topic Re: Titleblock redesign advice in AutoCAD Forum

Titleblock redesign advice

Kyle.Pederson — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 12:37:11 GMT

I've been put in charge to update our vastly outdated title block. Currently it doesn't use any Fields and is all completely Manual. Looking for anyone's advice for Do's and Don'ts when starting the Project. Another concern is how I handle the company logo?

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

MMcCall402 — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:42:06 GMT

I'm not sure if I have any Do's or Don'ts to list. Maybe see some examples of how and what others have done would help. Oh, and keep it clean and simple to use.

I took on this same task and my current firm 3 yrs ago. When I came in they were using 3 separate blocks for each of the 7 intended sheet sizes for a total of 21 blocks. I boiled it down to two dynamic blocks. Attached is one we use for sheet sizes 18x24 thru 30x42. We use this in our template files. The block is already inserted with all the red text (attributes) set as fields linked to values from the Sheet Set Manager. The scale value would be linked as a field to a viewport already in the template file as well. Professionals signing the plan come from a selection on a block table. Revisions are not as automated as I'd like but I can't get multiple professionals to agree on a standardized application of drawing revisions, so I left it a little manual and adaptable. In our use we start a drawing from a template, save it, then add it to the Sheet set and the title block populates with project info.

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

injineri — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:35:45 GMT

1. use attributes with fields in them

2. if its raster image logo then paste it as ole object in block

3. I use dwg properties custom tab to fulfill all fields of titleblock

hope this will help

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

TheCADnoob — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:48:19 GMT

When it comes to the attributes, make sure they are all identified uniquely.

If at all possible, Id convert the Logo to a vector image. #pet-peeve

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

S.Faris — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:54:18 GMT

Check the one from this post : multiple blocks attributes into one

Prepared by @maratovich

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

s.borello — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 21:50:21 GMT

I recommend you use attributes in your title block for any information that will vary on a per project basis so it will be easy to change this info without editing your title block every time. For your company logo, just use a high resolution .png image and you will be good to go. Youtube link below showing the creation of a title block with attributes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuY-0aZHQpc

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

Kyle.Pederson — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 12:19:25 GMT

Thanks for your help, so great info you provided! Our title block is pretty simplistic and doesn't require a lot of info. I attached an image of the general info we need. Can you explain why the two address fields are in Red and none of the others are? We use one general Title block 95% of the time that is preloaded as our Default Template File (.dwt) On occasions we create egress plans that use a different title block. Outside of meshing them into 1 dynamic block how could I have 2 separate title blocks and be able to switch between the two when need be?

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

Bob_Zurunkle — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 15:41:01 GMT

Time to chime in on Fields. Your info seems simple enough to use the Custom Properties noted above. It's easy to create a property (eg Address) and a default value for it. If you go down the list and do this for each item in your template drawing, the next step would be making the fields and editing them so you can assign each field to a property. You can either have your titleblock on your tabs, or you can make it a separate drawing that you then XREF into your template. As long as the names of the properties remain the same, you can redesign your titleblock in the future and still have it show the same info.

The point is to enter all of your common info all in one spot (under Custom Properties). Actually having the border and title as a separate XREF drawing is a good idea since it would stop people from accidentally overwriting any of the fields.

A few things I do here include linking the drawing file to a property already in the list, using the editor (I uncheck the path and the extension). Since I name my drawings according to job number, that comes up automatically wherever our titleblock displays the job number.

The other thing I do is I name my layout tabs according to the sheet number, so I have a field that duplicates with each tab I duplicate. When I rename the tab, after a REGEN the titleblock for that sheet updates the same.

Tip - if a REGEN doesn't change the field value being displayed, check to see that your FIELDEVAL is set to 31, if memory serves...

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

SeeMSixty7 — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:37:38 GMT

Thought I would provide some input on this. I recently have run into a lot of borders that have just been horrible. Exploded borders, generic block names, text instead of attributes, images instead of cad entities for logos.

Take a look at my blog post. I only post to this every once in a blue moon. But try and provide some good advice and information.

@TheCADnoob Agree completely on the Images in your drawings (Serious Pet Peeve)

http://www.seemsixty7.com/blog/2020/10/27/title-blocks-the-start-of-a-good-drawing/

Hope this helps,

Re: Titleblock redesign advice

ChrisGriffinCencora — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 12:46:59 GMT

I also use the DWGPROPS custom tab for Project Title, Address, etc. If you update the custom information in the DWGPROPS box, every sheet gets updated automatically. It's a thing of beauty.

For sheet numbers, I use a Diesel CTAB expression. Each tab is labelled CS-001 COVER or GN-001 NOTES... the expression only picks up the first 6 digits of the tab and populates the sheet number field in the title block.

For sheet titles, I have an editable attribute for each sheet. I could probably use a Sheet Set Manager to do the sheet naming automatically, but it would be too much work for (casual) CAD users... It's more hassle than it's worth for me. This is the only sheet-specific info I have to update for the title blocks.

I also use a block with attributes for my revision history... I wish I could do something a little more automated, but I've not found anything that I like yet.