Simple beam and column numbers

[muleman1]

Once upon a time I saw a video about how to modify numbering so I could have our beams number B101, B202, B303 our columns C1, C2 our plates P100, P200, etc.... for the life of me I cannot find it. Can anyone direct me to such instruction? maybe @acbsdesign  @Sebastian_Eiche @Emanuel.Nestor  @AleckGiles 

[Sebastian_Eiche]

should be possible by using prefixes or not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrbVJULedo8

[acbsdesign]

@muleman1 

Can you upload a few samples MP and SP.

Do you use "with dwg number" or marks are not related to the dwg numbers?

Prefixes are easy-just assign model roles and they can be modified per model role.

[muleman1]

@Sebastian_Eiche I  watched the short video and and a 40 minute one that followed it by @Emanuel.Nestor . They were very informative, well done and I think have me on my way. If I wanted to have beams at 1st level start at B101, 2nd level B201, 3rd level B302, etc... Would we differentiate the beams at the model role level, by creating new model roles for each level and give them prefix B10, B20, B30, etc.. Is that correct?

[AleckGiles]

Hi,

To differentiate between levels enter the level name in a property like "Lot/ Phase", "User Attribute 1" or "Free Remark". The model roles would be the same for all levels. To get different numbers on each level make sure you tick the box in front of Lot/Phase or whichever property you chose.

There is no automatic way to set a number range for each level so Level 1 might be B1-B17 and 2 start at B18 etc. Otherwise, you would have to manually select all items in a given level and number them setting your start number and then repeat for each level separately setting the start number each time. This might seem OK the first time but it quickly becomes a nightmare when you have to renumber the model after changes.

You could instead go for something like B1-1, B1-2....B1-17, B2-1, B2-2, .... B2-## etc. Where the first digit is actually the content of your chosen field above. Your numbering format in the numbering dialog would be something like "%Prefix%LotPhase-%MethodNumber".

[muleman1]

I continue to learn custom output. When I follow instruction on custom prefixes, it works good except I get an extra small letter in my prefixes. The extra letters do not show up in numbering panel. Where do they come from and how to eliminate them? @acbsdesign @AleckGiles 

[johnjmbennett · Accepted solution]

Look in the numbering dialog, if you are using the with drawing method, the format string changes below to include a counter (%counter),  I beleive this will introduce this into the final number string.

the drop down below becomes active and you can have a number, small letter or capital.

[acbsdesign]

@muleman1 

Hi, How are you.

These are the counters, below is an example with a small letter counter for SP (Prefix, Method number, Counter) and a number counter for MP (Method Number, Prefix, Counter).

This is the most usual numbering for structural steel for buildings.

SP Plate on dwg 500 will be P500a, or p500a for multiple SP on one dwg.

MP beam on dwg 100 will be 100B1.

Hope this help.

[muleman1]

@acbsdesign we are a small shop and prefixes like ep for endplate or gp for gusset plate or sp for shear plate just make it easy for us to communicate. That said we are always willing to learn....so what makes this unusual?

[acbsdesign]

@muleman1 

I may miss something, I don't see anything unusual. 

It is OK to make your set up with ep, sp etc. Noting wrong with it.

I thought you are asking where the low case "a" came from.

These are probably counters, low case.

Just change these to anything that you want-for example-epa500 is the first plate on dwg 500 with a prefix ep, epc500 is the third plate with prefix ep on the same dwg. IMO, avoid placing too many letters, try sticking to a min.

Otherwise, feel free to use your judgment, we live in a free world.

I could use whatever prefixes I want if I own the shop.

But since I don't have a shop, and produce dwgs for other companies, some of them are actually major in the country, this above that was listed is being most commonly used.

p500a or P500a, through P500e or f on ANSI B.

5-6 plates on one sheet, handy for the shop.

[Garret_H]

To do different levels I would just suggest using model views per level to isolate your beams and make selection prior to drawing creation easy.

As a small detailing outfit I will create my drawings one at a time (really quite fast) as I prefer numbers to be in order of installation sequence (columns then perimeter beams then interior). Each level would be 100, 200 as you do.

Also I would set main part = assembly number, this way processing beams has one less number to assign. 

Finally I also do all my part numbers as:

method model role>drawing number>sequential number.

In advance steel lingo this is:

%Prefix%Method number%counter

The standard practice of placing a counter first doesn't make sense to me, as when browsing a file folder you would want it to be sorted by model role first,  then number (which contains the level number) then finally the counter.  This makes finding specific dxfs, or beam files much easier within windows or any other filing system. 

That's what works for me at least, your milage may vary.

[muleman1]

Thanks Garret. I think I have in a usable manner now. My biggest obstacle is the language barrier.... I speak fluent, uneducated, ironworker and the super smart guys who design this software speak some kind of computer/guru/dev, 1's & 0's language. But Lord willing, someday I may grasp enough of it to begin to be to be productive......someday....

[acbsdesign]

Lol,

As Garret pointed it is important how is the material sorted in nc and external lists.

I had a customer who used to make Sp plates Pa500, Pb500, Pc500

External lists were sequenced such as: Pa500, Pa501, Pa502, Pb500, Pb501, Pb502.....-does not make any sense.

I also prefer one SP on one dwg.

And having Beam and Column SP=MP.

To be honest, 5-6 parts on one ANSI-B is a little PIA, (PIA is in English), but a customer is a customer and we have to do whatever it takes to be a happy customer.

A happy customer is also in English.