Benefits of Using Multiple Layout Tabs in One .DWG file

[FenixRizing]

Hey yo drafters and engineers alike,

For those who don't already know, I am here to discuss using Multiple layout tabs in One drawing (*dwg) file for your product blueprints.  This not only will save you time but free up your server and reduce crashes.

AutoCAD was first developed with the thought in mind to draft several different objects, views, scales, all at different stages of product development and eventually in construction and site development. AutoCAD was created for a user to draft multiple details, objects, isometric views with ease. Thus the layering tool was invented. Why do you think that when you open a new drawing, a new layout tab pops up to be set up for eventual plotting the way you want. 

The general theory or useability for drafters was to design, doodle, sketch, draft, calculate, cut, profile in the MODEL space of your drawing.  Once you have created multiple objects, profiles, angles, the use of the Layout tab incorporates a VIEWPORT. Now a viewport is the essentially the primary tool that CAD boasts.  Think about it, Layers, depth, viewport, scaling, different views (isometric, etc.).....THIS IS WHAT AutoCAD was developed for!! For a designer and drafter to create multiple layers, multiple viewports, multiple scales, multiple details, etc.  That is the beauty of the program! A user can create everything he requires from beginning to end, including but not limited to sketches, drafts, calculations. Once a viewport is created in your layout tab, the user can manipulate the scale, the angle , the viewport extents and the specific layers created for the Product Development Plan Set (i,e, M.E.P. plans; Site Development Plans) C0.0 Cover, C0.1 Existing Conditions, C1.0 Site Layout, C2.0 Utilites, C3.0 Landscaping, C4.0 Grading &  Drainage, C4.1 Sport elevations, C6.0 Erosion and Sedimentation Control, C7.0 Details and Specifications, C8.0 Plan and Profiles, C9.0 Cross Sections, so on and so forth....Now all of these states are incorporated into one drawing in the MODEL space . Once the layout tab is clicked on any respective plan, the layering is manipulated in terms of draw order, frozen in viewport, rotation, scale, etc.  Again, IMO, this is what CAD intended for users to get the greatest benefit out of.  By creating layouts and multiple viewports, I can set up my plotting, scales, layering, etc and if I need more details, information, check conflicts, I can either thaw the specific layer I need to check or simply go back to MODEL space, where every layer is shown to check for my conflict. How easy is that!?? Nobody wants to open separate drawings to confirm an elevation or location, or to edit and xref layer because it has been updated by survey. NO PEOPLE! NO, STOP!  I open my Sitebase drawing, ONE drawing, easy for me to find, easy for another co-worker to find the "latest and greatest", saves space on the server and so much more. Now when I open this drawing, I make an edit or revision and the entire project file and corresponding sheets are updated.  No more repetition, do it only once.    I open my project file drawing, with 26 Layout tabs, all set up in the drawing with specific layer states, plotting paper size, CTB pen styles so that if another user or coworker needs to print the Site Development Project Plans, he or she can open the same drawing and select all of ayout tabs and type the command, PLOT!! BAM, DONE, NO FUSS, NO MAS!

As opposed to Open 26 different drawings to plot out on Plan Sheet at a time!!? Crazy, YES, AutoCAD was not programmed or designed to be used in this manner. Xrefs are great!! Don't get me wrong, but they attach a file and each time the drawing file plots with images and external references, the computer lags having to retrieve those files at specific saved locations prior to updating, regenerating, printing, saving, etc.! Enough said!! 

I ran an experiment and myself and another times ourselves to print out the same drawing in both states,(One drawing, and multiple drawing files of the same project.   I was done with a 25-sheet plan set in less than a half of an hour.... a TOTAL OF THREE TO FOUR STEPS PRODUCED MY ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION PLAN SET!! Beautifully!!

My friend on the other hand took until lunch, 4 hours to plot all 25 sheets in 25 separate drawing files.  He experienced some lag and crashes with multiple drawings open! 

My project file size: 28 Megabytes (0.284 Gigabytes)

My co-workers project file size:  845 Megabytes (0.845 Gigabytes)!! Wow. 

I love it when I am right! Nuff said!

Sincerely, an engineer, AutoCAD designer and drafter for 24 years

[paullimapa]

sure multiple layouts in a single drawing where the entire construction set could even be done is the way to go assuming your hardware can support the load and you don't have a team of people to get the job done.

