Layouts vs files

[cduke5]

We save all of our elevations and details in the same dwg file with each sheet as its own layout tab.

I have noticed some people have each sheet as its own file and save revisions as different layout tabs.

Which is better or is it personal preference?

[Organic]

You method is far preferred and more efficient. Having multiple .dwgs each containing one sheet is a waste of time and really annoys any other companies who have to work on your drawings (i.e. many will flat out refuse, let the client know and return them to you to fix into one drawing set).

[BIGAL]

Just went trough automating printing to various printers A1, A3, pdfs, tiffs and it would be a pain to have 1 dwg 1 plot.

 

But in saying that we do sometimes split a road job all layout plans 1 dwg, all longs sections 1 dwg, all cross sections 1 dwg, all details 1 dwg, job at the moment 58 sheets makes plotting and changes a bit easier.

 

We also have external consultants so automating is a big headache.

[SLW210]

It is all in the eye of the beholder.

 

Many moons ago, there was no Paper Space (Layout Tab) in AutoCAD only Model Space. Before that, you had large boards, Tsquares, Triangles, French Curves, Scales, etc.

 

Many companies still exist that did all of their drawings this way!!

 

I would think (actually I know, I have in the past and currently work for an older company) that to completely redo all past drawings to the current method of everything in Model and all the details in Paper would be (and is) a monumental task (do not forget that old hand drafted (Board) drawings would have to be scanned and traced).

 

Currently, depending on what you do exactly, would determine the way you use Paper Space. I personally prefer the

We save all of our elevations and details in the same dwg file with each sheet as its own layout tab.

, but to each his own, there is no right way or wrong way, just the best way, for your own application.

 

Just be glad you do not work where you have 20 years of Model Space only Drawings and another 80 years of hand drafted (board) drawings

[tzframpton]

You method is far preferred and more efficient. Having multiple .dwgs each containing one sheet is a waste of time and really annoys any other companies who have to work on your drawings (i.e. many will flat out refuse, let the client know and return them to you to fix into one drawing set).

This is not true, depending on the needs of drawing management. Probably the reason each file is it's own sheet, is because the company uses the Sheet Set Manager. When the SSM is used properly, it has astronomical benefits in sustaining quality control, coordination between sheets, and collaboration among team members. SSM is really geared toward larger projects that can contain massive amounts of drawing information, but it can be used for much smaller drawing needs too and still benefit greatly.

[rkent]

We save all of our elevations and details in the same dwg file with each sheet as its own layout tab.

 

This works fine for smaller firms or a single designer and maybe for small projects. Larger offices sometimes need multiple people working on a project and having everything in one file prevents others from also working on the project.

 

I have noticed some people have each sheet as its own file and save revisions as

different layout tabs.

 

You say something very curious here. "...save revisions as different layout tabs." I don't think I have ever heard of anyone keeping revisions as different layout tabs. How does that even work? When a drawing is going to be up-reved a copy of the current rev is saved in a sub-folder, or some print a pdf or dwf and continue working on the same file.

 

I am an office of one and sometimes I choose to do separate drawings and sometimes everything goes in one. Just depends on how many layouts there might be in the drawing, and other factors.

 

Also, if you have everything in one file and that file is corrupted you have lost the entire project.