Creating build manuals or books for machines
Creating build manuals or books for machines
(OP)
I've been giving the task of creating build books for some of the machines we've designed. We have most of the machines in Pro/E, but want to use photographs so that the guys building it see it as it will look when they get the parts.
I took pictures of each stage of the build, and made notes of any special considerations.
I created the first one by editing the photos and adding arrows, detail balloons and notes with photoshop, then putting it in word, and adding a table with a table list of parts needed in each step, and adding any other notes necessary.
This is cumbersone, and I was wondering if there were programs more suited to this.
In word, if you move pictures. it is very hard to get everything else to stay where you put it. I have yet to find any way to "lock" things where they are. Additionally, if you decide to add a detail balloon, you need to go back to photoshop, deit the picture, remake a jpeg, and replace the one in word. Usually, when you delete the picture, it will shift everything around, and you end up maving stuff back again.
I know there has got to be a better way.
Thanks in advance for any input!
I took pictures of each stage of the build, and made notes of any special considerations.
I created the first one by editing the photos and adding arrows, detail balloons and notes with photoshop, then putting it in word, and adding a table with a table list of parts needed in each step, and adding any other notes necessary.
This is cumbersone, and I was wondering if there were programs more suited to this.
In word, if you move pictures. it is very hard to get everything else to stay where you put it. I have yet to find any way to "lock" things where they are. Additionally, if you decide to add a detail balloon, you need to go back to photoshop, deit the picture, remake a jpeg, and replace the one in word. Usually, when you delete the picture, it will shift everything around, and you end up maving stuff back again.
I know there has got to be a better way.
Thanks in advance for any input!
David
Talk To Other Members
RE: Creating build manuals or books for machines
Or create your own with the shape you want and "group" it with a text box. Set all "Fill Color" to "No Fill".
It is sometimes easier to set the "Text Box" "Internal Margins" to Zeros, in "Format Text Box".
Also, verify "Draw" "Grid" "Grid settings" is 0.01.
Also, try playing with the "Edit Points" when using the "Arrows" and "Lines". You can make them do about anything you want. Increase the page size (200 - 500%) to make some nice smooth corners.
As far as moving every thing around. "Format Picture" "layout" select the "Wrapping Style" required to make it work. If you set the "Right Margin" of the text to the left as necessary for the photo to fit, use the "Behind Text" Wrapping and "Group" all notes, lines, arrows, etc. with the photo so they move with it.
(this simplistic answer might solve most of your problems, but I'm sure not all)
Rerig
RE: Creating build manuals or books for machines
Thanks for those tips. I've actually figured a couple of them out already. I'll have to try the others.
David
RE: Creating build manuals or books for machines
Lay out your Pro/E model to match (as closely as possible)the photo. Balloon, annotate, BoM, etc. to suit then hide the model. This is where my wheels come off, but either import the picture as a background in Pro (can't help you with how) or put the picture in the background in Photoshop.
Even better yet, create the entire work instruction in Pro if you can get the picture imported... a multi-page drawing of sorts.
RE: Creating build manuals or books for machines
Sorry.
David
RE: Creating build manuals or books for machines
RE: Creating build manuals or books for machines
http://www.immdesign.com/index.html
Not sure it works with Pro E and if you're determined to use photos it wont be of interest.
Ken