Legends and XREFs

[Anonymous]

I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

It depends on which version you are using. Tables in 2005, 2006 make it so much easier. Anything in the legend should be on the legend layer so you don't have trouble with the layer states. Also the use of PSLTSCALE will resolve your linetype problems.

[Anonymous]

Simple. After the cover, I have a "General Notes and Legends" sheet...

--
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything,
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.

[peter.ashby]

we use a legend that is a block, with each item on its correct layer, this is put on in paper space, the layers we dont want to use are turned off in the viewport, thus leaving the legend intact., unless we want to turn them off on the paperspace too, then we turn the layer off- this of course does leave blanks.

[Anonymous]

Just to let you know what we do (whether it is good or bad):

We have a "General Note and Legend" sheet which has 4 columns which are made
up of "Sediment and Erosion Control", "Storm Drainage", "Utilities", and
"Site Layout". Each column has a legend at the top which shows the items in
their proposed and existing states, with the pertinent notes for that group
below. We also have this drawing based upon which municipality we might be
in so that the notes reflect where we are. It works for us...

--
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything,
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.

[Anonymous]

I wrote a lisp program for a company that searches for all layers and blocks
in the current drawing and any attached xrefs.
It then draws lines and text for the layers and inserts the block with text
for each block.
It is based on a text file with layer name and associated text and block
name and associated text.
This way only layers and blocks current used in the drawing are in the
legend.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4886325@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

I have been contemplating such a script, but I lack the programming skills
to tackle it. We are looking at hiring a Tech that has programming
experience so it may be a possible solution in the near future. Meanwhile I
am looking at a generic solution using the boxed tools.

"Alan Henderson @ A'cad Solutions" <2005@R_E_M_O_V_E_acadsolutions.biz>
wrote in message news:4888310@discussion.autodesk.com...
I wrote a lisp program for a company that searches for all layers and blocks
in the current drawing and any attached xrefs.
It then draws lines and text for the layers and inserts the block with text
for each block.
It is based on a text file with layer name and associated text and block
name and associated text.
This way only layers and blocks current used in the drawing are in the
legend.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4886325@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

So far it looks like most of you are using predefined legends and editing
the drawings to fit, or editing the legend to comply with the drawing. I was
hoping someone had figured out a way to make legends more dynamic, but
without programming it looks like there are no easy ways around this
problem. I am new to this company and there are NO standards in effect, so
until we/I can implement the standards, Legends are a major time waster!

Thank you all for your feedback.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4886325@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

My legends contain a note under the legend title that says:

"ALL ITEMS IN LEGEND MAY NOT NECESSARILY APPEAR ON THE PLAN"

Many of the towns that I submit to require legends on each sheet, so I just
plunk an appropriate pre-drawn legend on each that already has everything on
it.

I can usually get by with three legends; existing , proposed and E&S stuff.


"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4888460@discussion.autodesk.com...
So far it looks like most of you are using predefined legends and editing
the drawings to fit, or editing the legend to comply with the drawing.

[CadULike]

Sounds interesting, and chance of a screen dump to see how you lay it out and what you include on a "standard" basis?

[Anonymous]

wrote in message news:4889383@discussion.autodesk.com...
Sounds interesting, and chance of a screen dump to see how you lay it out
and what you include on a "standard" basis?

[Anonymous]

Here is an example...

--
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything,
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.

[Anonymous]

I just posted a stripped down version of my Legend program if you would
like to try it out.
I uses 2 files -
Legend_Layers.txt - contains lines of text with Layer Name, tab
character, then text to use in legend
Legend_Blocks.txt - contains lines of text with Block Name, tab
character, then text to use in legend
The program runs by issuing (load "Legend") at command prompt
The program -
Sets the default text size, legend line length, block scale and legend
text layer
1st reads the Legend_Layers.txt and Legend_Blocks.txt files and stores
the names of the layers and blocks to use in the legend
Stores all the layers in the drawing (including xref layer names)
Stores names of all blocks (except xref) in drawing
Checks each layer name in drawing against Legend_layers.txt file
If the names exist in both lists, the program draws a line on the
appropriate layer and put the layer legend text in the drawing
Checks each block name in drawing against Legend_blocks.txt file
If the names exist in both lists, the program inserts the block line
on layer "0" and put the block legend text in the drawing

Download "Legend.zip" from http://www.acadsolutions.biz/Downloads.htm to
test


"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4888468@discussion.autodesk.com...
I have been contemplating such a script, but I lack the programming skills
to tackle it. We are looking at hiring a Tech that has programming
experience so it may be a possible solution in the near future. Meanwhile I
am looking at a generic solution using the boxed tools.

