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Chapter

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Project EssentialsChapter 1:

In this chapter, you learn to create a working project environment. You set up the essential features of a project, such as templates, workspaces, profiles, and project standards.

Templates ensure project standards and consistency in drawings. This reduces drafting and administration time and helps eliminate repetitive tasks. Workspace settings control the user interface and enable you to select and customize menus, toolbars, and palettes. Familiarity with the workspace reduces search time for required tools and commands. Profiles help you customize the drawing environment according to the working style of individual users. Finally, you use project standards to synchronize projects by detecting and removing discrepancies between drawings.

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

■ Create and use templates. ■ Describe the workspace components in the MEP 2008 interface and how you can modify the

workspace to suit your requirements. ■ Set up and manage projects with drawing management tools. ■ Create and use profiles. ■ Synchronize project drawings with standards.

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2 ■ Chapter 1: Project Essentials

Lesson: Using Templates

Overview

This lesson describes how to create and use templates.

Templates ensure adherence to project standards and consistency in drawings throughout the project because they store content like layer definitions, classification definitions, page setups, and multi-view blocks. This reduces drafting and administration time and helps eliminate repetitive tasks. The use of templates minimizes unwanted content, misaligned plotting sheets, and improper line weights. The following illustration displays various templates.

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

■ Describe templates. ■ Describe template settings. ■ List the guidelines for designing templates. ■ Create and use a template.

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Lesson: Using Templates ■ 3

About Templates

In a typical project, your drawings use common settings for drawing preferences, controls, and content. Templates enable you to define settings and drawing preferences for all the drawings in a project. You create and use various templates for the project models and plotting sheets. These templates are shared with designers working on the project to ensure consistency.

Definition of Templates

Templates are drawings with predefined preferences and settings. AutoCAD® MEP templates have a DWT file extension and these templates can be found in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\ACD-MEP 2008\enu\Template folder.

A template contains project-related technical or format information. Templates can be set up to include typical title blocks, notes, viewports, layering structures, object and annotation styles, and text formats. You can reuse and modify templates to suit various disciplines and area requirements.

You can use the settings of a predefined template in your drawing by right-clicking either the Model or Work tab at the bottom of the application window and selecting the From Template option. When you select a template for your drawing, the relevant standards are automatically set up for the drawing.

You create templates for the project by following these steps.

The Model and Layout tabs are hidden by default and appear as icon buttons on the status bar at the bottom of the application window. They can be displayed by right-clicking the icon buttons and hidden by right-clicking the layout tabs when visible.

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Types of Templates

The following templates are available with AutoCAD MEP. Versions of these templates are included for US Imperial, US Metric, and Global Metric settings as well as Color (ctb) and Style (stb) tables for plotting and publishing.

You can modify the different types of templates in the software according to project requirements, and you can create new templates.

Template Description

Aecb Model Used for designing and modeling full scale building systems, plans, views, sections, and elevations as Constructs and Views within the Project Navigator. The Aecb Model template has two standard viewports defined in a work layout. It also contains several predefined display configurations such as Electrical, Mechanical, MEP Design, and Plumbing. In addition, it contains styles and system definitions for each discipline. You set up and define these display configurations in the Display Manager, but you access them through the status bar. Once you have set up the display configurations in the Display Manager and saved them with your template, every user can change from one display configuration to another in any drawing created from that template.

Aecb Sheet Used for creating scaled project and construction drawings and documents for plotting and publishing as Sheets within the Project Navigator. The MEP Sheet template contains several predefined display configurations such as Electrical, Mechanical, MEP Design, and Plumbing. This template also has six predefined layouts defined for paper space. A generic title block is included on each layout, which can be easily replaced or customized with your company standard title block.

The Acad and Acadiso templates are also available to support backward compatibility with AutoCAD®. The Acad template is available with imperial units, and the Acadiso template is available with metric units.

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Project Templates

An MEP template project consists of project properties, categories, and sheet sets. A template project has an APJ file extension. It governs how the Project Navigator, global project settings, project levels, and divisions will be set up.

If you select a template project when creating a new project, the new project inherits the project settings, levels, and categories from the template project. The drawing templates (DWT) assigned to the constructs, views, and sheets in the template project are also assigned to the new project.

