AutoCAD Document Organization with xrefs and viewports

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am new to AutoCAD, and our facility is also new to AutoCAD, and I was wondering how I can best set up files to effectively control facility drawings for our plant.

For context, I am transferring hand-drawn facility drawings that were created to an old CAD standard (there are almost 300) to the AutoCAD system. Based upon other forum posts, it seems that people think that having one model file and individual sheet files organized into a sheet set allows for both rapid loading speed and easy re-establishing of links, but I am not completely clear on how that works in the context of xrefs, viewports, etc.

For example, if there was one model file that is referenced in different sheet files, is the reference inserted into the model, and a viewport is created from that reference?

Or is the reference inserted directly into the sheet with no viewports utilized?

Or is it something completely different?

Also, if there would be a better way to organize files, or if I can explain something better, feel free to let me know.

[imadHabash]

Hi and Welcome to AutoCAD Forum ,

>> is the reference inserted into the model, and a viewport is created from that reference?

Yes , the idea is to attache your xref to the model layout then from layout start to create your needed viewports inside your already attached title sheet frame. 

[Anonymous]

Okay sounds good, thank you for your response.

So just to be sure, each layout sheet file would just have one layout drawing with a viewport and the referenced model in model space, and the model will be added as a reference in the model space in all of the 300 drawing files?

[pendean · Accepted solution]

There is no right or wrong way to do anything: that's the crazy part about using AutoCAD, you get to decide for yourself how to do everything.

Some general rules everyone agrees on (remember, "general", you decide if there are exceptions):

• All drafting is done in modelspace. That includes adding XREFs that are key to that content (think extra components, not titleblocks for example).
• All drafting is done at 1:1 scale. Always. Always.
• Layouts: titleblocks go here, these can be xrefed here if many layouts will share the same titleblock.
• Layouts: you can have as many viewports are you want in a single layout, that's your call, you do what needs to be done to convey the needed information and to "fill up the page" if that is a need of yours.

I am sure others will add to this list.

[Anonymous]

Okay, that makes sense, thank you. I'll keep those guidelines in mind as I'm creating and organizing the documents. I think I'll use that strategy - to have one "model" file which I'll xref into the models of my individual "layout" files and freeze the layers I don't need.