How to name blueprints?

[RodneyHuberio]

I work for a general contractor and we routinely get these projects that are 800 + blueprints from the architects we work with. The problem is we receive the blueprints in PDF format or some times CAD format, and the drawings are all random names, without much description. I have to be able to name these files that are descriptive of what they are (like which ones are mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, etc).

 

Does anyone know an easy way to do that? Right now, we have a person manually do it, and it takes forever. I'm really hoping there is an easier way to do it!

 

Thanks,

Rodney

[MSasu]

You may check this tool, Lupas Rename, which is a freeware and allow you to batch rename files. However I doubt it will be at any help if you rename the files based on their content and not by original name and/or location.

[BIGAL]

Sounds like the source company is the probem not you, if they supply 800 dwgs how do they ever find anything ? Complain about their naming convention not to hard don't lose client.

 

Cad standards are just that includes dwg names.

 

Just today caught out one of my guys 3 dwgs all have same dwg Number so I renamed to DWGname A B & C multi sheets in each dwg, just the title had a name to seperate, client rang send dwgs I could not tell him which one I needed to send, the guy not in today so tomorrow a chat. Real problem his is the best guy we have.

[tzframpton]

As for CAD format, there has to be some form of standard as GC's usually do work for architectural/engineering firms which means they receive files from places who (usually) have standards. PDF's are a different tune. Back in my contracting days we had a bid coordinator that would have to open each PDF one by one and rename each PDF to the respective sheet number, if we won the job and PDF files were put into an active job folder. Most of the time each PDF file was already named per sheet number so it was a rare occasion, but not rare enough that we wouldn't have dropped cash on a program to speed up the process.

[BIGAL]

Whilst some will say publish is the way to go, I produce all my pdf's using lisp these are named autoamtically as per dwg num & layout title this removes the human interferance as I will call it "sheet 1 Wednesday copy" . The source lisp is here as well as various versions and lots of comments maybe send a copy to the company.

 

Like StykFace we aim at

Most of the time each PDF file was already named per sheet number so it was a rare occasion

[Dana W]

You are lucky if the Architectural firm has numbered their drawings according to standards, but often that doesn't even help when the A01.00 through A145.98 pages (A for Architectural) have no further descriptive info in the pdf file name, and they fail to even include the drawing index page in the pdf. At least I know that they are not mech, hvac, elec, sewer, storm drain, finishes, or landscaping plans.

[BIGAL]

Thats what i was getting at if its say in the title block then it can become the name not using publish, A01.00 master floor layout.pdf, A01.01 ground floor layout.pdf