Custom drawing title blocks
Custom drawing title blocks
(OP)
I have a range of standard commpany title blocks as symbols in I-deas or as AutoCAD Blocks I would like to use in NX5 Drafting
I'm sure there is any easy way to do this, but an not sure where to start, can anyone help ?
I'm sure there is any easy way to do this, but an not sure where to start, can anyone help ?





RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Best of Luck
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
You should be able to export your I-DEAS data as IGES or DXF and then import into NX and use one of the above suggestions.
I would suggest looking up Pattern and Custom Symbol in the NX Docs to get a feel for what might be required prior to actually doing the work.
Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com
Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Having got that to work you look at enhancing the template content. In general we use patterns for the drawing borders creating a template per each sheet size that we intend to use. Most places work in only one sheet sizing standard so we created A4-A0. Into the template we add attribute based text for the title block a parts list, maybe a table for revisions and a range of custom symbols for surface finishes. The custom symbols we use don't even appear on the face of the drawing but once declared in the file they will be available to anybody creating a new drawing.
When it comes to adding parts lists to drawings doing so manually is always a bit of a trial first time around. Many people don't use parts lists for single component so they create a duplicate set of templates for assemblies and components. If the two templates only differ by the addition or subtraction of the parts list, do as we do and just have one set because it is very easy to delete it if you don't use it. There may be a setting for the levels that you need to manipulate but we find that do-able as opposed to the hassle of having two separate sets of templates to maintain.
We don't create custom symbols for whole drawing borders because we've always used patterns for that. If others do so it is the first I've heard of it.
Cheers
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Your method is very similar to ours, except we create drawing seeds first, then set up the drawing templates.
We have yet to try the custom symbol route because, as you, we already have patterns and drawing seeds in place. I have read John recommending the custom symbols however, and, if starting from scratch, I would definitely investigate it further. He pretty much knows his stuff.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Disclaimer: I knew/know next to nothing about IDEAS. I came from "another CAD system" to NX, and was tasked with getting the transition going from IDEAS to NX. Also, our drawings reside in the same part as the 3D. If our drawings were separate files, Drawing Templates might have worked. At least from I could understand.
I didn't like title blocks created as symbols because I thought it was too easy to highlight the title block and move it slightly or delete it.
That said, our title blocks come in two pieces. For everything that won't ever change from drawing to drawing, like sheet outlines, standard notes, field titles like Date, Drawn By and the like, etc. there is a pattern. I liked patterns because they are hard to select. You have to go to absolute zero and usually wait for the selection box to pick it. So there's no deleting it or moving it by accident. For the stuff that will change, like the actual title and information specific to each drawing, there is a part. Each of these 'changeable texts' is a Table. This part is imported. After looking at patterns it became obvious it was going to have to be done this way because the tables couldn't be included in a pattern.
I suppose that you could import the entire title block, text tables and all, as a separate part, but then you'd still be able to move or delete stuff that shouldn't be.
So there's my two cents worth. There may very well be an easier way to do it for our specific case, but this was the easiest that I could come up with.
Mike
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
When we create a drawing, we do so in the seed file (which is protected of course), which is then saved as another name. The text is updated by the properties entries and other "smart" text coding.
Works great so far.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
My initial thought would be to have a Drawing Format program, to control the revisions, title block, standard notes, and be able to get updated. This would require a UDO of sorts and another custom program, or commercial program if it exists.
I know of many large companies that have very nice custom format programs that do this, but not for sale. Opportunity possible.
-Dave Tolsma
http://Tolsnet.com/jobs
http://groups.google.com/group/NX_CAX/
http://groups.google.com/group/plm-exchange/
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
http:
Regards ,
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
An advantage of patterns is that if you what to change the style or fonts in your drawing or the company changes its logo then they will provide that every existing drawing can be automatically changed virtually instantaneously.
