Entire set of plans in a single AutoCAD file? Details in post.

[baronethan377]

I have a possible job offer coming up that has gotten me quite excited, though there are a few things I’m curious about due to my experience. My current professional drawings are not very large, usually being around 8-15 pages. This possible opportunity will require a lot of re-drafting of existing plans of large commercial buildings. The place essentially is trying to create a virtual replica https://xender.vip/  of as-built drawings that are on sheets of paper currently. When it comes to these plans and being upwards of a couple hundred pages, how does that typically work with AutoCAD? Is each section of MEP/structural and other drawings put onto separate files to prevent a file from having too much data and slowing everything down? Or is everything lumped into a giant DWG?

[pendean]

@baronethan377 There is no right or wrong way to do anything in AutoCAD.

But running a business means you always want to look out for and plan against total loss of income: why risk losing everything if your single DWG file hiccups vs spreading it all out into dozens of files that reduce the loss impact (these forums are full of tearfully and emotionally devastated users who've lost that one important file over the last 30+years).

Think about the big picture: plan or a disaster instead of being surprised by one. Your clients will be shocked and dismayed if they knew you did not plan ahead.

Yep, no amount of backing up is going to help sadly.