The following illustration shows the Add Project worksheet with the default path for templates. You can select the template project to be used in the project. You select the template project when you create your project.

Example of Templates

You create a new project for a commercial building. You use the predefined template project Commercial Template Project (Imperial) for the project. This enables you to create a project with a set of readymade templates. The Project Model (Imperial Stb) template is assigned to the Default Construct template, Default Element Template, Default Model View Template, Default Section/Elevation Template, and Default Detail View Template. The Project Sheet (Imperial Stb) template is assigned to the Sheet Creation Template and the Aecb Sheet (Imperial Stb) template is assigned to the Page setup overrides.

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The following illustration shows the tabs of the Project Navigator with the default template settings loaded.

Project tab Constructs tab

Views tab Sheets tab

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About Template Settings

Template settings consist of properties such as drawing units, drawing scales, and display representations that are common to all drawings in a project. These properties determine the preferences and settings used for the project. You define the template settings from the various options on the Format menu.

For example, you want to create the text tool annotation on A-Notes layer in place of A-Anno-Note layer. You also want to create the text in blue rather than Color 231. To do this, you create a layer key override to modify the layer standard by modifying the layer settings. You make a template of this layer standard so that the new layer settings are reused in your project.

Definition of Template Settings

When creating a template for a project, you need to define the settings according to the specific project design needs. These settings are called template settings. Sample templates are available with the software with some predefined settings. You can customize these settings to create customized templates.

Specifying Template Settings

You can specify the template settings by using the following options on the Format menu.

Option Description

Style Manager Specifies the styles such as space styles for architectural objects and wire styles for electrical objects. You can drag styles from one drawing to another, or you can create new styles for the objects used in your drawing.

Display Manager Specifies the display configurations, display sets, and display representations for the drawing.

Layer Manager Specifies the layer structure of the project drawings. You import and export layer standards to and from other drawings in a project. You can also modify existing layer standards to create new layer standards.

Drawing Setup Specifies drawing properties such as drawing units, drawing scales, and annotation plot size.

When templates are not used, these settings have to be defined for each drawing.

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The following illustration shows the Style Manager, Display Manager, Layer Manager, and Drawing Setup options on the Format menu.

Example of Template File Settings in the Style Manager

The following illustration shows some style properties that you can modify using the Style Manager.

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Example of Template File Settings in the Display Manager

The following illustration shows some of the display configuration properties that you can modify using the Display Manager.

Example of Template File Settings in the Layer Manager

The following illustration shows some of the layer properties that you can modify using the Layer Manager.

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Example of Template File Settings in Drawing Setup

The following illustration shows some of the drawing parameters that you can set using the Drawing Setup dialog box.

Guidelines for Designing Templates

When you begin to design templates for your project, they will be primarily based on internal standards and best practices. Additionally, you can incorporate specific parameters from a client, reviewing agencies, quality assurance procedures, and AutoCAD MEP recommended settings. Following certain guidelines will enable you to decide on the preferences and settings you require.

Guidelines

■ Study the quality assurance manual of a project to adhere to country-specific standards.■ Save a backup of the templates of a project before modifying them. This will enable you to retrieve

the original templates in case of changes made in the standards of the project.■ Set the display units and display scales of the templates before you start creating any drawings.

This will ensure uniformity throughout your project drawings.■ Set the initialization preferences, such as elevation properties and style definitions, at the start of

the design process. These preferences are unlikely to change during the design process.■ Once standard templates are established for projects, constructs, elements, views, and sheets,

they should be placed in a read-only network folder that can be accessed by the project team.■ Do not store all content in the templates such as styles available in the library because it can

negatively impact system performance.■ Avoid including content that can be easily inserted from the Content Browser, tool palettes, or the

DesignCenter™.

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Example

The following illustration shows the Duct Layout Preferences dialog box. Using this dialog box, you can specify that all rectangular ductwork is classified to Rectangular Duct US Imperial. In the following illustration, the ductwork uses the Elbow with Rigid Duct option for diffusers and the Use Takeoff option to connect with main runs.

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Once set, all the ductwork installation drawings for the project will utilize these preferences automatically, saving many hours of repetitive selection tasks and reducing the chance of error.

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Exercise: Create and Use a Template

In this exercise, you create a template, modify it, and assign it to a project. You also assign a sheet template to the project sheet set and a subset within the project.

