Titleblock creation

[paulz]

Hi, I would like to know the best way to create an interactive titleblock. One where I can use it as a template and enter all of the information once so that all of my other layouts that contain the titleblock also get updated. Should I create a block with attributes? But I don't want to have to scroll through all of the attributes entries each time I open or insert that block. Are ther macros to do this titlblock? Do I use VBA? Thanks in advance. I am using AutoCAD 2006. My drawing contain many layout tabs.Each layout has a titleblock.

[rkmcswain]

Have you considered using Sheet Set Manager (SSM)?

It will maintain title block information through its database and the use if FIELDS.

If your project number changes for example and you already have 100 sheets made, it's not a problem. You change it once in the SSM and it is updated automatically. It can also quickly generate a accurate sheet index.

These are just some of the benefits of SSM

[paulz]

Thanks. I've only scratched the surface of SSM so far. Have had some glitches though.

Does SSM have a titleblock creation routine? I would like to recreate our existing titleblock and border with our logo and info, etc. Can it do that?

Thanks

[rkmcswain]

Thanks. I've only scratched the surface of SSM so far. Have had some glitches though.

Does SSM have a titleblock creation routine? I would like to recreate our existing titleblock and border with our logo and info, etc. Can it do that?

Thanks

No, it's not a object creation tool. You have to set up your title block, add the FIELDS in the desired locations, etc. It will take some time, but you should end up saving time on the other end. You should only have this initial setup to do once, since you can reuse it.

[Glenn Pope]

Check out this thread from the AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager forums (http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=52).

How do I get fields working with SSM? (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=4238&p=26221)

I wrote a little step by step on setting up your titleblocks for use with the SSM. Hope it helps.

[jbayne]

We have recently upgraded to ADT 2006. (2007 is on the shelf until service packs are released). We have taken our standard titleblock which was full of project attributes. That we saved as an element in each project in project navigator. Sheet attributes were inserted as block from tool palettes. Everything worked good.
With ADT 2006 we have changed a little to use fields. Whenever a new sheet is created the template that we use contains all of the attributes each one set to use fields and the entire titleblock is created and filled in with all information. The only problem has come up yesterday when one of our consultants asked for a titleblock to use on their drawings. We had to open one of the sheets WBlock out the title block and then send that file.

[robert.1.hall72202]

That is good information..............when I get some freet time from drawing, like that ever happens, I will have to set something up. You should rearange the information into a document. Seems like you have a good basic tutorial.

[paulz]

Thanks for all of the info. However, I am having a lot of trouble getting SSM to even print out (publish?) my sheets set to our plotter. The symbol appears at the lower right of my drawing with the sheet going in and out of the icon continuosly but nothing ever prints. Or if it does print it comes out an hour later in the plotter. Anybody have any suggestions?

[rkmcswain]

Thanks for all of the info. However, I am having a lot of trouble getting SSM to even print out (publish?) my sheets set to our plotter. The symbol appears at the lower right of my drawing with the sheet going in and out of the icon continuosly but nothing ever prints. Or if it does print it comes out an hour later in the plotter. Anybody have any suggestions?

Turn OFF background plotting in OPTIONS (Plot and Publish Tab, 2/3 down on left side) and try again.

[paulz]

Also, why does all of this have to be some sort of mystery technique that has to be hunted down in these forums? I mean, come on, someone/somegroup obviuosly took the time at Autodesk to create these features within the AutoCAD program, shouldn't those same people be responsible for explaining all of it in a manual rather than hinted at in some brief tutorial that comes with the software? Or maybe I'm mis-speaking here because my company doesn't see the need (read: cost) for further books or training and hence we/I suffer in using this new AutoCAD revision properly and efficiently.
It's just that I feel these things should all be explained IN DETAIL in some CD that comes with the software.

[Tom Beauford]

SSM is great, but if all your layouts are in the same drawing you can reference Drawing Properties with fields as well. Enter all you information in there just once creating custom properties as needed. Once you have it the way you want make sure those custom properties are in your template drawings. If you put all your layouts, linetypes, text styles, etc in one drawing you can open Design Center with that drawing loaded using the "ADCNAVIGATE" command with the file path in a macro. Add a different layout which includes your information with just a few clicks.
You wont be able to do things like pop in an index for your key sheet like you can with SSM, but good enough for most of my jobs and slightly easier to pass around since it's just one file.

[Mike.Perry]

Also, why does all of this have to be some sort of mystery technique that has to be hunted down in these forums? I mean, come on, someone/somegroup obviuosly took the time at Autodesk to create these features within the AutoCAD program, shouldn't those same people be responsible for explaining all of it in a manual rather than hinted at in some brief tutorial that comes with the software? Or maybe I'm mis-speaking here because my company doesn't see the need (read: cost) for further books or training and hence we/I suffer in using this new AutoCAD revision properly and efficiently.
It's just that I feel these things should all be explained IN DETAIL in some CD that comes with the software.Hi

See, if this helps...

RE: Starting up with Sheet Sets

Have a good one, Mike

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Plus, this...

RE: Sheet Set in AutoCad 2005

Have a good one, Mike

[ch00su]

Why don't you set up a template with xRefed title block.
You only need to input once on xRefed title block and will be to be reflected throughout the drawing and maybe you can incorporate bit of fileds for like..plotting dates to be updated automatically.

Young.