Architectural Drafting Efficiency

Does anyone know of any online resources for efficiently using AutoCAD 2004 (not ADT) for architectural drafting.
Specifically, I'm interested in strategies concerning, sheet organization, xrefs etc. For instance I use a "master" bldg file that I xref to other sheets for floor plans, elevations, sections, site plan etc. I try to do most of my set up and drawing in this one file.

Some of my drafting I will do in the secondary set; like electrical plans on top of the xrefed file. Since I work alone I'm curious in trying to find out what other drafters do to become more efficient in producing construction documents and the strategies they implement to achieve this.

Thanks.
Head in the sand drafter

 

So if I unserstand correctly you do use a template file?

Do you have any sort of Layer standard system? such as the one from AIA?

Are you familiar with the Design Center functionalites to save time? You can
directly drag and drop :Layers, Blocks, DIMstyles, Textstyles, and Layouts
(with page setup aswell as paperspace geometry) from existing drawings into
your new one.

I don't know if you had time to check out AutoCAD 2005, but it does exactly
what you are talking about. The new SSM (Sheet Set Manager) let's you
organize drawing sets composing of different layouts and create links
between them in real time. The new Fields option also let's you input
project specific information or drawing specific information directly in
your drawings and updates them automaticaly if changes are made. for example
they work great in titleblocks and for section and elevation marks.

If you haven't allready you should defenitly check it out!

--
Yours Truly,
David Shabat

2004 (not ADT) for architectural drafting.

xrefs etc. For instance I use a "master" bldg file that I xref to other
sheets for floor plans, elevations, sections, site plan etc. I try to do
most of my set up and drawing in this one file.

on top of the xrefed file. Since I work alone I'm curious in trying to find
out what other drafters do to become more efficient in producing
construction documents and the strategies they implement to achieve this.

 

Andy:

Where are you located/ Email me privately - what type of projects, etc.. I
work alone also and have developed what I think are some really neat
efficiencies for a one-man shop, but probably the only way to illustrate
that would be to send you a set of files of an old project.

What you describe sounds like you are on the right tract.

2004 (not ADT) for architectural drafting.

xrefs etc. For instance I use a "master" bldg file that I xref to other
sheets for floor plans, elevations, sections, site plan etc. I try to do
most of my set up and drawing in this one file.

on top of the xrefed file. Since I work alone I'm curious in trying to find
out what other drafters do to become more efficient in producing
construction documents and the strategies they implement to achieve this.

 

Marshall,

Thanks but I don't have your email address. Mine is:
.

Thanks.

 

David,

I usually use my last set of drawings as a template due to the fact that I am always tweaking my system. Yes, I use AIA layering and I am finding that more layers works better for my system because I can turn on and off more entities and have better control of the xref in the secondary file.

I haven't used design center or tool pallettes. I have many blocks in directories and find it pretty easy to go get objects I need from there but maybe I'm missing out with these newer tools.

Thanks.

 

Marshall's email address shows on the newsgroup reader (NNTP)
side of the groups as Marshall Caudle <>

 

How's about try MASi at http://www.Cadentity.Com

Productive utilities, MASi (Modulated Architectural Systems, innovated!)

Product Overview
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http://www.cadentity.com/products/overview.html

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AUTODESK
Authorized Developer
www.Cadentity.com
MASi

2004 (not ADT) for architectural drafting.

xrefs etc. For instance I use a "master" bldg file that I xref to other
sheets for floor plans, elevations, sections, site plan etc. I try to do
most of my set up and drawing in this one file.

on top of the xrefed file. Since I work alone I'm curious in trying to find
out what other drafters do to become more efficient in producing
construction documents and the strategies they implement to achieve this.