You start a piping project and need to create certain object styles and definitions in all the drawings in the project. To save time, you create a template and specify the styles and definitions in the template. Then, you use the template in all the drawings of the project. You have also created a template drawing that contains the sheets required for the project. You assign the F Size sheet to the Project Sheet Set. All sheet drawings created in the project will use the desired sheet. You also create a subset for all the D Size sheets and assign the D Size sheet to it. All sheet drawings created inside this subset will use the smaller sheet.

You do the following:

■ Create a template.■ Modify the template.■ Assign the template to a project construct.■ Assign a template to the project sheet set.

Create a Template

The completed exercise

1. Click File menu > New.

2. In the Select Template dialog box:

■ Select Drawing Template (*.dwt) from the Files of Type list.

■ Click Aecb Model (US Imperial Stb).dwt or (Aecb Model (US Metric Stb).dwt).

■ Click Open.

3. Click File menu > Save As.

4. In the Save Drawing As dialog box:

■ Select AutoCAD Drawing Template (*.dwt) from the Files of Type list.

■ For the File Name, enter Piping

Template.■ Click Save.

5. In the Template Options dialog box, click OK.

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Modify the Template Assign the Template to a Project

Construct

1. Click Format menu > Style Manager.

2. In the Style Manager, left pane:

■ Expand Piping Objects.■ Right-click Pipe System Definitions.

■ Click New.

3. In the right pane, General tab, for name, enter Copper Tube.

4. In the right pane, Design Rules tab:

■ For Abbreviation, enter CT.■ For System Group, enter Potable Water.■ Select M-SY-PIPE-STANDARD from the

Layer Key list.

■ Click OK

5. Click File menu > Save.

1. Click File menu > Project Browser.

2. In the Project Browser, click New Project.

3. In the Add Project worksheet:

■ For the Project Number, enter 5849.■ For the Project Name, enter Piping

Project.■ Click OK.

4. In the Project Browser:

■ Right-click Piping Project.■ Click Project Properties.

5. In the Modify Project worksheet:

■ Click the value field of Default Construct Template.

■ Click the Browse button.

6. In the Default Construct Template dialog box:

■ Click Piping Template.dwt.■ Click Open.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to select Piping Template.dwt for the Default Element Template, Default Model View Template, Default Section/Elevation View Template, and Default Detail View Template.

8. Click OK.

NOTE: If AutoCAD dialog box appears, click OK.

9. Click Close to close the Project Browser.

NOTE: Drawing files created in this project will now use the Piping Template.dwt file.

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Assign a Template to the Project

Sheet Set

Assign a Template to the Project

Sheet Set

1. On the Project Navigator Sheets tab, right-click Piping Project. Click Properties.

2. In the Sheet Set Properties dialog box, under Sheet Creation:

■ Click the value field of Sheet Creation Template.

■ Click Browse.

3. In the Select Layout as Sheet Template dialog box, click Browse next to Drawing Template File Name.

4. In the Select Drawing dialog box:

■ Select Aecb Sheet (US Imperial Stb).dwt or Aecb Sheet (US Metric Stb).dwt.

■ Click Open.

5. In the Select Layout as Sheet Template dialog box, under Select a Layout to Create New Sheets, ensure that Arch F (30 x 42) or ISO A0 (841 x 1189) is selected. Click OK.

6. Click OK to close the Sheet Set Properties dialog box.

7. In the Confirm Changes worksheet, click Yes.

NOTE: All sheets created in this project will use the Arch F (30 x 42) or ISO A0 (841 x 1189) sheet template.

1. On the Project Navigator Sheets tab, right-click Piping Project. Click New > Subset.

2. In the Subset Properties dialog box:

■ For Subset name, enter D Size Sheets.■ Click Browse next to Sheet Creation

Template for Subset.

3. In the Select Layout as Sheet Template worksheet:

■ For Drawing Template File Name, ensure that Aecb Sheet (US Imperial Stb).dwt or Aecb Sheet (US Metric Stb).dwt is selected.

■ Under Select a Layout to Create New Sheets, click Arch D (24 x 36) or (ISO A1 (594 x 841).

■ Click OK.

