model geometry.

As far as showing actual 3D geometry within paperspace, you are unable to change the main view of the layout tab to say SE Isometric.  The model geometry should reside within the model space, and a viewport be placed into paperspace so you can change the view.

Using Paperspace allows you to have the flexibility to create a single viewport or multiple viewports to show different aspects of the model space.  Once the viewport is created, you can change its size, properties, scale, and position as needed.  You are also able to specify which layers are visible in each viewport. 

[acwtzwegers · Accepted solution]

1. AutoCAD Mechanical just doesn't do this consistently... however neatly you may have dimentioned to object. If you have a scale area-based viewport and you change the scale area and update the viewport in paperspace - it often will have lost any connection to the modelspace; and sometimes it will, but in a buggy way (as if they are connected to the old locations). Place and scale your scale area's and everything before you dimension in paperspace. (Regular AutoCAD doesn't have this problem).
2.  You place the detail in modelspace and when you get the Detail popup, in the "Create detail view in:" menu, select "Layout" (and pick your layout in the pulldown.
3. The idea is generally: the model is your (eventually "real world") objects, in paperspace you make your "drawing" of those objects. Texts, dimensions etc are things that only go on paper. (it's not as if when you mill a steel die for example, it will have holographic texts floating around it). This also makes importing in to "downflow" drawings (through XREF, blocks etc), Inventor etc less messy, because the paperspace objects will not be shown. This is however a touchy subject, as there are as many ideas about model/paper usage as there are draughtspeople.
4. We do, but with the detail block placed in Model (not optimal, but Mechanical can't deal with it differently.) Obviously you may as well just make an additional scale area or VP with your detail yourself instead of using the detail function.
5.  Viewports will display whatever you point them at in modelspace. Use the Viewport controls (should be in the top left of the screen and/or viewport if switched on in your options) to choose if you display 2D wireframe, shaded, perspective or parallel etc.
6. Yes, I've found two methods that definately make your life easier if you use paperspace:

- We need several different versions of the same drawing (one for the customer, one for production (less dims) etc). We place all texts in the drawing properties and all objects in Model. The objects can all be the same in all tabs, the texts are as well (using fields) and we only need to enter both of them once. The differences between versions are placed on the tabs. (in our case we copy the customer tab to a production tab and generally just delete dims).

- If you combine scale areas with parametrics for fabrication drawings you can make 1:1 drawings of objects in Model, link scale areas to important bits and use parametric variables to quickly generate all different types of lengths of the same product: change "length", refresh the viewports in paperspace and your new drawing is ready. The only dodgy bit here is that you then need to dimension in Model because you cannot dimension between two viewports.