Can Sheet Set Manager be used without creating multiple DWG files?

[Retirement_Bound]

I am a very small Electrical Engineering firm and basically every drawing set up is the same.  We have a working drawing that has 2 XREF files: 1) is the Architects background drawing and 2) the Titleblock drawing.  Then we create a paper space tab for each sheet and each sheet is where the titleblock is referenced so we can update the sheet number and stuff. 

I finally watched several videos of using the Sheet Set Manager and it seems like it would be real nice to update my title block info and sort the sheets using the SS Manager.  However, it looks like it creates separate drawings for each sheet and then XREF in the background?  WE just are not set up to create and manage multiple drawings and too stuck in the old way of doing things.  So my question is before I keep trying to find a way.  Can I use Sheet Manager just to organize my layouts and title block info using just my one file and not creating additional dwg files?

[pendean]

SSM uses whatever you feed it: one file or a thousand files is really up to you, the command doesn't care.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound

Sheet sets can work with multiple drawings, multiple drawings with multiple layouts, single drawings, single drawings with multiple layouts.

GIve it a try and check out all the possibilities. Please let me know what can of help or resources I can provide to help you pursue this feature.

[Retirement_Bound]

Is there any video on using one file with multiple sheet tabs? Every training video I have found focuses on multi file - single sheet.

Thanks,

Bryant Jenks, PE., LEED AP
Treasure Coast Engineering, Inc.
(P) 772-567-1007 (C) 772-559-6719
visit us @www.tce.eng.pro

Sent from my iPhone with Autocorrect errors.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

Why don't you attach your file or files here (you can strip out any sensitive info) and I will create a video using your files so you know how to set them up?

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

I didn't see an update from you so I set up a small video of a file I had on hand. I hope this is what you are looking for more detail.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Retirement_Bound]

Look good and getting ready to experiment.  I was travelling till yesterday and wasn't able to reply.  Am I able to make a sheet set template that is tied to a .DWT template file so when I start a new project I just start with the sheet set manager template and save to a local project file?  Or do I always create a new Sheet Set Manager file in my project file with the new dwg file I have saves using my .DWT file?

[john.vellek]

HI @Retirement_Bound,

I think how you set them up will largely depend on how you really use the sheet sets. If you use callouts and views in addition to just adding the sheets then you might have a template set with them attached.

In the past, I have just set them up on the fly. I suggest that you play with them a bit and see what works best for your workflow. Come back and ask questions! 🙂

[Retirement_Bound]

Starting get somewhere, but came to a road block as my layout tab has a block with labels based on created text attributes.  example is I have one called SHEET_# and tried using BATTMAN and EATTEDIT to change that field to CurrentSheetNumber.  There doesn't seem to be a way to change the default to anything except a text.  Do I have to go back recreate a new block with new field attributes?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

From the way you describe it, this should be possible. Can you attach a sample file and sheet set? I would like to take a look to confirm this and I can make a step-by-step or video for you.

[Retirement_Bound · Accepted solution]

I tried to delete the above reply but can't seem too.  I now realized I actually have to erase the default and then right click and insert a field.  I thought I would just have a way to change it without inserting.  Got it now.

[Retirement_Bound]

I tried changing the attribute to the Current sheet number, but I can't seem to get it to update like you did in your video.  I have attached the zip file with the sheet set manager file.  Is there anyway you can see why I can't get the label to update?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

Your file seems to work fine for me.  The layout that first popped up when I opened the file did not have a field set for the sheet number. It appeared to still be an attribute.

Take a look at my video and try again but everything seems to be working ok.

[Retirement_Bound]

OK, getting somewhere now. It looks like you and I are only updating a
single sheets attribute using the Enhanced Attribute Editor (EATTEDIT)
command. Which seems to me would be a major pain to update 30 sheets in an
existing drawing. So I tried to use BATTMAN for the block hopoing it would
change all the blocks, but it didn't do anything. So is there a way to only
update one field in a sheet so that all the sheets update to the new field?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

Let's look at your titleblock a bit differently. Currently you use one block with mtext and attributes for sheet specific information and another for properties shared buy the whole set.

I merged these (I think I got most of it anyways but perhaps good enough to demonstrate) and converted most of the text to fields.

Now, if you click on the top level of your sheetset (TC16029) select properties. You will see that I filled in some values for the built-in fields such as Project Number and Project Name.

I also created some custom properties for the sheet set. Some of these are set for the sheet set as a whole and others are for individual sheets.

Now, when you place the one merged block it will pick up all of these properties at one time (you might need to do a regenall for each sheet to have the fields update.)

Note, You will want to make all of your changes to the block prior to inserting it onto all of your sheets.

I suggest you try this technique, make your block, make sure that it is reading all your custom and built-in properties, and then apply it to a full set to see how it works for you.

The intent is to use the sheet set manager to control all of the titleblock properties in one place.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

Did my last post help you with the sheetset and titleblock integration?

It seemed to work well for me.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Retirement_Bound]

I still had problems with your sheet set. In particular I couldn't figure
out how to create custom fields in the title block or modify the ones you
created. That being said, I did do something on a recent project that
really helped. I have a 25 sheet drawing from an architect that required me
to create 3 different DWG files at different scales. I was able to import
all three drawings, then I went into one sheet and on their title block the
sheet number was an Mtext. I was able to change that one to a sheetnumber
field and then copied that to each of the 25 sheets. Once I have that set
up I have 90% of what I want. I was able to jump between drawings and was
able to insert a sheet E-12 and update all the other ones pretty easily. So
I am happy! Just still missing some of the conversion concepts.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

I made a video for you to show how I can add a custom property to a sheetset (or sheet within the sheestset). I then show how to add afield to your titleblock that links to the custom property.

I actually like to put the field in attributes and make them part of a block but that is up to you.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Retirement_Bound,

Did my last post give a bit more clarity to my explanation of the features?  I hope it helped you get closer to where you want this to be in your workflow.

[Retirement_Bound]

Out of town till Wednesday next week. Will look at it then.

Thanks,

Bryant Jenks, PE., LEED AP
Treasure Coast Engineering, Inc.
(P) 772-567-1007 (C) 772-559-6719
visit us @www.tce.eng.pro

Sent from my iPhone with Autocorrect errors.