Standards and Network Control

My company has decided to get serious about CAD standards. This I understand
perfectly, Since Our offices are
all over the East Coast and share resources, details, and disciplines it
only makes sense.
Their first move was to standardize Company Title Blocks and configure all
Plotters throughout each office
so everyone plots the same and the look is the same. They adopted the AIA
Layer standard and I being the
Office CAD Manager police my CAD Techs to adhere to these standards. This
all makes perfect sense.

Now they have decided to to configure all LDD CAD machines by updating the
Windows Registry File to point to
their main server for all AutoCAD Support, Fonts, PlotStyles, Express Tools,
Template, Menu, and Plotter Directories.
This means no one can Customize Buttons, Pulldowns, or Profiles. Everyone
uses the same .mnu and .pgp files.

While CAD Standards are very important, I think that telling all CAD
Designers that you have to all use
the keyboard, the mouse and LDD all the same way is going a bit to far.
after all, wasn't AutoCAD
designed to be customizable for each indivisual user.

 

Hi -

Would you please change your log in name to something other than
"Autodesk"? Don't want your posts confused with those from
Autodesk personnel. Thanks.

Also this topic is often discussed in the CAD Managers group. You
might want to read through older messages there. In addition to
any replies you might receive or have already received, you may
find more information or responses by posting future office
procedure related questions in the following discussion group:

Web browser:
http://discussion.autodesk.com/forum.jspa?forumID=112
Newsreader: news://discussion.autodesk.com/pn.cadmanager

 

the keyboard, the mouse and LDD all the same way is going a bit to far.

I agree. Can't you find a compromise so that each user has his or her own
PGP file, and custom menu, to which they can edit?

 

Welocome to my world, I would add to the list the manager knows little about AutoCAD and is a big into Microstation

 

I agree; it is 'going too far', and it will come back and bite them in the
bum because it affects PEOPLE -- new people will be on a slower learning
curve, it prevents existing people from expanding their skills portfolio by
being able to overcome problmes in different ways, it makes the company less
of a prospect for those who want to advance -- I mean, what will they do
when the next release comes out? It's going to affect PRODUCTIVITY and
hence PROFITS as well as being able to make DEADLINES.

I whole-heartedly agree that draughting standards should be consistent, good
and simple, whether international standards or in-house company branding is
concerned... I also agree whole-heartedly that CAD standards be consistent,
good and simple (but that the project comes before the company's in-house
methods).

But making people DO things in a restricted way? That's crazy, and has
eff-all to do with cad or drawing standards, and indeed will impact on the
business!

For example, I know a chap who types L [return] , draws a line, offsets it,
fillets with another and so forth. It suits him, so it's fine. Another
chap might use the menu pull-downs. So what? If the task was repetitive I
would be thinking of doing a block, drafting a lisp or maybe a button macro!

There is no single correct way of doing CAD; the answer always is 'it
depends on what is needed'. Office practices should be left to those who do
the work and use the software. IT departments know eff-all about software
programs too. When will companies learn to play to their strengths? When
will firms realise that the office systems and sub-sytems as there to
SUPPORT the workers, not to clip their wings?

What was (is) clearly needed at this company is better communication, a bit
of research, some feedback, a few e-mails, perhaps a suggestion box, and
someone to think it through -- to design a best fit all package BEFORE
laying down a law that will make them UNCOMPETITIVE and undesirable.

(end of soapbox ranting) I thank you!

 

On the network, create a directory in which each user has a folder with
their login name. In this folder, there is a copy of the .pgp and the
standard menu files so that users can modify toolbars, etc. Move this path
to the top in the file structure, with the main path for the program files
below it. Worked great for us. Management approval.....well best of luck
to you on that. Good luck.

--
John Michalik
Drafting and Design
LDD/CAD Development & Standards

about AutoCAD and is a big into Microstation

 

On the other hand,
having all users use the same mouse (hardware and driver)
the same buttons on the same place and the same PGP can
-> cut costs in support (especially if they can't edit the main ACAD menu any more)
-> be very easy for newbies to learn from colleques
-> can be very handy if a user has to witch from PC
But starting out with the same PGP and user menu for everyone can be a compromize.

 

Good points. As far as the pgp and menus, everyone is given a copy of the
standard 'out of the box' setup when they are configured. Pgp's get changed
quickly for simple stuff like 't' for trim, 'c' for copy instead of circle,
etc., but it is amazing to find out how many people think they have to have
a copy of the menus that they can modify and then never do once given the
opportunity. Some of it is just perception and head games I think. Around
here at least, I think most people would LIKE the customization, but are too
lazy to do it themselves, so it doesn't happen, and we end up far less
fragmented than you might believe at first. It's been an interesting study
if nothing else!

--
John Michalik
Drafting and Design
LDD/CAD Development & Standards

compromize.