Plot Sheet : Xref Layout Tab VS. Separate File

[Ykang.236078]

Guys,

I need help explaining to the company that you do not create plotsheet layout tab on your xref.
It's sort of no brainer but can't come up with enough reasons to explain it to people.
So far, I have came up with 4 reasons but I need more to convince office crew.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!

1. It makes it difficult for multiple people to work on the plot sheets because 1 xref holds multiple plot sheets.

2. When 1 file gets corrupted, you lose whatever sheets that were in that xref

3. It makes it difficult to find the specific sheet because layout tab's name are not reflected on the file name convention.

4. When you batch plot, it is organized by the file name not by the layout tab.

What else guys?? I really don't want people to use layout tab in the xref file.

[cadtag]

OK, I think you need to clarify your terminology a bit here, XREF file to me means a file that is referenced into another file. As such, the concept of a plotted layout in an XREF makes no sense, as nothing in paper space, including any layout tabs, is visible in the drawing file that contains the XREF.

Now, if I change your terminology from XREF file to "Master Design File" your concern makes more sense to me. That doesn't necessarily imply agreement, mind you, but I do want to be sure I understand what you are talking about before I jump in with both feet.

[ccowgill]

Guys,

I need help explaining to the company that you do not create plotsheet layout tab on your xref.
It's sort of no brainer but can't come up with enough reasons to explain it to people.
So far, I have came up with 4 reasons but I need more to convince office crew.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!

1. It makes it difficult for multiple people to work on the plot sheets because 1 xref holds multiple plot sheets.

2. When 1 file gets corrupted, you lose whatever sheets that were in that xref

3. It makes it difficult to find the specific sheet because layout tab's name are not reflected on the file name convention.

4. When you batch plot, it is organized by the file name not by the layout tab.

What else guys?? I really don't want people to use layout tab in the xref file.
do you mean not to create a plot sheet in your base drawing? That's all we do here is xref a drawing in, and then on the layout tab create a sheet for our drawing set. Title blocks are not to be placed in model space. Depending on the need of the project, most of the time, we only have one layout per drawing. However, if it is a small job, with only one sheet, or a sheet and an alternate, we do it directly in the base drawing.

in regards to your existing points, I wouldnt call it a no brainer.
1. yes, if you have more than one layout, more than one person can not work on the project at a time
2. yes, if the file with all the layouts gets corrupted, you've lost all your work.
3. file name convention has nothing to do with it, our third party app names the files with its own naming convention, which most definitely has nothing to do with our own. typically if we are only working out of the base, the drawing name is the job number, which at our office means that there may be more than one layout.

What version of AutoCAD are you using? if you are in 2010 or newer:
4. When publishing (a.k.a. batch plot in our office) the only thing that matters is the layout tab name, as our naming convention dictates our plot files should be. Although you do have the option to add the drawing name to the plotfile name.

5. objects in paper space of a base drawing will not show up when the drawing is xrefed into another file, only model space transfers.

[cadtag]

well, NCSv4 would suggest creating a sheet file for plotting, and referencing your model files into that, so there's one element of outside 'official' support for your position.

But, I agree with chris that it is _NOT_ a nobrainer.

1) true, but how often is that really critical? when it is around here, it's usually due to poor project management/planning. You'd do better to fix the planning problems. And often, that's an advantage. You can correct the design and fix the annotation without having to open both files.

2) partially true -- if people are saving as often as they should, the lost effort would be 20-30 minutes. at worst, a day's work to recover from backup tape, which shouldn't take more than a half hour to do. drawings are not totally incorruptible, but really, it's not very common here. so in terms of supporting your position, it's specious at best.

3) & 4) - nonsense. If you are not using Sheet Set Manager to organize your projects, start doing so. SSM may not be everything I want, but to-date, it's the best tool available for that job.

Otherwise, there are definite advantages in some jobs to using plotting layout tabs in the master design file. The project I'm currently working on uses both methods, and is quite easy to work with. Again, SSM is being used as the sheet manager, so every sheet in the set of drawings is listed there, there's no confusion. Open the dst file, and use that as the entry point to open the sheets. I don't really have to care what the file name is, unless I'm adding a new sheet to SSM or deleteing one that's no longer needed.

[Ykang.236078]

OK, I think you need to clarify your terminology a bit here, XREF file to me means a file that is referenced into another file. As such, the concept of a plotted layout in an XREF makes no sense, as nothing in paper space, including any layout tabs, is visible in the drawing file that contains the XREF.

Yes, company is not willing to separate an xref (such as a floor plan in model space) from a plot file (paper space with a title block)

[Ykang.236078]

3) & 4) - nonsense. If you are not using Sheet Set Manager to organize your projects, start doing so. SSM may not be everything I want, but to-date, it's the best tool available for that job.

When I'm on the phone with consultants and he wants to discuss about sheet A-1.25, how the heck do I find it?

Xref (model space floor plan, elev & etc) should be xref'ed to a plot sheet file(paper space with title block and view port).

Also, that plot sheet should have a file name same as it's sheet number.

Otherwise it's just painful.

[ccowgill]

to locate sheet A-1.25 open up the sheet set manager file, go to a-125 and double click it.

I think what the CadTag is trying to say is, different places do it different ways, it all depends on your situation.

As for reviewing dwg's with someone when I'm on the phone, I open the pdf we create of all our plots, that way I dont accidentally change something when I'm reviewing it.

[cadtag]

As for reviewing dwg's with someone when I'm on the phone, I open the pdf we create of all our plots, that way I dont accidentally change something when I'm reviewing it.

That's what I'd call a Best Practice. Especially around contractors, you really want to be looking at the official released version of the document. Lord knows I've had enough of 'em on the phone working off a preliminary version that the client passed around....