Plot styles and x-refs

[andyboy]

I need to use an x-ref from an arch. office and they have their own plot styles file. How do I incorporate the x-ref into my drawing that has a different plot style file? If I change all their colours in the x-ref it sort of defeats the purpose of x-refing. I was wondering what others do in this situation and if there is a standard way of dealing with it or if everyone has different approaches.


Thanks - looking forward to seeing how others handle this situation.

Jason

[StykFacE]

I need to use an x-ref from an arch. office and they have their own plot styles file. How do I incorporate the x-ref into my drawing that has a different plot style file? If I change all their colours in the x-ref it sort of defeats the purpose of x-refing. I was wondering what others do in this situation and if there is a standard way of dealing with it or if everyone has different approaches.


Thanks - looking forward to seeing how others handle this situation.

Jason
how does that defeat the purpose? layer control can be easy using the Shift key (or Select All) to grab all the layers from the Architectual Backgrounds you recieved using the Layer Properties Manager. it depends on how many different colors you use in your CTB file for certain objects.

all the backgrounds i get, 1st i use the Express Tool LAYDEL to get rid of all things i don't need. then i delete the FILTERS. then i PURGE. then i open the LAYER properties box, and everything gets a 9 color. then i pick certain things like stairs, p-fixtures, bath, doors, RCP, windows, galss and make them a 190 color. 9 is set to a thin lineweight, and 190 is the thinnest you can get. that's the way we do ours at my company.

once you get the hang of it, it becomes pretty easy to set up some backgrounds.... as far as the plot style goes, if you want to use theirs then you gotta ask for it, if they use eTransmit then it comes within the *.zip file. :wink:

[andyboy]

You have answered my question by saying that you have to do all that stuff to the drawing to make it work well in yours by changing colours etc..

I would have either cut and pasted the drawing into mine and change all the colours etc or use an xref, the latter being easier because if a new dwg comes out then I just replace it but if I have to do all that stuff to it regardless then that is what I meant by defeating the purpose.

Thanks,


J

[StykFacE]

well here's the deal.... either which way you go - you're going to have to match up the Colors to the Plot Style. so why not use your own? even if you get their plot style with the drawing you're using as an XREF, that means you'll have to change your colors from your plot style to match theirs, which is extremly inconsistant in the long run. your standards, your way, your colors. it should always be the same. just the way it is in the AutoCAD world i gues.... as far as i know anyways... lol :)

[andyboy]

I agree and as I do more cad I look for ways to standardize. A am alone in the office and am self taught on cad so I like to get a feel of how it is done out in the big wide world.

Thanks again,

Jason