Here we are again, back to round out the list of the top five tools to implement for an instant productivity increase. If you are just joining into the conversation you might want to take the time to go back and review the previous post entitled, "Some Good Tools for Instant Productivity". This will help you follow along with the continuation.
In the last posting I covered four of the top five tools everyone should begin to look at and implement.
5. Dynamic Blocks
4. Fields
3. Publish
2. eTransmit
Coming in at the number one position is Sheet Sets and here are the reasons why.
1. Sheet Sets
Introduced in AutoCAD 2005, this is quite simply the most powerful and useful tool that has been introduced into AutoCAD since UNDO or perhaps PURGE. I know that is a bold statement. At my company we ask everyone who interviews what their favorite AutoCAD command is, and about 90% of them say UNDO. (If asked that question don't say UNDO, even if it is true. Say something else. Anything else, will help set you apart and encourage conversation so you can show off what you know.)
A tool that can not only help you streamline the way you organize and work with your drawings, but track details, and publish entire sets of drawings with less than a handful of clicks. Then pack the entire project up for transmittal to the client or for archival, is definitely among the coolest things ever implemented.
But wait! That is not everything! I can also nearly eliminate the need for the OPEN FILE dialog box. A somewhat necessary evil up until now, who's time has finally come. Never again will we be forced to browse up and down the project tree looking for the right file! Only to realize that there are 14 files with the same name and slightly varied versions of the word "old" at the end.
Never again will I sort through an entire set of drawings hunting for a detail call out that has changed. I will instead use fields in an attributed block and have them update automatically as I change information in my Sheet Set Manager.
So it sounds great so far. "But what will this wonder tool cost me?", you ask.
My answer is "Nothing." You already have it. In fact if is not currently being used and you have a version newer than AutoCAD release 2004 then it has been closed and discarded as one of the, "Annoying windows that pop up when I open my new version."
So open AutoCAD and follow along as I introduce you to the wonders of Sheet Sets that seems to have fallen by the wayside somehow.
Starting a new Sheet Set is quite simple. From the command line enter SHEETSET. This will open up the Sheet Set Manager dialog and you will see a drop-down box in the upper left corner that has the word "OPEN..." in it. Selecting the drop-down and choosing the "New Sheet Set..." option will launch a wizard.
At this point the option is given to create from a Template supplied by Autodesk or from existing drawings. To complete this process check out this link on the subject. AutoCAD Insider
Publishing and eTransmit are made even more simple when combined with Sheet Sets. A right click on the Sheet Set name at he top of the tree will present the user with a wide variety of choices including Publish and eTransmit.
If publish is selected then a flyout menu will appear. At the top of the flyout is the most useful feature. The publish to DWF command will send the entire selection to a multi-sheet DWF file. (If you are not using DWF yet, it is time to look into it!) If you try this and things don't look quite like you expect you may need to do a little cleanup on the layout. Check out this link to learn more. Autodesk Labs
When eTransmit is selected the entire Sheet Set and the associated files will be populated into the eTransmit dialog box. From this point the entire process is the same as any other transmittal.
Fields, when combined with Sheet Sets make a powerful tool for reducing time intense intense tasks such as renumbering sheets, revising issue dates, drawn by, and any other information could normally be put in an attributed block.
Check out this link for more information. Robert Green
Closing Thought
The fact of the matter, is this. The fundamental nature of the way we work is changing. Projects are getting larger and deadlines are moving ever closer to the kick-off meetings.
The impact is that we as drafters and designers simply must change the way we approach our work flow. I cannot afford the several hours it may take me to sit and plot a set of drawings one at a time. In a world where companies can transmit scans to a third world country and have work done for a fraction of what it costs to have an employee or local contractor do it. We must adapt and prove that efficient and cost effective can be joined with local and knowledgeable to produce a better product.
Leveraging our ingenuity and the technology at hand is the only way to compete.
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