Dimension update problem

I am new to a company who, in years past plotted all their drawings from model space. I talked this company into upgrading to AutoCAD 2005 and I am starting to change all the drawings over to paper space so that I am able to take full advantage of sheet sets. I am also the only drafter for this company.
I am running into a problem, over the years several different people used several different dimension styles. Some people didn't use the proper dimension scale and the text is really small (1/8†tall on a D-Size sheet). Is there a way to change these types of problems without opening every drawing, setting up a proper dimension style, then selecting every dimension separately and updating them?

 

dunno, maybe a lisp routine could help?
in 2004, you have the option of setting up "standards", that might help.
as far as 1/8" text on a d-size drawing, thats correct.
regardless of the size of the drawing, 1/8" IS standard text height.

 

I used to use 3/32" high text at full scale, an 1/8"=1'-0" drawing would
have a 9" high text. Since half size sets are used more often and one of
the senior partners doesnt always wear his glasses we now use 1/8" high text
for full scale. That makes the text 12" on an 1/8"=1'-0" drawing. After a
couple years of the taller text the short text looks weird.

Sorry, I dont know of a way to globally update the dimensions without
opening the drawing.

Stephen J

what I was taught way back at the beginning of school.

 

MAYBE YOU HAVE LITTLE TIME TO USE S::Startup () AND acaddoc.lsp.

(Defun S::Startup ()
(Princ)
(command "cmdecho" "0")
(USE COMMANDS AS REQUIRED TO UPDATE DIM.)
(COMMAND "QSAVE")
(COMMAND "CLOSE")
)

Khan

model space. I talked this company into upgrading to AutoCAD 2005 and I am
starting to change all the drawings over to paper space so that I am able to
take full advantage of sheet sets. I am also the only drafter for this
company.

several different dimension styles. Some people didn't use the proper
dimension scale and the text is really small (1/8" tall on a D-Size sheet).
Is there a way to change these types of problems without opening every
drawing, setting up a proper dimension style, then selecting every dimension
separately and updating them?

 

I too use 3/32 text plotted paper size. 1/8" was standard in the days of
hand drafting so that when drawings were reduced to half size the insides of
letters like "e" "o" etc would not be filled in when drawings were run
copied to blue prints. Also, 1/8" by hand varied depending on the style of
the draftsman. 3/32" plotted is very readable when reduce to half size. I
plot drawings to 11x17 which is less than half size and still have no
trouble either reading them or having the text fill in if original plot
width for text is not more than 0.010.

 

3/32" here also (actually 0.10"). The math is very easy for setting the
text height when in MS. 1/2"=1' = 24 scale factor X 0.10 = 2.4" high, etc.

The last three A/E firms had set 0.10" as the plotted height of text, and
as Warren says, it is still very legible at 1/2 size plots.

Kent

 

I was taught to use 3/16" text, but only for titles. It seems way too big
for notes and dimensions. Every company I worked at used 3/32" text for
notes and dimensions (that's manual drafting, BTW). So even 1/8" looks big,
especially in a CAD drawing.

The exception would be if the drawing is going to be plotted half-size; in
that case, I'd go for 1/8" text.
--
David Byrnes/Vancouver BC
AutoDesk Discussion Group Facilitator

what I was taught way back at the beginning of school.

 

i use larger text in title blocks, but was referring to 1/8" for dims

 

wow, you architekkies sure do like big text.

not unusual for our civil plans to use mostly L60, which is 0.06" high
(slightly smaller than 1/16").

and i've thrown in the rare L50 once every-other blue moon.

and to stay on topic;

how could you get away with batch changing the size of dimension styles
without having to look at each drawing anyhow just to make sure things
aren't on top of each other? i'd be too nervous to try it and would prefer
to fix each one as they come up for revisions, etc.

 

well, im no architekkie, rather a mechitekkie, but, geez, .060, how do you read those, i got hairs thicker than that, the 3 i got left!

 

I don't think there is any possible way I can get away with not going into every drawing, I'm just trying to save some time and boredom. This is going to be a massive project just changing them all to paper space since I am the only CAD person. Maybe I can talk the boss into getting some interns in the fall........

 

students from local community college?
if you know an instructor there, or can contact one, might be able to get some of it done as class project?

 

ANSI dictates 1/8" - not 3/16" but each company has their own idea what is the correct height.