Module

    Description

Working to a drawing standard

This module deals with an often ignored part of CAD drafting - the need for a 'published' CAD standards manual. We discuss the necessary components of a CAD drawing standard and survey some published standards. A generic standards manual - drawings sheets, text styles, text heights, use of colour, layers and naming conventions, dimension styles etc. Does your CAD drawing meet the company standard? Automating checking. Developing a CAD standards manual for a particular project.

Checking incoming drawings

What to do with a drawing that you have been sent by an outside contractor. We develop a check list to help cut down on the number of problems that you experience when dealing with foreign files. Virus check, AUDIT the drwaing, drawing space, UCSICON status, units used, views, XREF's used, Layers, etc. Working on part of a complex drawing. Using the WBLOCK command to good effect.

Prototype drawings

A well developed prototype drawing can provide a considerable boost to productivity. Prototype, default or template drawings are discussed in some detail. A check list for setting up a suitable prototype drawing which works for you - setting appropriate limits, units, linetypes, text styles, dimension styles etc.

Working with Blocks

Blocks provide substantial gains in drafting time. This module provides an overview of the BLOCK and WBLOCK commands. We show how to create blocks inside drawings and write blocks to a file. Managing block libraries. The value of nested blocks is discussed along with the problems encountered when exploding blocks. The value of layer zero, use of layers within blocks, scaling blocks, inserting blocks and redefining blocks - changing 2D blocks to 3D blocks.

Defining Attributes

The ATTRIBUTE command can be used to store both graphic and non-graphic information in drawings. This module provides an overview of the ATTRIBUTE command. We deal with normal, hidden, and constant attributes and show how to add attributes to blocks, controlling the position of attributes within a block. Extended entity information is discussed.

Data Entry

We survey survey the various methods of point data entry. Absolute, Polar, Cartesian, Cylindrical and Spherical coordinate systems and provide instruction on the value of using point filters in combination with draw and edit commands.

Snaps & Grids

Many CAD drafters ignore the the use of the special drawings aids available in their CAD environmen. This module concentrates o the value of setting up various electronic grids in a drawing. Using LIMITS. Grid rotation, DVIEW and TWIST options. Rotating your view of a drawing.

Managing views in 2D and 3D drawings

Using the UCS command. Creating and using named views. The DVIEW and TWIST options. Rotating your view of a drawing. The value of the VPORTS command. Exporting geometry to SketchUp for rendering in both 2D and 3D views.

Selection Sets

This module extends your knowledge of the creating and manipulating selection sets in AutoCAD & IntelliCAD. Using the WP, CP line options. The SELECT command. The previous and last options. we provide a brief introduction to AutoLISP and the manipulation of a selection sets by LISP programs.

Checking incoming drawings

What to do with a drawing that you have been sent by an outside contractor. We develop a check list to help cut down on the number of problems that you experience when dealing with foreign files.

Using Verify

Using a LISP program to automatically check drawings against a standard. Setting configuration files, running batch files on multiple drawings.

Importing information

We examine the various methods for getting 'bulk' data into CAD drawings. Using a digitizer, raster images as backdrops, importing text, importing XYZ data files etc.

File types

A review of the file types and functions encountered when working with AutoCAD and IntelliCAD. We deal with:

 .ADS, .ADT, .CFG, .DCL, .DFS, .DXB, .DXX, .EPS, .HLP, .HDX, .IGS, LLIN, .MNL, .MNU, .MNX, .PAT, .PCP, .PFB, .PGP, .PLT, .SCR, .SHP, .SHX, .SLB, .SLD, .TXT, DWG, DXF, SLD, LSP, PDF, WMF, BAK, AC$, etc. etc

Using AutoLISP

An overview of the AutoLISP programming language. Downloading AutoLISP routines from the Internet. Testing LISP programs in IntelliCAD and AutoCAD. Demonstrations of the power of LISP. We provide a sample AutoLISP program which creates a cupboard in 3D by answering some questions. Building some 3D piping drawings by using an AutoLISP program to drive a profile along a centre line. Using AutoLISP to generate flexible duct drawings in mechanical services.

Creating PDF Files from CAD drawings

There is often a need to provide clients with drawings that they cannot alter. This module focuses on the various methods available to do this - putting CAD information into Word documents to build reports - printing directly from a CAD drawing to PDF Writer. Using Acrobat to adding comments, stamps, notes redlining etc. to PDF files from CAD drawings. Examining some more sophisticated management of CAD PDF files - preventing printing, copying etc.

Custom menus

Creating IntelliCAD and AutoCAD custom menus. Full menus and partial menus. Combining AutoLISP programs with menu macros. Menus for inserting blocks from block libraries. VBA routines for breaking lines around around blocks upon insertion of a block.

Extracting attribute information P&ID

Extracting equipment information from P&ID drawings. Passing the resultant information to Microsoft Excel. Sorting and 'cleaning up' extracted data before importing data back to a CAD drawing.

Extract attribute information - Landscape

Extracting equipment information from Landscape drawings. Passing the resultant information to Microsoft Excel. Sorting and 'cleaning up' extracted data before importing data back to a CAD drawing.

External references

Managing multi disciplinary projects with CAD. The use and management of external references as a base when creating your design work.

Courtyard

Creating a courtyard. Walls, gateways, ornamental pool, paving, sculpture, feature tree.