On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:50:57 +0000, RyanRoberts4500 <> wrote:
>HI all, I need some input/opinions on the best way to manage a large block/standard details library. I am looking for how others sort/manage their libraries and how they used from within Cadd. All input and suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance. Ryan
There are literally tens of ways to manage block libraries; each has their
advantages and disadvantages.
The easiest - from a managerial perspective - is simply to create a folder on
your server, and create a DWG file for each type of blocks you use. Since we are
an Architectural/Interiors firm, our block library uses drawing files for each
of the MasterSpec divisisions, e.g. my "Div05-Metals.dwg" has blocks for steel
shapes, metal studs, and so on. This is in addition to generic blocks like
Annotation, Formatting (title blocks), Entourage (for presentations) and so on.
Once these library drawings are created, you can use Design Center to insert
them into your drawings, or create Tool Palettes for each of the blocks. You can
easily create a single palette of all of the blocks in the drawing via Design
Center.
Once you create Palettes, you could then create Catalogs and Categories on your
server, copy your Palettes to the Catalogs/Categories, then iDrop them back to
user's workspaces for their access.
Besides Design Center and Tool Palettes, you are left to implementing old-skool
methods like slide libraries, pulldown menus, and VLISP code, or a combination
of all three.
I personally went from a highly customized solution of pulldown menus and VLISP
code to using Content Browser and Tool Palettes, which worked out GREAT.
Matt
matt@stachoni.com