"Alan Henderson @ A'cad Solutions" <2005@R_E_M_O_V_E_acadsolutions.biz>
wrote in message news:4888310@discussion.autodesk.com...
I wrote a lisp program for a company that searches for all layers and blocks
in the current drawing and any attached xrefs.
It then draws lines and text for the layers and inserts the block with text
for each block.
It is based on a text file with layer name and associated text and block
name and associated text.
This way only layers and blocks current used in the drawing are in the
legend.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4886325@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for sharing your routine. I'll try it out when I get to the point
where I can start building drawing templates. Right now everything is so
disorganized that I would have to spend allot of time adding entries to the
text files just to make the program work with the drawings.

"Alan Henderson @ A'cad Solutions" <2005@R_E_M_O_V_E_acadsolutions.biz>
wrote in message news:4889791@discussion.autodesk.com...
I just posted a stripped down version of my Legend program if you would
like to try it out.
I uses 2 files -
Legend_Layers.txt - contains lines of text with Layer Name, tab
character, then text to use in legend
Legend_Blocks.txt - contains lines of text with Block Name, tab
character, then text to use in legend
The program runs by issuing (load "Legend") at command prompt
The program -
Sets the default text size, legend line length, block scale and legend
text layer
1st reads the Legend_Layers.txt and Legend_Blocks.txt files and stores
the names of the layers and blocks to use in the legend
Stores all the layers in the drawing (including xref layer names)
Stores names of all blocks (except xref) in drawing
Checks each layer name in drawing against Legend_layers.txt file
If the names exist in both lists, the program draws a line on the
appropriate layer and put the layer legend text in the drawing
Checks each block name in drawing against Legend_blocks.txt file
If the names exist in both lists, the program inserts the block line
on layer "0" and put the block legend text in the drawing

Download "Legend.zip" from http://www.acadsolutions.biz/Downloads.htm to
test


"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4888468@discussion.autodesk.com...
I have been contemplating such a script, but I lack the programming skills
to tackle it. We are looking at hiring a Tech that has programming
experience so it may be a possible solution in the near future. Meanwhile I
am looking at a generic solution using the boxed tools.

"Alan Henderson @ A'cad Solutions" <2005@R_E_M_O_V_E_acadsolutions.biz>
wrote in message news:4888310@discussion.autodesk.com...
I wrote a lisp program for a company that searches for all layers and blocks
in the current drawing and any attached xrefs.
It then draws lines and text for the layers and inserts the block with text
for each block.
It is based on a text file with layer name and associated text and block
name and associated text.
This way only layers and blocks current used in the drawing are in the
legend.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4886325@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

Having legend entries that aren't necessarily used in the drawings is no
problem. We currently do this. Thank you for replying.

"doug k" wrote in message
news:4889050@discussion.autodesk.com...
My legends contain a note under the legend title that says:

"ALL ITEMS IN LEGEND MAY NOT NECESSARILY APPEAR ON THE PLAN"

Many of the towns that I submit to require legends on each sheet, so I just
plunk an appropriate pre-drawn legend on each that already has everything on
it.

I can usually get by with three legends; existing , proposed and E&S stuff.


"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4888460@discussion.autodesk.com...
So far it looks like most of you are using predefined legends and editing
the drawings to fit, or editing the legend to comply with the drawing.

[Anonymous]

The problem with having a generic legend that is placed on a seperate plan
sheet is that it does not allow for situations where lineweights and
linetypes vary according to the particular layout. For example, a plan sheet
that is intended to show proposed road grading would also show the proposed
utilites but the lineweights and linetypes would emphasize the road design
elements. The sewer and water sheets would be opposite. My intent is to have
a legend on each layout as needed to emphasize the pertinent design
elements. Plan and profile layouts for the road grading would be in one
drawing, while the plan and profile layouts for the utilites would be in
their own drawings and so on, with each set of layouts having their own
pertinent lineweights, linetypes and legends. All layouts would use an Xref
to the Master Design drawing, but the layer definitions would be adjusted to
suit the purpose of the layouts.

