PN: Custom Titleblock

[c.mcmahon]

Hello;

I'm just starting to learn project manager and I'm trying to set up the sheets for the project. The default template and page size is not my office standard. How do you customize the sheets so I can set up my own template but still be able to have the Title and Sheet number update automatically with the file names? Thanks!!!

[dzatto]

Hello;

I'm just starting to learn project manager and I'm trying to set up the sheets for the project. The default template and page size is not my office standard. How do you customize the sheets so I can set up my own template but still be able to have the Title and Sheet number update automatically with the file names? Thanks!!!
Create you title block line work, and use Mtext for all your text. For the ones you want to have update, you need to make fields. Just edit the text like normal, then select all the text and right click and choose insert field. You'll see a field box pop up.

For sheet number, choose SheetSet for the field category, then choose currentsheetnumber. For format I usually use uppercase.

For the sheet title, use currentsheettitle, uppercase.

Here's how I added my date fields, and project info fields.

When you create a template project, go to the project tab. Then, go to edit project (the paper with the pencil icon in the top right corner).
When the box opens, go to detailed information and click on the page symbol. This will open a box that let's you create info. I created a building type, city/state, street, and date. The reason I use this date is because if you use the automatic date, it will change everytime you open the drawing. This one I can input and leave and it won't change until I change it.

Okay, once you have the info set up, hit okay and get out of the edit boxes. Now create your mtext again, make it a field like before, and choose AEC project for field category. Then choos project details. In the middle box you will see all of your custom info. pick one for the current field and repeat this for all the custom mtext you need.

One last step. Once you have your template complete, go back to edit project and , where it says sheet template, make the path go to your template. This will allow you to use your template when creating new sheets.

Another note: You can create different templates with different sizes in one drawing file by creating new layout tabs. You can rename your tabs to whatever you want. Then, you can either be prompted for a template, or you can assign a template to a sheet category. For instance, I have my template, then another template for a cover sheet. Both are in the same drawing on different tabs. I assigned the drawing template to all the categories in my sheet tab, except for the general category. That's where I put my cover sheet, so I assigned the cover sheet template to that category. Whenever I create a sheet under that category, it will always use the cover sheet template. If you have it prompt you, then you can pick what you want every time you create a sheet.

One other thing I found, I made my title block into a block. I found that the sheet title and number fields don't like to be in blocks. I couldn't get them to work, but once I took them out of the block they worked fine. Not sure if it was just me or what, but I noticed the OOTB templates were the same way.

Also, when you change something that a field is linked to, like the date for instance, you need to do a regen to see it.

It sounds a bit confusing, but it's not once you get into it. Let me know if you need more help.

[c.mcmahon]

Fantastic! so far works like a charm. Thanks

[c.mcmahon]

Is there a way to insert a field for the scale of the view (drawing) you are dragging?

[dzatto]

Is there a way to insert a field for the scale of the view (drawing) you are dragging?
That should be part of your view file. Open up your view, then right click on it and select New Model Space View. It will prompt you to name it, then when you hit okay it will ask you to specify the view. Now, when you drag in a callout, you have to drag it into the area you just specified, so make it a little larger on the bottom. As you drag your callout inside the view, you'll see when you're in it.

Now the callout and scale will automatically be filled in as to the scale and name you specified when you created the model space view within the view file.

When you drag it onto a sheet, it will come in at the scale you specified. You can change the scale if you need to and the scale in the callout will update. Be careful with this because if you change it to a scale and don't have your annotative stuff set correctly, you'll lose your annotation. It can be easily fixed, though, by opening the view file and changing the scale of the file itself.

I hope that made sense. Let me know if you have more questions.

[c.mcmahon]

Is there any way to save settings in the sheets? Everytime i close it all the layers i want shut off (that are shut off in the view) keep getting turned back on.

[dzatto]

Yep. Project tab, edit project. Under the Basic header, Drawing Settings, change "Match sheet view layers to view" to Yes.

It will work with newly created sheets. Any that are already created will need to be deleted and recreated (I think, that's how I remember it anyway). I've had mine set to Yes for a while so I can't remember for sure.

[c.mcmahon]

Where is the project tab? In the project navigator pallete? I only see the properties icon.

[dzatto]

Where is the project tab? In the project navigator pallete? I only see the properties icon.
Yep. It's the first tab in PN.

[c.mcmahon]

For some reason mine does not have that option. Perhaps because I am working in 2007? See the attachment for my displays. Thanks.

[dzatto]

For some reason mine does not have that option. Perhaps because I am working in 2007? See the attachment for my displays. Thanks.
Yep, I think it came out in 08, or maybe even 09. I update as soon as a new release comes out, so I can't remember.

I think you need to set up your sheet, xref your view, then go back an freeze all the layers again. It'a a pain, but that's why they fixed it in 08!

[CADMama]

Create you title block line work, and use Mtext for all your text. For the ones you want to have update, you need to make fields. Just edit the text like normal, then select all the text and right click and choose insert field. You'll see a field box pop up.

For sheet number, choose SheetSet for the field category, then choose currentsheetnumber. For format I usually use uppercase.

For the sheet title, use currentsheettitle, uppercase.

Here's how I added my date fields, and project info fields......

It sounds a bit confusing, but it's not once you get into it. Let me know if you need more help.

Any idea why the sheet number and title will not show up? I am doing this exactly how you mention it above here.
My custom project information works beautifully but anything current on the sheet is not working.

[dzatto]

Any idea why the sheet number and title will not show up? I am doing this exactly how you mention it above here.
My custom project information works beautifully but anything current on the sheet is not working.
What do you mean by "anything current on the sheet"?

I had problems with the sheet number and title not working also. Then I noticed all of the OOTB templates didn't have those fields as part of the title block. In other words, when you create a block from your border and title block information, don't include those 2 fields in it. Once I did that, they worked fine. I've done it that way ever since.

So, I guess my question is are those 2 fields part of your titleblock block?

[CADMama]

Sorry - if you check my edit on that posting you will see that I got it to work.

I just had to edit the custom sheet properties by right clicking on the sheet set.

All is right in my project information now.