Cheers
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
You make a file with Each of the borders in our case A4, A3...A0. Then you start to set up your drawing template files. The template file contains the pattern which is really a link pointing to the file that contains your drawing border. When you create a new drawing using a template you're effectively working in a copy of the original drawing that you'll later "save as". The system knows this and guides you through the process.
I create the borders in model space but I don't think it matters if you do it in 2D on a drawing sheet. It is important to model the borders with the lower right hand corner at absolute zero. If you plan to allow for a margin offset your drawing frame by that amount. I simply save off one of each and I tend to call the pattern_A# etc... and put them in a separate directory. As a tip include the version of NX in the directory name.
When you save the pattern files check Under Options>Save options turn on save pattern data while you're doing this.
In your ug_env.dat file edit the value of UGII_PATDIR to = the directory where the patterns are going to live. Otherwise the system fails to find the pattern files.
I would start with A3 by adding a title block, and maybe a parts list, revision column and any common symbols.
Fistly I add the pattern so that the drawing has a border. Start by creating a drawing sheet of the correct size in drafting then go Format>Pattern>Retrieve Pattern say OK to the scaling find the pattern file and place it a Absolute zero. Absolute zero always equates to the bottom left corner of a drawing sheet.
I drive the title block using a range of standard attributes, so that I can cut and paste or inherit the data that I need to fill out all the name, drawn by, scale and date fields etc. I place text driven by the attributes in the appropriate spots in the title block, and of course adjust the fonts and text sizes to suit.
If I want to have a parts list the I need to add a part to the drawing to help me set up and check that it is working, and I remember to delete it when I'm done. While you're working make sure all your drafting defaults are set up okay and check they work to your satisfaction.
You can add views to template files if you wish. NX-5 is shipped with some examples (as are earlier versions if you look for them). Most people don't bother because you may be unable to predict the orientation and you'd then be forced to wait for all those views to display supposing you were to add some rather large part to a drawing.
Then I may add a revision block as a table for convenience sake. If I use standard finish symbols and/of user created ones then I add a few of those, but then I delete them because it is just to seed the file.
Obviously I align everything on the page save it off as named for the border size, i.e. format_A#.prt etc and go on to the next on by changing the pattern juggling the alignment using transformation by known amounts and then save as under the appropriate name per border size. Place these in a directory where they're easily located also.
Once I have them all I create a palette .pax file usually by modifying one that comes shipped with NX. No matter what version of NX you run you should be able to find some of these under the installation directories. Usually they're actually named quite unmistakably. You can edit the values to point to different template files (these would be the ones I named format_A#.prt). Then you can add these to your side resource bar under Preferences>Palattes. You should hopefully have no trouble from there on in.
Now if you're running NX-5 or later then you're probably in luck because a few more recent operations make that even easier. You didn't specifically ask about palettes though so I'll leave you to figure them out. Let me just say it really is pretty easy so don't hesitate to experiment.
Once done a lot of the grunt work of drafting disappears and life gets a lot easier. You may need to press F1 for help and go through the process of checking and understanding palettes a little better than my brief explanation but apart from that I think I've covered the material.
Cheers
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
I want to emphasize, that based on the OPs procedure, you need to create the pattern first, making sure that under Options-> Save Options that the option of saving the pattern data only is checked.
Save the pattern, insert the pattern into your seed file and continue from there.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Mike
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
The LOWER LEFT is correct it is also usually the plotting origin.
Cheers
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
I happen to be in the process of creating a palette containing all the drawing templates and tables my company will need.
I'm trying to add the border, title block, and title block labels (ie. "unchangeable text") as a palette per Hudson's above description. When I drag and drop a template onto a part file it appears as though it's not finding the palette. When I go format->pattern->update pattern I get a "palette not found" error and I think I know why.
Hudson said, "In your ug_env.dat file edit the value of UGII_PATDIR to = the directory where the patterns are going to live. Otherwise the system fails to find the pattern files."