Perhaps this approach to sheet layouts is too complex to be worthwile, but
if an approach could be devised that was not difficult to manage it would
make plan sets very clear.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4888460@discussion.autodesk.com...
So far it looks like most of you are using predefined legends and editing
the drawings to fit, or editing the legend to comply with the drawing. I was
hoping someone had figured out a way to make legends more dynamic, but
without programming it looks like there are no easy ways around this
problem. I am new to this company and there are NO standards in effect, so
until we/I can implement the standards, Legends are a major time waster!

Thank you all for your feedback.

"Neil W" wrote in message
news:4886325@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am wanting to know how CAD mangagers are applying drawing legends to
xrefs. I am currently creating a legend in the source drawings and then
using a viewport in the master drawing layouts to show the legend, so that
the legend reflects any changes to the xref layer definitions in the master
drawing. The problem arises when layers in the XREF are toggled off in the
master drawing. This leaves "blanks" in the XREF legend. Also, there are
problems when the linetype in the legend of the source drawing does not
display properly due to linetype scaling.

The application is Civil Design, with a minimum of a Base (Topo) drawing,
Design drawing, and Plat drawing xref'd into the plan sheets. Each drawing
has it's own legend.

[Anonymous]

> The problem with having a generic legend that is placed on a seperate plan
> sheet is that it does not allow for situations where lineweights and
> linetypes vary according to the particular layout.

That is why mine are broken out by group. Water and sewer showing up on the
grading and drainage plan sheet is for reference only. When the utilities
are being put in, they should be using the utility sheet, which is covered
by the utility group on the legend and general notes sheet...

--
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything,
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.

[Anonymous]

Which gets back to the approach I started out with. Each master drawing has
it's own legend in model space. When the master drawings are used as XREF's,
a viewport can be used to show the legend for each master drawing and then
when the layer definitions are modified to suit the purpose of the layouts,
the legends will reflect those changes. There would be a master drawing for
the existing topo, the proposed grading, proposed utilities, and the legal
boundaries. If it weren't for the problems I mentioned out the outset, I
think this approach would work nicely. I am getting some good ideas from the
replies which help, but I am wondering if anyone has attempted to do
something like this and how they make it work.

I have no formal training in CAD management so I am having to "re-invent the
wheel". I obtained some manuals that cover aspects of CAD management, but
technology has evolved so rapidly in the past few years that they are
practically obsolete. I would appreciate any recommendations on books or
links that would help me get started on reasearching CAD management.

"Grizzly" wrote in message
news:4889987@discussion.autodesk.com...
> The problem with having a generic legend that is placed on a seperate plan
> sheet is that it does not allow for situations where lineweights and
> linetypes vary according to the particular layout.

That is why mine are broken out by group. Water and sewer showing up on the
grading and drainage plan sheet is for reference only. When the utilities
are being put in, they should be using the utility sheet, which is covered
by the utility group on the legend and general notes sheet...

--
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything,
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.

[Anonymous]

If putting a legend on each sheet works for you, then I would go with it.
For us, we don't have the space most of the time to worry about putting a
legend on each sheet. Nor do I want to unnecessarily worry with it...

As far as CADD Management goes, I am sure many in here can point you in the
direction of good resource material, but I for one always approached it from
a trial/error and what I think is best for our company point of view...

--
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything,
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down a flight of stairs.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had the luxury of one sheet for all legends.

But most reviewers around here will leap at the chance to add a comment to
include a legend on each sheet.

In fact, many will not allow notes on a different sheet either. I'm often
forced to go to a larger sheet size (when allowed) just to accommodate the
required notes/legends/certifications.

"Grizzly" wrote in message
news:4890835@discussion.autodesk.com...
If putting a legend on each sheet works for you, then I would go with it.
For us, we don't have the space most of the time to worry about putting a
legend on each sheet. Nor do I want to unnecessarily worry with it...