Multiple Layouts With Same Template

[Anonymous]

I'm currently in the process of converting old business drawings from only being drawn and plotted solely within model space to plotting within paper space. I will also add that AutoCAD 2011 lt is the version used.

I have gone about this by initially creating a template (.dxt) layout the contains the title block in the size I use to print full size plans. I then import the layout from template. This seems to be effective for efficiently filling out business addresses and information.

However, when I create more than one tab from the same title sheet layout template, I'm unable to have differing information for items like sheet number and sheet names. Is there a way around this so I can have multiple layouts on a single drawing file with different numbers and names. Or is there a more effective method of going about this entirely. 

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

From your description it sounds like you need block ‘attributes’ in your titleblock. The purpose of using block attributes is to allow you to use the same titleblock in different layout tabs for different drawings while customizing the textual information for each sheet, e.g. sheet no., date, description of the scale, client name, client address, etc. You can change or maintain the attributes as needed. You can even leave the attribute blank. 

An attributed titleblock provides you with reusable content. You can consider it to be analogous to a job application because it displays  textual descriptions such name, address, city, state, zip, phone, etc. Even though all applicants fill out the exact same form, each individual application is customized to reflect each applicant.

Like a job app, your titleblock will also display text descriptions and next to the description there will be a dedicated space to fill in the info, e.g. sheet is the description and a space below for you to enter the sheet number, description for date drawn and a space right next to it to enter the date. 

If you are using the ‘descriptions’ to enter things such as client name and site location, then you’ll need to create attributes so you can ‘reuse’ the same exact titleblock from layout-to-layout, project-to-project and from client-to-client. 

Since you’ve already created your titleblock your next step is to look into the ATTDEF command. It will enable you to create an attribute.  When you’re comfortable using the command add attributes to your titleblock and achieve your goal of customizing each layout. You can do it!