Creating a set of plans, sorting the sheets, details layouts, title blocks, naming/numbering, and making them ready to view and print can be very time-consuming and inconsistent between individuals. For example, the manual control of the border’s information, the adding and subtracting of sheets, detail callouts, and renumbering and renaming could take hours, or even days of work. Xref’ing the title border is one method to help in the process and keep some consistency, but there are certainly more.

In 2005, AutoCAD introduced the Sheet Set Manager, which is a simple database enabling us to gather, organize and create a set of plans. It maintains consistency by using the stored database and tagged links to paper space layouts of the drawing files, the sheet set and sheet views. It also stores custom data that can be used repeatedly across the set. The Sheet Set Manager is a great tool that reduces the time it takes to produce and make a set of plans plot-ready.

Sheet Set Manager works best with a customized Template (.dwt), a Sheet Set (.dst), a Title Block, and Callout Blocks. The Sheet Views Tab, or “Forgotten Tab,” as I like to refer to it, displays an ordered list of defined views and are organized under headings you create, called categories.

It is best to use a Template, a Title block, and the Label View and Callout Blocks, See IMAGE 1 below.

Behind the Scene

IMAGE 1

The Best Practice is to use the same Label View Blocks throughout the plan.  Different Callout Blocks are typical, depending on how a detail is called out (i.e. a section call out or an area / object), see IMAGE 2 below.

IMAGE 2

A Label View Block used to callout the number, name and scale of the defined view, (block 1) and best to use same block throughout the plan.

Different Callout Blocks (blocks 2 and 3) are typically used to tag and depends on how a detail is called out for an area / an object (block 2), or a section call out (block 3).

The Label View and Callout Blocks has been setup to automate view number and sheet number sheet set fields, to the associated Sheet View.

The Label View and Callout Blocks use attributes. The field values of the attributes are prepopulated with a placeholder. See IMAGE 3.

When inserting the block using the Sheet Set Manager’s labeling functions, the placeholder is converted into a link to applicable data.

Create views in the drawing file, as shown in IMAGE 4; each has a defined view window and category set. These views will populate in the Model Tab listed below the sheet they reside in (IMAGE 5).

IMAGE 3

View Manager

IMAGE 4

Model Views Tab

IMAGE 5

The Model Tab displays a list of folders, drawing files and model space views for the current sheet set. You can add multiple file locations.

It lists the drawing file(s) and the model view(s) created in the drawing as listed below.

The Model Views are the define views (IMAGE 4).

When drag -n- drop, or right-click is used in paper space, you have the opportunity to rename and renumber (IMAGE 6).

It is best to place the views in the sheet first, then rename and renumber in the Sheet Views Tab (IMAGE 7).

Drag -N- Drop

Drag -n- drop all views listed in the Model Views Tab and place them in paper space in the plan set’s detail sheet(s). Every time you place the view in paper space, the dialog will appear and drop in the Label View Block (IMAGE 2, block 1). You may rename and renumber at this time, however, doing so will remove the link. It is best to rename and renumber in the Sheet Views Tab after placing all the views to maintain the link. Click OK to accept. (IMAGE 6).

IMAGE 6

After placing all of the views (IMAGE 6), in the Sheet Views Tab, right-click the view to pull up the dialog box and then select to rename and renumber (IMAGE 7).

The name and number will populate in the Label View Block.

IMAGE 7

Sheet Views Tab

Right-click on the category, and select the callout blocks under properties (IMAGE 8). You can add more callout blocks at this time, just click on add blocks.

In this example for Section Category, see the checked box (IMAGE 8). Assigned is the section-cut callout symbol (IMAGE 2, block 3), for Detail Category, detail callout symbol (IMAGE 2, block 2).

IMAGE 8

The defined views with the number and name you have assigned are ready. 

They can be viewed by sheet, where you have placed them (IMAGE 7).

They can also be viewed by the assigned category when creating the views (IMAGE 4).

IMAGE 9

Sheet List Tab

IMAGE 10

The Sheet List Tab, lists all the sheets of the plan set (IMAGE 10).

The name of the set: Existing Lift Station Rehabilitation.  The proposed plan is to demo the pipes, fittings and some of the existing structures, and replace with new pipes, fittings. Also, to update its composition and provide a new concrete pad with fencing, ramp sidewalk and landscaping the perimeter of the site.

The Existing and Proposed Section Details and General Details are the drag -n- drop defined views, and will be linked to the Plan Sheets C1-1 and C1-2 via Callout blocks (IMAGE 11 & 12).

Putting It Together

IMAGE 11

The views listed in the Sheet Views Tab are set and ready.  Drop them into the plan sheet accordingly.

Plan Sheet C1-1   (IMAGE 11), and

Plan Sheet C1-2   (IMAGE 12).

IMAGE 12

When inserting the block from the Sheet Views Tab, the placeholder fields are converted into a link to applicable data.

The Callout Labels will provide the number of the details and sheet number where the detail is located.

The sheet and view are dynamically linked.

Dynamic

IMAGE 13

Next, we are asked to change the sheet number for Existing and Proposed Section Detail from C1-3 (IMAGE 9) to C1-3.1, and the General Details from C1-4 to C1-3.2 (IMAGE 13).

Furthermore, the detail views in the General Details Sheet needs to change from 1, 2 and 3 (IMAGE 9) to 4, 5 and 6 (IMAGE 14).

IMAGE 14

And as seen below, Plan Sheet C1-2 (IMAGE 15), the Detail and Section Label Callouts update automatically. A complex and simple set of plans with the template, border, and callouts set, composing the sheet set and sheet views, are completed efficiently and quickly. Now, adding and subtracting sheets, renaming and renumbering through the Sheet Set Manager will automatically update all sheets and views.

“Forget Me Not,” The Sheet Views Tab

IMAGE 15

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This blog is written by Civil Technical Specialist Yvonne Musso. If you have any questions or need help with your AutoCAD needs, please email us at whyATG@atgusa.com or reach out to us on LinkedIn.