Multiple Layout tabs

[Anonymous]

How many users support the use of multiple layout tabs and what would be a scenario to support this?

The scenario I am looking at is from a asset owner the angle where typically the asset owner sources engineering and drafting services, as a result the drafting procedures would typically not support multiple layout tabs and the consultant would be required to send the drawing sets and every page as a individual file, binding all xref's, purging of errors etc.

I am trying to understand the pro's and cons of creating drawing and using multiple layout tabs.

Thanks

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> I am trying to understand the pro's and cons of creating drawing and using multiple layout tabs.

Layout tabs are very important feature in AutoCAD , especially while working with details and big projects . you can create drawing sheets that display scaled views of your model in an area you can customize for printing. In addition to a view or views of your model space, you can also add any added tables, notes, dimensions, or titleblocks to your layouts that will be included in your finished drawing. Multiple layouts can be created, each with their own page setup menu which can be used to change the size, appearance, and format of paper space to be printed. 

[JTBWorld]

There can be many benefits of using multiple layouts in a drawing but it is common that you in the end need to deliver one DWG per each. 

One drawback is if multiple users might need to work on the same DWG with multiple layouts. 

JTB LayoutsToDwgs will help with creating the separate DWG files. 

JTB Layout Palette can help if you have many layouts to navigate among. 

[cadpro78]

I may use 2 or 3 layouts tabs and it proves useful with layer management (freezing, using transparency options, layer states. )  The only negative may be it could slow your file and system down a bit if you over 15 or more.  

[RobDraw]

That's a workflow vs. deliverable question. I've always used multiple layouts. It just makes too much sense and it was in our drafting standards. If the deliverable required separate dwg files, there would usually be an extra charge for processing.

[maratovich]

The most important thing is what the customer pays you for:
Or quickly
Or beautiful.

You must choose the method that is convenient for you.
You can do everything only in the model, or you can use layouts.
There is no difference for the customer. He will receive either paper or PDF.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Rob for your response, you are on the money it is a workflow question. I fully understand the place the functionality as I am a drafty, however I have clients that use single sheet layout on delivery and clients that use Multi page layouts. Single page is completely understandable from a client delivery point of view but a pain as the draft user. Because often you have to bind and purge the drawing and all xrefs. If you are delivering the drawing into the clients DMS portal often multi page layouts are difficult to integrate into SAAS platforms.

However I was wondering how many people rely on the multi page layouts and if the DMS should be configured to support the work flow of multi pages.

[RobDraw]

How are we supposed to answer that?

Multiple layouts has been around for a long time and many people utilize them. Not sure how quantifying that is going to be of any benefit. 

Your clients DMS is their choice and they are responsible for making the requirements of the deliverables clear before the project starts. How you meet those requirements is entirely up to you. I don't change my daily workflow but rather process the files for delivery. My working files are saved according to my standards. In my experience this is faster than changing workflow.

[travisgoffZ2B3C]

I use multiple layouts for each CAD file, because I work in CAD and honestly don't know of a reason I would ever do otherwise. Since my job is to take project files and optimize them for fabrication and installation for end users, the customer doesn't use my files except for 'As-builts' or 'For Record' drawings. My outputs do not like get integrated back into to anything as critical as what it sounds like you're describing. In short, no one usually gets or needs my .DWGs, so the quantity of layouts I used is irrelevant.

[JTBWorld]

Best is if you don't need to add the DWG files to DMS until final delivery. In the meantime only add PDF or DWFx to DMS.

Now I know in some cases clients require single layout DWG files to DMS for various reasons and we have helped with automating these steps in various ways even synchronize meta data between CAD and DMS.