How does everyone set up their layouts & layers?

[BOB'27T]

We here in our office had a pow-wow over how to standardize our layouts and layer names. Our boss is tired of each of us doing a different setup on each drawing. I guess what I'm getting at, is how does everyone differentiate text, dims, etc. on different layouts that don't use all of these. For instance we have a site sheet, paving,grading&drainage sheet, and a utility sheet. These all use different text and dims. I'm curious how different firms handle these situations.

[StykFacE]

http://www.upo.harvard.edu/CampusProjects/Stds/Csg_2006.pdf

Starting at page 8 gives you an AIA CAD Standard of Layer naming. You can use these to get started, and then use your own abbreviation's for more "in-house specific" stuff. That's what I did when I came to the company I am now, and it has done wonders for our quality control and drawing standards.

Now everytime I or anyone opens a drawing, they know exactly what objects are drawn on what layer, and it made it extremely helpful for multi-scaled viewport layers. :)

[BOB'27T]

That sounds like a good way to go. It gets confusing when 3 guys are doing 3 different things and trying to figure out their drawings.

[StykFacE]

That sounds like a good way to go. It gets confusing when 3 guys are doing 3 different things and trying to figure out their drawings.
Trust me I know what you mean.

There's this company that we get AutoCAD files from who are Sprinkler Contractors. Every single one of the CAD operators use their own layer names, not to mention they don't XREF their architectural backgrounds at all. So I have to manually go through and separate their layers from the architect's. I seriously want to go over to their office and walk in that place and tutor these idiots. Damn.... :lol:

[CruizerCAD]

Styk...can you give me a quick and simple step by step on how to xref the drawings before I start drawing on them? Here's your chance to tutor :)

Thanks,
Wayne