4. Click OK to exit the Subset Properties dialog box.

A sheet subset called D Size Sheets is displayed in the Project Navigator. All sheets created in this subset will use the D (24 x 36) (ISO A1 (594 x 841) sheet template.

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Lesson: Using the Workspace

Overview

This lesson describes the workspace components in the MEP 2008 interface and how you can modify the workspace to suit your requirements.

Workspace settings control the user interface and enable you to select and customize pulldown menus, toolbars, and palettes. Familiarity with the workspace enables you to maximize your working efficiency by reducing the search time for required tools and command icons. You can configure the working environment in which icons, pulldown menus, toolbars, and palettes are assembled as required by the workflow.

The software supports the workflows of the HVAC, piping, electrical, plumbing, schematic, and architectural domains. Five of these workspaces are shown in the following illustration.

Objectives


■ Describe the user interface. ■ Describe tool palettes. ■ Describe the Properties palette. ■ List the guidelines for using workspaces. ■ Create a custom workspace.

Electrical workspace Plumbing workspace

HVAC workspace Schematic workspace

Piping workspace

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Lesson: Using the Workspace ■ 17

About the User Interface

You can customize the user interface to ensure that frequently used tools can be easily accessed. When you open the software, the user interface is displayed based on the previous settings.

Definition of the User Interface

The user interface is the visual representation of the software that contains the commands to create and modify drawings. The interface includes pulldown menus, toolbars, tool palettes, and a command line interface. Many of the commands are displayed in either pulldown menus or as icons on toolbars and palettes.

HVAC user interface

Pulldown menus Project Navigator

Toolbars Drawing Window status bar

Tool palettes Command line

Properties palette Application status bar

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Menus, toolbars, and tool palettes can be customized to include only the most frequently used commands or tools, in any order you choose.

Pulldown Menus

Pulldown menus contain commands that are grouped to accomplish related tasks. The software has some standard default pulldown menus, such as File, Edit, and View.

There are some additional pulldown menus that you can select, display, or hide under the Window > Pulldowns menu. These are:

Pulldown menu Description

Design Enables you to add and modify design components such as walls, doors, roofs, and stairs.

Document Consists of documentation options such as scheduling, specifying section and elevation styles, and AEC dimensioning.

CAD Manager Consists of advanced options such as AEC Project Standards, Content Builder, Keynote Editor, and Parametric Part Wizard.

3D Solids Enables you to add 3D objects such as box, cone, and sphere to a drawing. You can also convert AutoCAD blocks to 3D solids.

MEP Disciplines Enables you to display or hide the pulldowns for electrical, HVAC, piping, plumbing, and schematic.

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Toolbars

Toolbars consist of commonly used tools in the drawing process. The most commonly used toolbars are:

Toolbar Description

Navigation Enables access to the Content Browser, Project Browser, Project Navigator, tool palettes, Properties palette, Design Center, and Component Manager. This toolbar also provides flyouts to the Zoom, Views, UCS, and Visual Styles Toolbars.

Modify Enables you to access the standard AutoCAD Modify toolbar commands such as stretch, rotate, copy, and mirror.

Shapes Provides access to the standard AutoCAD Draw toolbar in order to create 2D shapes such as line, polygon, arc, and circle. These commands are used to create and edit objects or to create 2D symbols of objects.

Workspaces Provides the workspaces available in the software. You select the workspace according to the type of project such as HVAC, piping, electrical, plumbing, or schematic. The tools and tool palettes are loaded based on the selected workspace.

Views Provides commands for viewing drawings in orthographic or isometric views.

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To select the toolbars that you want to display, you need to right-click the toolbar area below the menus and then select the required toolbar.

The following illustration shows the available toolbars.

Drawing Window Status Bar

The Drawing Window status bar is located at the bottom of the drawing area. It consists of commands to select the display configuration, drawing menu, and annotation scale. You can also configure the surface hatching, layer key overrides, and AEC Project Standards from the Drawing Window status bar.

The settings you make in the Drawing Window status bar are applicable only to the current drawing.

Drawing Window status bar

Drawing menu Annotation Scale, Visibility, and Automation

Drawing Window status bar Display configuration menu

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Application Status Bar

The Application status bar displays information such as the coordinate values and elevation along with several buttons and icons for turning on and off drawing tools and settings. The following illustration shows the Application status bar.

