Dimstyles and text styles??

Ok, so here is the issue:

My old boss started up his own company and I am wanting to create dim styles and text styles for this said company. Right now, we use ones that have been carried over in projects from previous employers, and they are driving me nuts. Even when I worked at said employer, i always thought things could be handle much simpler than what they had in place.

So I would like to get some help creating Dim styles and Text styles that we can use from here forward. My problem is, I havent created one since school and forgot all about how too

So can someone direct me to a good tutorial on them or help me out? I am using autocad civil 3d 2012 and know they have annotative dimensions and what not, so can these be used to make life simpler?

In other words, can I create one dim style that can be used in different projects/sheets that have different scales??

and last but not least, the great old debate, is it easier to create dim styles for annotating in model space or just create one and do all my annotating in paper space??

any and all help is appreciated

thanks

Search on youtube and you'd find lots of tutorials over there .

one of them .

A handful of us find it much easier to do all of our dimensioning in our paper space layouts rather than in model space. It is up to each individual or company to decide where it makes the most sense to place dimensions and text too. I suggest you test each method to see what works best for your company.

Thanks, i will look at that video, I did a quick search but didnt look to hard since im at work and got busy lol

I have always liked using paper space for annotating, but have always had to follow the orders of the company, now with this new company, i think i can talk the one other guy that works with us to annotate in paperspace.. Would make my dimstyle alot easier right??

So after watching some videos and such, I am still a bit confused.

Would it be easier to create one dimstyle with text height and such at .125 (or 1/8") and just use that to annotate my drawings? would my viewport scale make a difference on how the dimensions are shown?

Since Ive always had standards in place, I am finding it hard to create my own set so that our projects are presentable. If memory serves me right, the text height should be 1/8" when plotted, what other sizes are there for say titles and other notes?

How many separate dim and text styles does one really need?

I find 1/8" height just a tad large so I drop down to 3/32nds. However, if you are old enough to remember Leroy lettering sets then .11 (almost but not quite .125) would be a good compromise.

Viewport scale has nothing to do with it IF all your dimensioning is being done in your layout. The text height you use will be plotted the exact height since all plotting from a layout is done at 1:1 scale.

We have but one dimension style. Period. Text styles? That's a different matter. We use three and of the three, one is a special font used in our logo, one is used only in the title block and the third one is used for notes, callouts and dimensions. I get annoyed at drawings that call for ten different text styles as if they were trying to win an award for how many styles can be used in a single drawing. Remember the K.I.S.S. principle. Keep It Simple Stupid. Drawings should convey their information in a concise and unambiguous manner. They should not be so "busy" as to detract from what is important...the design!

that is exactly what I want to do, keep it simple!!

Right now we are doing projects that were rolled over from one of the previous employers and it seems way to crowded with layers, and styles, so i want to simplify it. One Dimstyle for paperspace, text style for general notes and one for street names and such..

Have you actually sat down and written up your new "standards"? You may not get it right the first time round so don't be discouraged. Consider it a work in progress.

Have you tested both methods yet?

I am in the initial phase per say. the thing is, we don't want to reinvent the wheel and have stuff in place, but like i said its from different companies and I am wanting to get it down to be specific to the new company. I am not trying to get it done all at once, and know that it will take time, im just curious on were to start??

Personally I have always preferred to annotate in paper space, there for only have one dimstyle and call it good. Though, in all the places i have worked, they have done it in model space and have a different dim style for each scale, so that the text is correct.

The one thing my co worker brought up yesterday about annotating in paper space, is that when we use civil 3D to label pipe and such, it puts that info in model space, so not sure how I would set this up??? are those "labels" based on a dim style or independent label styles that I can manipulate??

little by little we shall get there, I just always like the input from other CAD users

I cannot tell you how Civil 3D functions in regards to pipe labels.

If in all the other places you worked they used a different dimstyle for each scale then why bother with annotative scaling? Might as well have kept everything in model space (old school) and plotted from there as well.

they did keep everything in model space, but still plotted from paper space. They also did not use annotative scaling, this was something that i was wondering about and seeing if it can be utilized when i set up new stuff for this company. Im not exactly sure how it works.

Makes my head spin just reading the first twenty words.

Are you asking "how annotative scaling" works?

lol sorry for the confusion...

to keep my question simple:

What would make more sense? one dim style and annotate in paperspace, since we plot from there (this is the way im leaning) or use annotative scaling and annotate in model space?

and yes, how does annotative scaling work?

I use and prefer the first method. However, I am in the minority here. I do see where annotative scaling can be of benefit to certain disciplines.

How annotative scaling works.

I'll quote from a class I took back in 2008 when annotative scaling was first introduced.

"...you can now create annotation that will automatically adjust to the scale of the viewport. Using the new annotation scaling tool, you can set the height of the text, block, and/or hatches to the height and size you want them to print and AutoCAD will scale them appropriately in relationship to the viewport."

"Another advantage...is that you do not have to create the text or annotation twice, at two scales and place it in different layers. AutoCAD will scale the objects per viewport even on the same layout."

Does this catch your interest? BTW...multileaders can take advantage of annotation scaling as well.

I agree with you and see how this could be helpful in disciplines that deal with multiple view ports in the same layout, maybe the mechanical field?

but thank you for your assistance and input, I think I will just go ahead and create one dim style for use in paper space and will see how to manipulate the text in civil 3D stuff to work how i want it.

any tips on creating one for this purpose? should i have arrow size a certain size, spacing and what not?? Text height will be .125, since that's what we are use to using..

Tips for creating a dimstyle? Sorry, none I can think of off-hand.

Curious though, what font are you going with for most of your text and dimensions?

I'd have to check and see what font we currently use and was thinking of staying with that. I honestly think its simplex, if im not mistaken.

is there a better one to use? for engineering plans, primary water and waste water

Nothing wrong with Simplex or the single line Roman font.

We use a special font that makes a clear distinction between the capital letter "O" and the numeral "0" (includes a diagonal line through it) and a lower case letter "l" and the numeral "1". We do this because we have numerous equipment numbers to track.

I used to work for a consulting engineering firm that did a great deal of work in the municipal wastewater treatment and industrial wastewater treatment areas. I've also hand drafted my fair share of sanitary sewer plan and profile in ink on mylar. LoL

ya cant go wrong with simplex, it does have the word SIMPLE in its name lol

Cant say I have ever hand drafted anything lol sometimes i think it would be less stressful, until you mess up and cant ctrl-Z your way back hahah