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Understand template creation and the importance of a solid layering convention, such as the national CAD standards.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
6 min.
Transcript
00:04
Every organization needs a comprehensive
00:06
and properly constructed template file.
00:09
A
00:09
good template file can help enforce C ad standards and also allows designers
00:14
and other project team members to rapidly find C AD items such as
00:19
blocks,
00:21
layers
00:24
and line types.
00:27
You're probably aware of how easy it is to create ad wt file.
00:32
You can simply do a save as
00:36
and then save that drawing file as a drawing template file.
00:41
However, that does not constitute a properly put together template file
00:46
before we start looking at some of the items
00:48
that we want to bring into our template file.
00:51
It's important to note that we want to start off with a completely blank template.
00:57
The reason for this is to ensure that we're starting
01:00
our template file off completely free of any possible corruption.
01:05
A good way to do this is to start off with the AC
01:08
ad DWT file.
01:10
This file is considered bare bones and doesn't have anything in it
01:15
to ensure that you're starting your template off with a clean canvas.
01:20
Now,
01:20
let's take a look at some of the items that we would want to have in our template file.
01:25
Obviously, these items will vary from organization to organization.
01:30
First, we should think about a solid layering convention.
01:34
The most widely accepted layer convention in the United States
01:38
is the N CS or National C AD standards.
01:42
As you can see
01:44
the layers in this template are N CS compliant. Meaning
01:48
there's a discipline letter in the front
01:51
followed by major
01:54
and minor categories. Afterwards,
01:57
each layer already has
01:60
line type
02:05
color
02:06
descriptions and other settings already included.
02:11
So let's discuss the N CS layering standard and what it means to be NC SS compliant
02:19
N CS layering provides an easy to follow format for layering.
02:24
As previously mentioned,
02:26
there's a discipline letter in the front
02:29
followed by
02:30
major and minor categories.
02:38
If we were to look at the layer, see
02:43
Anno
02:44
the C in the beginning stands for the civil discipline
02:49
A
02:49
O is the major category
02:52
and TABL stands for table.
02:55
So civil annotation table,
02:58
sometimes N CS layers will have an additional subcategory after the subcategory.
03:05
An example of this would be the layer C
03:10
Anno text,
03:11
the additional subcategory of text lest you know that this layer
03:15
refers to text that is inside of an Autocad table.
03:20
At this point.
03:21
You've heard me mention N CS compliance.
03:24
So you might actually be asking what does it mean to be N CS compliant?
03:30
N CS compli
03:31
basically means that the layer naming format of the N CS standard is followed.
03:37
If N CS has a specific layer name created it should be used.
03:42
If a layer is needed that is not listed in the N CS standard.
03:47
Users can create a new layer
03:49
using the format of discipline letter,
03:52
major category
03:54
and minor category.
03:58
One thing to consider about N CS layering is
04:01
the impact this standard can have on your project.
04:04
If N CS layering is used objects in
04:07
your project can easily be identified by selecting them
04:11
and observing which layer they are on.
04:14
An example of this
04:16
would be if you were working in a drawing
04:19
that had a lot of lines in a crowded area
04:25
and you wanted to identify
04:31
what the lines were,
04:36
you could click on one of the lines in the crowded area
04:39
and take a look at the layer that it's on. And here you can see we have a
04:44
architectural site plan,
04:47
parking curb face is the layer.
04:51
If the auto
04:51
CD elements are on the intended layer,
04:54
it gives the designer the ability to quickly identify
04:58
what the line represents through the layer name.
05:01
Does this mean that the N CS is the only layering system you can use.
05:06
Of course not what if you don't use the N CS layering system?
05:10
N CS is a recommended standard because it's already established.
05:16
It's the most widely accepted standard.
05:19
It is easily adaptable and it's not a standard that has to be developed from scratch.
05:24
Many countries and organizations have their own standard that they use,
05:29
which is fine
05:30
since N CS is the most widely accepted standard in the United States.
05:35
Using this standard means that your organization has a much better chance
05:39
of being able to work with other organizations in the United States
05:44
more seamlessly as they will have less questions for you regarding your layering.
