Layer, layers, layers, who cares?

Well you should care. When you get in the habbit of utilizing the same layer names over and over they become second nature and your drafting speeds up as well as becomes easier to work with.

The Eckler project templates have been setup to work with a specific layering format and in some cases specific layer names. I've even included layer filters with the templates that allow a drafter to display only specific layer groups, this makes turning off all existing piping, for instance, a lot easier than trying to select the layers in a large group. I've also created short lisp routines to allow a specific group of layers, i.e. new pipe or new above ground pipe, to be frozen and then thawed again when you want them visible.

Another big issue with trying to stick with the same layer name on a regular basis is, if one drafter creates a layer for a pipe called "NP-WM_004" and the standard layer name is "NP-WM-004" you may wind up with two layers for the same flow stream of piping if two different drafters work on a drawing, or if a command that automatically creates a layer name during it's use is run. Our symbol popup box is setup to create layers and set them current when inserting blocks. If I create a layer called "Title-text" and put annotation on it for a detail or plan view, then run then click the Symbol toolbar button and select a main title block, it will create the "Titles" layer and now I have two layers with the same type of information on them.



We have a "acad-template" drawing that contains all the latest layers, multileader styles and other common data. If when layers are needed this block is inserted the layer names will remain the same all the time, and it's faster to insert the block with the toolbar button than to manually create new layers anyway. After the layers that are needed have been populated with data simply run the purge command to remove any unused layers along with other unused objects in the drawing that may be bloating the file size.

This is an ongoing and evolving monster that we'll always deal with. It's almost impossible to create a layer for every object that may be drawn, and not everyone will think the same way when creating layers for specific objects. We all just need to do our best to use what's setup as a specific standard, even if we don't always agree.

If you have any comments please send them to: author

Text / Dimension Wipeouts, Where did it go?

When working in many of our projects it becomes necessay to create a wipeout to hide data that would otherwise create readablity issues with text and dimensions. If it isn't feasible to utilize the functionality of background masking in mtext or dimensions, the good 'ol tired and true wipeout command can suffice. However after working with a drawing the display order will somehow get out of whack, where did all my text go?

Instead of having to select each text or dimension object and change the display order manually, you can simply type TEXTTOFRONT, which invokes a command that will as prompted bring text, dimensions or both to the front of the display order. Much faster than having to find any missing text and select it.

Simply type TEXTTOFRONT, then autocad prompts you for what you want to move forward, text, dimensions or both, simply hit enter a second time and it will by diffault bring all text and dimensions to the front.

Isometric Drawings

Isometrics are in essence provided as an illustrated view of the system being detailed. These drawings aren't usually drawn to a specific scale (Not to Scale). A "to scale" drawing would be created in plan or elevation view if needed, which is usually the way we set up plans in our office.

The basic principles to keep in mind when creating isometric drawings is that the primary isoplane angle is 30 degrees and also that all leaders and text should be created in the same angles. In autocad the snap style should be set to isometric, as follows:

Command: snap

Specify snap spacing or [ON/OFF/Style/Type] <0.50000>: style

Enter snap grid style [Standard/Isometric] :Isometric

This sets the crosshairs to isometric style and allows drawing at 30 degree angles. Ctrl-E changes the crosshairs from left, right or top view. All blocks, leaders and text created can be done in isometric views, keeping in mind that text entities will need to be obliqued +30 or -30 to be viewed correctly.

To set the snap style back to normal redo the above command and select standard.

Eckler Engineering has created a popup dialogue box that has basic fittings and valves already established in the 30 degree angles. Additional items will be added as time permits.

The toolbar button is located in the "EE Symbols & Annotation" toolbar.

Scaling Etiquette

Just a quick reminder that you should never scale objects that are drawn to a true 1:1 in modelspace. I have recently come accross objects / xrefs that were scaled 2x bigger to achieve desired scale in papersapce.

The proper way to achieve a desired scale is to adjust the viewport scale in paperspace to the desired size (i.e. 1/4" = 1'-0" etc.). When objects that are drawn accurately (1:1) in modelspcace are scaled, larger or smaller, to achieve a desired plotted scale in paperspace, it can create havoc with the next drafter to work on the project. Even if you're the only drafter working on the drawings, over a period of time you can forget what you did with scaling of objects and create problems for yourself.

Proper viewport scaling and selecting the proper annotation scale for text and leaders will make life much easier for everyone.

Thank you.