[thisispreston · Accepted solution]

TL:DR version

"My way is correct and anyone who does it differently to me is wrong."

Cool story bro, tell it again.

[FenixRizing]

That is exactly what is happening. I am working on an 80-Unit Residential Development and am responsible for the entire set of Permitting/Erosion Control /Construction Drawings. I am ambivalent about the process in which I currently use through AutoCAD....because a few of my peers feel that it is easier to manipulate the appearance of separate layouts , such as water/san.sewer and or storm sewer. I would really appreciate any feedback. My hardware can support it and I feel that this way is the best way to stay consistent and get the job done in the least amount of steps/time.

[FenixRizing]

Please excuse me if I came across as a pompous ass, lol. But it is my way or the high way.. If there is a more efficient way to design/draft and produce plan sets, PLEASE teach me!! I want to learn everything I can about CAD, Knowledge is Power.Thanks

[pendean]

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@FenixRizing wrote:
Please excuse me if I came across as a pompous ass, lol. But it is my way or the high way.. If there is a more efficient way to design/draft and produce plan sets, PLEASE teach me!! I want to learn everything I can about CAD, Knowledge is Power.Thanks

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While there is no truly right or wrong way to use AutoCAD, and individual needs for each of us is very different, there is the reality that AutoCAD, when you least expect it, can rarely but realistically trash a DWG file and make it 100% unusable for eternity.

So be prepared for that by understanding what you will need to do to avoid losing everything: talk to an IT specialist, understand that a one-day backup is rarely good enough, and what you might end up doing (time and effort) to get back to where you left off before the disaster happens.

Sort of like buying insurance: nobody likes it until your house burns down in a raging fire in your town that was not your fault 😞

[hwalker]

Yep what Dean said has happened to me, just recently. A drawing I did and created a PDF of suddenly went walkabout. The only version of the drawing I had got was 6 days previously. I'd worked on it extensively since that time. Luckily I've got the PDF and a temp copy of the drawing to reconstruct.

[FenixRizing]

Awwww, I am terribly sorry to hear that! I understand the amount of time and effort that is put into a project file especially your DWG. It is hard to imagine that happening and what I would do if it ever did! I would probably cry! lol

On another point of interest...you couldn't retrieve a backup file from your Autosave? Our IT professional has conveyed to me that the company backs up the entire network on a nightly basis and I would hope that a somewhat recent *DWG file could be retrieved and used as my new sitebase design drawing. If I had to recreate the DWG from a *PDF file/print, I would snap! Thank you guys for the heads up and I will pray that it never happens to any of us ever again!

God Speed and enjoy the weekend! Back to work for me.

_Fenix

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

At my last office out IT staff implemented the Shadow copy feature. This was a lifesaver. Throughout the day at specific time intervals the network would automatically make version copies of all files. This way at any time we can go back to these versions for file recovery 

[hwalker]

@FenixRizing 

No I even rang up the IT guy and he said the last copy he had was the old one.

Luckily on this job the drawings are similar, so I've been saving the drawing as the new one, and just getting rid of the stuff from the old drawing when I've finished the new one, so a temp file of the new drawing had all the old drawing info in it.

[FenixRizing]

Hey, I'm left handed too! But, which hand do your use your mouse with!? Right or left, I use my right hand for the mouse while drafting, clicking away like a madman

[hwalker]

@FenixRizing Left. I can occasionally use it right handed, but it just doesn't "feel" right.

[RobDraw]

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@FenixRizing wrote:
But it is my way or the high way.

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That's a very narrow minded statement about your workflow. In AutoCAD, there is no one way that works for everyone. There are people that would thumb their nose at your workflow and their reasons would be valid.

[thisispreston]

I'm not suggesting there is a better way for you, I don't know how your workflow and projects work, which is exactly the thing that is wrong about your initial post...

What works best for you isn't what works best for everyone, for any number of reasons, you don't know how other people and their projects operate, so to come in here and talk down to everyone in such a condescending manner, basically telling people they are doing their jobs wrong, you are right etc. etc. yes, absolutely makes you sound like a pompous ass.

Anyway, not trying to turn this into an argument, just pointing out that applying what you think is best, to everyone, is not the best line of thinking, and if you do want to try and make that point, maybe think about how you word it!