I've looked for ug_env.dat to no avail. I'm on 3.0.5.3. Is this file specific to some version(s)? Is it named something else in NX3?
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Correction: I'm having issues with patterns, not palettes. I'm getting a "pattern not found" error.
Sorry.
/blush
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
The line you're looking for is UGII_PATDIR=. Add the path to the folder, restart NX, and you should be good to go. For example again, v:\team\nx_parts\patterns\.
I'm hesitant to point out though, because it's a whole new can of worms, that you might not want to edit the file that's in your install folders. I did lots of reading up on this, and basically you should leave that file alone because when you update the program that file, and others, will be overwritten. Now you could keep a copy of that file somewhere else and then just overwrite it. I ended up making a separate file, with just the changes I wanted to make, on our network drive and have the launch icon for NX point to a batch file that reads that custom file. Like I said, this becomes an entirely differnet animal pretty quickly.
Mike
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
My install path is non standard I think out of the Box it wants to go somewhere like.
C:\Program files\ugs\NX-3\UGII
With these paths here a tip. Don't leave any spaces in the directory names that you chose to use. Otherwise some utilities and translators occasionally struggle.
I just take a backup of the original by copying and renaming it to something like "ug_env_original.dat". then I go ahead and edit the file.
The better way to go is to script the variables in a start-up batch file and start NX from that.
Don't do that yet though better to change one thing at a time just get your patterns working first.
Cheers
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Now that we've located that, it seems I have have two undesirable choices: (1) Place my pattern files in the UGII directory of every user, which will rob me of the ability to change all patterns/drawing formats by changing one file. I will have to go into every user's UGII directory and replace/edit their respective pattern files. (2) Redirect the pattern file location in every user's ugii_env.dat file to a common location on the network. While I will be able to change a pattern/drawing format by modifying only one file, I may experience complications when updating UG.
If I have my facts straight it seems that option 2 may be the lesser of the two evils. I'll basically have to go into ugii_env.dat and point it at the desired pattern directory on the network when we update.
Speaking of updating, does anyone know if GM is completely up on NX5? I'm a little cut-off from the mainstream.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
The only requirement to using this method is the last entry at the end of the custom_env.dat file. It must read exactly as shown below:
# last line reads the standard ugii_env.dat file located on each users machine
# the line needs the pound sign in front to work
#include ${UGII_ROOT_DIR}\ugii_env.dat
The first 2 lines are comments for reminders to the command. The last line then reads the ugii_env.dat on each users machine. What ever variables defined in the custom_env.dat file take precidence over what is defined in the ugii_env.dat file.
Now, on each users machine make the following modifications:
1. Mapped a drive to access the folder containing your customizations. For example: V:.
2. Modify the system variable UGII_ENV_FILE variable to point to the custom_env.dat file. Example: UGII_ENV_FILE=V:\custom_env.dat
Now you can make global site changes that all users see when the software starts.
One other advantage to using this method, when you upgrade to the next version of NX, your customizations carry forward and do not have to be redefined.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Best Regards
Hudson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
I can find this under in NX3, but Format is empty wrt Patterns in NX6. Where did it go?
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Then is there a code that automatically inserts the assy name and the scale that is used. Something similar to <$t> which inserts +/-
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
<W@$SH_SHEET_NUMBER> Sheet number of the current sheet
<W@$SH_NUMBER_OF_SHEETS> Number of sheets in the current part
<W@$SH_SHEET_SCALE_NUMERATOR> Numerator of the sheet scale
<W@$SH_SHEET_SCALE_DENOMINATOR> Denominator of the sheet scale
<W@$SH_SHEET_SIZE> Size of the current sheet
<W@$SH_SHEET_UNITS> Units of the current sheet
<W@$SH_SHEET_PROJECTION_ANGLE> Projection angle symbol of the current sheet
<W@$SH_MASTER_PART_NAME> Master Model drawing sheet part name
<W@$SH_PART_NAME> Sheet part name
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Sorry to become greedy now, but is there also an automatic text item for the current date?
