Equipment Tags and Schedule

[c.mcmahon]

How would you go about apply equipment tags to a block and then making a schedule? Is there a special way to create the block, tag and schedule? Thanks!!

[dzatto]

How would you go about apply equipment tags to a block and then making a schedule? Is there a special way to create the block, tag and schedule? Thanks!!
Well, there's a few ways to do it. I did my equipment plans before dynamic blocks. That's one option, but I'm not sure you can tag them.

I did this years ago, so I'm going from memory. If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll think about it some more!

1. Draw your equipment (duh). Make sure it's on layer 0, and you linework is set to either ByLayer or ByBlock. I use ByLayer.

2.Create a Mask Block from you linework. The reason I used mask blocks is because once they are in your drawing, you can change it to a different block with the definition name in the properties tool palette. It gives you a pulldown that lists all your mask blocks.
I also included my tags as part of my block. I'm sure you can create a tag and tag them if you want to.

3. Once you have you mask block created, you need to create a property data set for all the information you want. Most of them will be manual properties that you need to fill in. You'll only have to do it once, though. When you have all of them, I suggest saving it as a drawing somewhere so you don't have to do it again.

4. Create a table schedule. I would start with an OOTB one, then modify it. If you need to , you can create different classifications. For example, in my car washes, I have tunnel equipment and equipment room equipment. I created a class for each, and a table for each. One table only picks up the equipment room classification, one only picks up the tunnel equipment classification. If you don't do this, then all the equipment will be on one table.
I did this on the same drawing as the equipment. When I need to insert equipment, I choose what pieces I need, and the table and copy them to my drawing.

That's pretty much it. It's been working great for me for years. I'm sure there's a better way, but this is how I do it.

[dkoch]

How would you go about apply equipment tags to a block and then making a schedule? Is there a special way to create the block, tag and schedule? Thanks!!
If you are a member of AU Online (it is free), you should be able to access 2007 class materials (if you went to AU 2007, or are on subscription, you definitely can do so). More than you ever wanted to know about how I would schedule equipment can be found in the class materials for AB114-4 Get Fully Equipped in AutoCAD® Architecture. If you do have full access, and 90 minutes to waste, you can even watch the entire screencast. The handout has all the information in it and, in my opinion, is more interesting. The URL for the class, in case you have trouble finding it, is
http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=class&session_id=834

For generic information on the Schedule feature, the two ATP classes I taught some time back should also still be useful; you could retrieve the handouts from the ATP archives:
April, 2005: ATP071 Architectural Desktop's Scheduling Features
June, 2006: ATP121 Formula Properties in Architectural Desktop
Check out the class forums, as well. ATP071 has a supplemental exercise on formula properties in the Forum.