You can toggle the available options on and off and configure their settings. You can toggle between the work and model layouts. The coordinates of the cursor are displayed on the left side of the Application status bar. The options on the right side provide access to settings such as Communication Center, Performance Tuner, and Catalog Status. Some of the commonly used options on the Application status bar are:

Command Line

The command line is the area below the Drawing Window status bar in which you can enter commands from the keyboard. To enter a command, you need to type the full command name or alias on the command line and press ENTER or SPACEBAR. Some commands have abbreviated names called command aliases.

To find a command, you can type a letter on the command line and press TAB to cycle through all the commands that begin with that letter. You can repeat the last command used by pressing ENTER or SPACEBAR even if the command was evoked from a toolbar, tool palette, or any other method of input.

When you enter a command on the command line, you will see either a set of options or a dialog box. If Dynamic Input is on (DYN on the Status Bar) dynamic prompts, options and tooltips will be displayed on your screen near the cursor as well. Options may be selected on the command line by entering the letters capitalized in one of the options in the brackets. You may enter upper or lower case letters when selecting these options.

Press the F2 key to view a text screen revealing the command line history for the current drawing session.

Option Description

Polar Enables you to increment angles with predefined intervals and draw in a straight line using these predefined angles.

Osnap Enables you to specify the snap point at an exact location on an object.

OTrack Enables you to track along alignment paths that are based on object snap points.

DYN Provides a command interface near the cursor to help you focus on the drafting area and simplify command input.

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Three-Dimensional (3D) Orbit

The 3D orbit command enables you to view either a specific object in a drawing or the entire drawing from different distances and angles by rotating it. You access the 3D orbit command from the View menu. The following options are available when using the 3D orbit command:

Workspace

A workspace is a group of tools, tool palettes, and menus that are specific to the type of project being designed such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, piping, or schematic. You can customize the workspace either by selecting Customize from the Workspaces list or by entering cui on the command line. You can also save your current workspace as a new workspace by selecting Save Current As option from the Workspaces list.

One method for customizing the workspace is using the Customize User Interface (CUI) dialog box. You select a workspace in the left pane and assign the required user interface elements to it such as toolbars, menus, and dockable windows. You can also use the CUI dialog box to transfer menus, toolbars and other items from other CUI files into your current CUI file.

Option Description

Constrained orbit Rotation is only along the XY plane or the Z axis.

Free orbit Rotation is in any direction, irrespective of the plane or axis of rotation.

Continuous orbit Rotation takes place continuously. You rotate the drawing or object once and release the cursor. The selected drawing or object rotates continuously until you press ESC to exit the command.

Customize User Interface dialog box

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Example of the User Interface

The following illustration shows the electrical workspace.

About Tool Palettes

You use tools to create objects such as ducts and pipes in your drawings. These tools are placed on the tool palettes. Tool palettes are further grouped according to the workspace in which they are used, such as plumbing, piping, or HVAC.

Definition of Tool Palettes

Tool palettes are groups of tools categorized according to their function and type. You can access tool palettes from the Window menu or use the default tool palettes. You can add tools to existing tool palettes from the Content Browser or other tool palettes. Using project-specific tools, you can also create new tool palettes.

You can copy, paste, and delete tools from tool palettes. When you delete a tool, it is not deleted from the library and you can add it to the tool palette, if required.

Tool Palette Groups

Tool palette groups are displayed based on the type of workspace selected. For example, the HVAC workspace displays the tool palette group specific to the HVAC workspace. Tool palettes such as Equipment and Annotation are a part of the HVAC tool palette group.

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You can select a tool palette group by using the Properties option on the tool palette. You can also view all the tool palettes, irrespective of the workspace selected, by clicking Properties > All Palettes.

Example of Tool Palettes

The following illustration shows the different tool palette groups available in different workspaces.

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About the Properties Palette

You edit object properties using the Properties palette. You can also assign property sets or attach reference notes to the objects.

When editing text objects, you may need to change the size of the text. This change can be made from the Properties palette without opening any of the text editor tools.

You can also use the Properties palette to set the properties of objects as you create them. For example, when you add lighting from the Electrical tool palette, you specify the system and elevation on the Properties palette.