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
In de expression editor (in modeling -> Ctrl-E) create the following expressions (all type string):
MyDate = StringUpper(dateTimeString("localTime?", True))
MyDay = subString(MyDate, 9, 10)
MyMonth = subString(MyDate, 5, 7)
MyYear = subString(MyDate, 21, 25)
MyTimeStamp = MyDay + " " + MyMonth + " " + MyYear
Then in Drafting pasted this text into a note: <X0@MyTimeStamp>
The only thing I'm not able to do (without opening the expressions editor) is update the expression. Is there a shortcut for that?
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Tools -> Update -> Update for External Change
Ostensibly this option was designed to be used to manually force NX to synchronize a part file's attributes with those it shares with TeamCenter. However, even if you don't have TeamCenter this usually forces the attributes to update anyway. Give it a try and see if that helps.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
This is what I do:
- New File
- In Modeling: use basic curves to draw borders and title block
- Settings: File > Options > Save Options > Pattern Data Only
- Save file
- New File
- In Drafting: Format > Pattern > Retrieve Pattern
(sheet now has borders and a table)
- Save File
- Find file 'ugii_env.dat'
- Change line '#UGII_PATDIR=' to 'UGII_PATDIR=H:\Temp\MyPatterns'
- Restart NX
But when I open the file that should contain the pattern, I only find an outline of the pattern. I do not find the curves that I've drawn myself.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
(There's one thing I noticed several weeks ago and that is that when I reverted the edit in ugii_env.dat that the pattern could still be found. I'm not sure if this has something to do with it, but I thought it was odd.)
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
I'm feeling not getting anywhere. What actually is the way of working for this?
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Mike
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
I started with creating a drafted version of my title block.
From here I exported it out as a cgm.
I then imported it into a model and changed the Save Options to Pattern Data Only.
I then saved the file.
From here I opened a drawing and went to Format and there wasn't a "Pattern" option.
Does anyone know why this would be?
Paragon Medical
www.paragonmedical.com
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
See reply 4 Oct 08 10:43
@Mike
That seems to work. I yet have to test if the automatic test also updates.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Mike
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
You're right about the pattern propagation. And you're right about the text import. But then a new worm pops up. The automatic text that John was talking about (4 Oct 08 20:06) doesn't update if it is retrieved from pattern.
I'm a bit confused that this is so difficult. A pattern is not too useful without automatic text.
@myself 12 Oct 08 7:11
I found out that I did not need to change the ugii_env.dat file. Also changing load from folders does not do much here. Sometimes the pattern sticks after a save and sometimes it doesn't. Very erratic.
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
I have also gone in and modified the ugii_env.dat file for the location of the patterns.
I can create a stand alone drawing from this drawing template but the title block doesn't show up.
Any idea why the pattern doesn't show up in the template?
Paragon Medical
www.paragonmedical.com
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
Mike
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
This may not be what you are trying to accomplish, but as has been mentioned in this thread before, use a pattern within a drawing seed file. Place all of your auto text in the seed file, not the pattern, and it should all update accordingly.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
You open the drawing seed, rename it and bring in your components using assemblies.
Again, this is not the only solution, just one that has worked well so far.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
The idea (as I understand it) is that once you have the drawing standard format that you need, you will seldom have to change it. If you do change it, it would not affect previously released drawings.
When drawings were done by hand, formats were pre-printed, and any changes generally didn't take effect until the supply had run out and new paper was being ordered. Drawings were not revised to change something like text font.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
RE: Custom drawing title blocks
"Part Attributes get transferred automatically to the Assembly Component as Object Attributes and you can create notes linked to either Part or Object Attributes using the 'Reference' option in the Annotation Editor." [John R. Baker, P.E.]
So, in drafting:
Annotation Editor > Annotation Editor > Relationships > Part Attribute
RE: Custom drawing title blocks