Apply drawing design standards automatically
Apply drawing design standards automatically
(OP)
My goal is to create or update a drw file that will have the same Layers, Colors, Linetypes, as our default AutoCad dwg's have. My boss wants copies of all SW drawings to be saved as Autocad drawings and they must have the same Layer, Color, and Linetype properties as if it were created in Autocad.
I'm exploring a few possibilities:
I can certainly create the SW drw file manually applying the correct defaults, but can I automate SW so as I create the drw file all Layers, colors, and linetypes will be automatically applied based on the command I select. I know I can manually select the layer and or color / linetype as I add content, but I'm looking to automating this. For example, When I insert "Model Views" I need SW to automatically change to Layer 0. When I select any "Annotations" command I need SW to change to Layer 1DIM, etc...or even at the entity level, when I draw sketch entities I need Layer 0 but if I draw a construction line I need the color to change to green. Any suggestions is appreciated!
Or
Will design checker or some other tool analyze my drw file and automatically update and apply changes to all Layers, Colors, and Linetypes based on a standards file.
I am just looking to simplify the detailing process but also maintain rigid standards
thanks,
Tom
I'm exploring a few possibilities:
I can certainly create the SW drw file manually applying the correct defaults, but can I automate SW so as I create the drw file all Layers, colors, and linetypes will be automatically applied based on the command I select. I know I can manually select the layer and or color / linetype as I add content, but I'm looking to automating this. For example, When I insert "Model Views" I need SW to automatically change to Layer 0. When I select any "Annotations" command I need SW to change to Layer 1DIM, etc...or even at the entity level, when I draw sketch entities I need Layer 0 but if I draw a construction line I need the color to change to green. Any suggestions is appreciated!
Or
Will design checker or some other tool analyze my drw file and automatically update and apply changes to all Layers, Colors, and Linetypes based on a standards file.
I am just looking to simplify the detailing process but also maintain rigid standards
thanks,
Tom
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT






RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
SW07-SP3
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
I have the same problem. Can I fire my boss too? :)
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
You both have my permission to fire your bosses!!!!
In all seriousness, I would try to make the case to your respective bosses that you are wasting time and money by doing drawings in SWX and then translating to ACAD. Obviously somebody at some point in time made the decision to move to 3D, why the reluctance to cut the cord and use ACAD only for legacy data?????
The answer "Because that's how we've always done it!" is in no way sufficent. You may have already fought that battle and lost; if that's the case you have my sympathy.
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
There is no automatic way to asign drawing entites to layers upon creation (ex. a dimension is automatically asigned to the dimension layer).
When you insert model items though I beieve there is a layer box that lets you asign which layer the model items are inserted on. You could insert each of the models items sperately (ex. all dimensions, all annotations) and this would allow you to have a little control over which layer they were assigned to.
If you have enough awareness (I don't) you can set your layer manually when you start creating drawing entities (ex. if you set your layer to dimension and then do all the dimesioning in your drawing the dimensions will be asigned to the layer dimension. Once finished switch to the note layer and create all your notes).
You could also use "filters" to group select entities (ex. dimesnions, balloons, annotations, etc) and assign them to layers in bulk.
It may be possible to write a macro that will bulk select drawing entites (ex. all dimensions, all notes, etc) and assign them to a layer but I'm not a macro writer so I wouldn't know how to do it.
Not a great answer but there are semi-automatic ways to achieve what you want to do. It's not an easy task and I would go along with the first suggestion of FIRING your boss :)
Rob Rodriguez CSWP
www.axiscadsolutions.com
www.robrodriguez.com
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/rob_rodriguez/
President: www.nvtswug.com
SW 2007 SP 2.0
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
It is kind of a backwards approach compared to how you want to do it. Basically, when your drawing is fully detailed, then you run the macro to change all annotations to a set layer. Then you could save off to autocad. It is also handy because it traverses through all sheets of a multi-sheet dwg.
I assume you could add more variables than just dimensions/annotations? I haven't had time to customize that far yet.
regards,
Solidworks 2007 SP3.0
2GB Ram/3GB Switch
Quadro FX1300
P4 3.40GHz Duo XP Pro SP2.0
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
Tom
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
I hope that was clear...
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
Doing work in SolidWorks then saving to ACAD is a waste of time. Use one or the other. I refuse to work with any boss that wants me to do it.
My 2 cents.
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 03-13-07)
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
If your Autocad users need the geometry from your work for their work, then create a blank drawing template with no borders or dimensions and create pre-defined drawing views at 1:1 for every view angle. Drag your model into the drawing template and it automagically creates all the views. Then use a mapping file to save the drawing to dwg and map the object, hidden lines, etc.
Jason
UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
UG NX4.01.0 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2007 SP2.2 on WinXP SP2
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
If you have an ECO/ECN process, you could suggest that all items being affected by a change should be remodeled in SW. Sometimes breaking down the work load of transition is easier to handle in smaller chunks. This doesn't answer your original questions though...
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
MadMango, I'm sure that will be us also...
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
Jason
UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
UG NX4.01.0 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2007 SP2.2 on WinXP SP2
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
Tom
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT
RE: Apply drawing design standards automatically
What would your company do if ACAD crashed?
How much $$ would your company save in labor without doing conversions ... and paying for support service every year on two software.
IMO, the boss should not be involved in how the drawings are done, only that they are being done on time and correct.
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 03-13-07)