Multi-format drawings quandry

In regards to inch & metric drawings, I'm trying to decide whether to create
separate drawing files, single drawing file with 2 sheets, or use dual
dimensioning on a single sheet.

With separate drawings, I can create the drawing in inches, re-save it, and
change it to metric. When there are changes - I have to open each drawing,
and if there are changes to the notes, make sure I get them all updated the
same.

With single drawing file, 2 sheets... is there an easy way to duplicate
everything on sheet 1 onto sheet 2?? The part views, along with dimensions
and notes? When there are changes, I still need to check both pages, etc.
etc.

With dual-dimensioning, at least it's all on one sheet, but the possibility
exists that there will be information overload - as well as potential on the
readers part to make a mistake reading the wrong set of numbers.

What to do?

TIA for your wisdom!

Adam.

 

Throw away the inch files.

Tell everyone that you've voluntarily converted to metric. After all,
that's what U.S. law encourages, voluntary conversion--whatever the
hell that means.

Stick to SI.

Gene Nygaard

 

Geez, I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner. I didn't realize that nobody
would give you good feedback on a series of simple and straightforward
questions. Your questions are fine . . . it's the feedback that's
lacking.

Obviously the problem with separate Drawings is that at least ONE
drawing will not be named the same as your Part or Assembly, which means
if you right click in the file and choose Open Drawing you'll only get
one of the two. Maybe not a big deal to you, but when you start to pile
up a number of different designs it can get a bit confusing. I try to
avoid that kind of scenario whenever possible.

There IS an easy way to duplicate everything on sheet 1 onto sheet 2 of
a multi-sheet drawing. Simply select all the views (and notes, if you
like) while holding the Ctrl key down, hit Ctrl-C, go to the second
sheet, pick a point approximately in the middle of the sheet and hit
Ctrl-V. The normal Windows Copy and Paste functions do work quite well
for that. On the 2nd sheet you'll have to select all the dimensions and
change them to metric (from inch) or inch (from metric), but that's
easily accomplished. In fact, if you just click and drag a window
encompassing all views it will select all dimensions and annotations --
not the views themselves.

'Spork'

 

Well you're quite correct that you always lose something in conversion.
Doing a drawing so that it's perfectly usable either way is often a
nasty job and compromises end up being made. Don't like it and don't
want it. However, many companies both stateside and elsewhere really
don't have a reasonable choice. If a US company wants its parts made in
the US, and especially when a US company has sister companies which use
their drawings, they often must use Imperial measures -- and if it's
supplying to companies overseas it really must use metric as well. The
inverse is true for companies overseas. If they want to sell in the US
they're almost forced to provide data in Imperial measures, whereas
they'd be silly to expect overseas manufacturers to always use Imperial
measures because of it. Your advice would be great in a world that had
gone entirely metric (and of course the world SHOULD go entirely metric,
but then the world SHOULD be many things that it is not), but that
advice is worthless in the world that actually exists.

'Spork'

 

I was starting to wonder that my own self - thanks for stepping up.

<snip>

How silly after all these years of using SWX that I've never ever tried to
copy a view. Certainly that gets the job done easily enough, and is the
best solution for my requirements.

I'm dealing with people in the US and in Japan... if I submitted metric
drawings to some suppliers in the US, I'd end up with parts 25.4x too big -
don't laugh... it has happened before! Certainly, any US company *should*
be able to deal with Metric units... but that is simply not reality. And
I've got too much respect for the folks in Japan to insult them with
drawings in Imperial units.

Spork, thanks again...

Adam.