Video transcript
00:04
Every organization needs a comprehensive
00:06
and properly constructed template file.
00:09
A
00:09
good template file can help enforce C ad standards and also allows designers
00:14
and other project team members to rapidly find C AD items such as
00:19
blocks,
00:21
layers
00:24
and line types.
00:27
You're probably aware of how easy it is to create ad wt file.
00:32
You can simply do a save as
00:36
and then save that drawing file as a drawing template file.
00:41
However, that does not constitute a properly put together template file
00:46
before we start looking at some of the items
00:48
that we want to bring into our template file.
00:51
It's important to note that we want to start off with a completely blank template.
00:57
The reason for this is to ensure that we're starting
01:00
our template file off completely free of any possible corruption.
01:05
A good way to do this is to start off with the AC
01:08
ad DWT file.
01:10
This file is considered bare bones and doesn't have anything in it
01:15
to ensure that you're starting your template off with a clean canvas.
01:20
Now,
01:20
let's take a look at some of the items that we would want to have in our template file.
01:25
Obviously, these items will vary from organization to organization.
01:30
First, we should think about a solid layering convention.
01:34
The most widely accepted layer convention in the United States
01:38
is the N CS or National C AD standards.
01:42
As you can see
01:44
the layers in this template are N CS compliant. Meaning
01:48
there's a discipline letter in the front
01:51
followed by major
01:54
and minor categories. Afterwards,
01:57
each layer already has
01:60
line type
02:05
color
02:06
descriptions and other settings already included.
02:11
So let's discuss the N CS layering standard and what it means to be NC SS compliant
02:19
N CS layering provides an easy to follow format for layering.
02:24
As previously mentioned,
02:26
there's a discipline letter in the front
02:29
followed by
02:30
major and minor categories.
02:38
If we were to look at the layer, see
02:43
Anno
02:44
the C in the beginning stands for the civil discipline
02:49
A
02:49
O is the major category
02:52
and TABL stands for table.
02:55
So civil annotation table,
02:58
sometimes N CS layers will have an additional subcategory after the subcategory.
03:05
An example of this would be the layer C
03:10
Anno text,
03:11
the additional subcategory of text lest you know that this layer
03:15
refers to text that is inside of an Autocad table.
03:20
At this point.
03:21
You've heard me mention N CS compliance.
03:24
So you might actually be asking what does it mean to be N CS compliant?
03:30
N CS compli
03:31
basically means that the layer naming format of the N CS standard is followed.
03:37
If N CS has a specific layer name created it should be used.
03:42
If a layer is needed that is not listed in the N CS standard.
03:47
Users can create a new layer
03:49
using the format of discipline letter,
03:52
major category
03:54
and minor category.
03:58
One thing to consider about N CS layering is
04:01
the impact this standard can have on your project.
04:04
If N CS layering is used objects in
04:07
your project can easily be identified by selecting them
04:11
and observing which layer they are on.
04:14
An example of this
04:16
would be if you were working in a drawing
04:19
that had a lot of lines in a crowded area
04:25
and you wanted to identify
04:31
what the lines were,
04:36
you could click on one of the lines in the crowded area
04:39
and take a look at the layer that it's on. And here you can see we have a
04:44
architectural site plan,
04:47
parking curb face is the layer.
04:51
If the auto
04:51
CD elements are on the intended layer,
04:54
it gives the designer the ability to quickly identify
04:58
what the line represents through the layer name.
05:01
Does this mean that the N CS is the only layering system you can use.
05:06
Of course not what if you don't use the N CS layering system?
05:10
N CS is a recommended standard because it's already established.
05:16
It's the most widely accepted standard.
05:19
It is easily adaptable and it's not a standard that has to be developed from scratch.
05:24
Many countries and organizations have their own standard that they use,
05:29
which is fine
05:30
since N CS is the most widely accepted standard in the United States.
05:35
Using this standard means that your organization has a much better chance
05:39
of being able to work with other organizations in the United States
05:44
more seamlessly as they will have less questions for you regarding your layering.
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