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DallasNYC · Guest

I work on small projects (10 sheets +/-) and I usually use a separate layout tab for each sheet. I then plot each one using 'plot area = layout'. I have however seen other drawings that put all the sheets on one layout tab and use plot area = view. I'm curious what is the more common way of doing things for drawings with multiple sheets? What are the pros and cons of doing it each way. One pro of having all the sheets on one drawing is this limits the number of regens.

Thanks..

teiarch · Guest

I use one for each sheet in case I need to use a different plot style for different sheets. More a question of finding stuff but in reality, a habit carried over from R14 (1 layout =1 file) translates to 1 layout = 1 tab) in later versions.

I also usually do NOT put more than 5 layouts in one file and break things up according to what's being viewed. Floor plans = 1 file, elevations and sections = 1 file, details = 1 file. This cuts donw on regens and viewport caching.

You'll probably get as many answers both ways; in the end use what you understand best.

When regens and viewport caching get to be a hassle, add more ram, turn off viewports until ready to plot, and/or save the file on the least complicated layout. Then, when you open the file, switch to only one other layout, plot or make changes, switch back, then save.

I also use a separate xref drawing, an R14 habit as well.

Casey Roberts · Guest

One layout for one sheet. This is kinda what it's designed for. Especially
with the advent of the publish command where you can print all layouts (from
one or more drawings) in one shot. It would also simplify the number of
page setups. You can use the same pagesetup for multiple layouts. Where if
you have multiple pages, on one layout, you have to have a different
pagesetup for each one with different 'window' coordinates. (If you don't
use pagesetup's, you should try it. )

Casey

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Gordon Price · Guest

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OLD-CADaver · Guest

<< With all the sheets in one DWG you can't do this, because you can only control visibility of items in a viewport, you can't change color, linetype, lineweight, plotstyle, etc. >>

We've discussed this before, and I think I see where we disagree. We, too, split things along discipline lines, the difference is one discipline may still span a dozen or two drawings.

The building on which I'm currently will have 19 structural drawings. All 19 will be in a single file for the very same reasons you've posted here. We want the background data, ie: plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc. to be in background. Rather than merge all those into 19 different drawing files and control layers in each, we prefer to do it once.

DallasNYC · Guest

Thanks for all the reply's. Looks like I'm on the right track using seperate tabs.

Thanks Again,

Dallas

jmcintyre · Guest

We use a separate file for each sheet for the following, with one layout tab in each file. The file then has the drawing number as its name. This way, if others not involved with the project need to find a drawing, it is easier. We have also done this to make batch plotting with 3rd party software easier. Also the frequency of file corruption seems to be increasing, so when you have one file containing all the drawings you risk losing everything. Another good reason as expressed by others is the regen time required with multiple layout tabs in one file.
All in all it keeps things simple and from trial and error, we have found this to be the least prone to problems.

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