Definition of the Properties Palette

The Properties palette enables you to view and modify the object properties. The Properties palette is divided into three tabs: Design, Display, and Extended Data. The following table describes the three tabs:

The following illustration shows the Design, Display, and Extended Data tabs of the Properties palette for a Multi-View Part.

Tab Description

Design Specifies the general properties of an object such as style, system, dimensions, and elevations.

Display Enables to display and change the current display properties, such as Color, Linetype, and Lineweight, for any object in a drawing.

Extended Data Specifies the documentation and property set values.

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Worksheets

You use a worksheet to add specific information about an object on the Properties palette.

The following illustration shows the Properties palette. For the Description property, the Description worksheet is open. You can enter a description for the schematic pipe in this worksheet.

Object Properties

You can view the properties of a single object or multiple objects on the Properties palette. When multiple objects are selected in a drawing, only the properties that are common to all selected objects are displayed. If the values are different, VARIES is displayed. When no object is selected in the drawing, the properties of the drawing are displayed.

The following illustration shows the Properties palette with one duct and one duct fitting selected.

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Example of the Properties Palette

The following illustrations show the Properties palette when a single duct or wire object is selected.

Guidelines for Using the Workspace

The following guidelines help you save time and increase your productivity while using the workspace.

Guidelines

■ Turn off the automatic save function after setting up your workspace to avoid any accidental changes made to it.

■ Fine tune your workspaces to use the tools, commands, and functions you use most often for a specific task. This helps you save time while searching for menus and tools that you need often.

■ Do not change the workspaces that come with AutoCAD MEP. Create a new workspace that you can customize by saving the original workspace under a new name. This helps when you need to refer back or use the workspace that came with the software. Also, when you upgrade, you can migrate your uniquely named workspaces to the new release easily without overwriting any new tools.

■ Turning off the display of workspaces not used in the workspace settings enables users of different disciplines to work more efficiently when there are multiple workspaces within the same organization.

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Exercise: Create a Custom Workspace

In this exercise, you create and customize a new workspace.

You are using tools from different disciplines in your project therefore you need to switch workspaces frequently. To overcome this, you create a new workspace and customize it to include all the menus and tool palettes specific to your project.


■ Create and customize a workspace.■ Transfer tools from another menu system into your MEP menu system.

Create and Customize a Workspace


Customized pulldown menus

Customized toolbars

Dockable tool palettes 1. On the Workspaces toolbar, select Workspace Settings from the Workspaces list.

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2. In the Workspace Settings dialog box, under When Switching Workspaces:

■ Verify that Do Not Save Changes to Workspace is selected.

■ Click OK.

3. On the Workspaces toolbar, select Piping from the Workspaces list.

4. Right-click any toolbar icon and ensure that Layer Properties, Modify, Navigation, Shapes, Standard, and Workspaces are selected.

5. Under the Windows > Pulldowns > MEP Disciplines, ensure that Piping and Schematic are selected.

6. Right-click the Tool Palettes bar and from the list: ■ Ensure that Piping is selected.■ Select Allow Docking.■ Select Auto-Hide.■ Select Anchor Left.

NOTE: If the Tool Palette is not displayed, turn it on by clicking Windows > Tool Palettes.

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7. Right-click the Properties bar from the list: ■ Select Allow Docking.■ Select Auto-Hide.■ Select Anchor Left.

NOTE: If the Properties Palette is not displayed, turn it on by clicking Windows > Properties Palette.

8. Right-click the Tool Palettes bar and select Customize Palettes.

9. In the Customize dialog box, under Palette Groups:

■ Collapse all groups, right-click the blank area, and select New Group.

■ Enter My Piping as the name of the new group.

■ Drag the new group to the top of the list.

10. In the Customize dialog box:

■ Drag the Palettes from the left pane to the My Piping palette group in the right pane.

■ Click Close.

NOTE: All the Piping palettes on the left pane should be grouped together in sequence except for the Piping Line and Piping Equipment palettes. These palettes are grouped under Schematic palette group.

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Transfer Tools from Another Menu

System Into Your MEP Menu System11. Right-click the Tool Palettes bar and select My

Piping from the list.

12. On the Workspaces toolbar, select Save Current As from the Workspaces list.

13. In the Save Workspace dialog box:

■ For Name, enter My Piping.

■ Click Save.

14. On the Workspace toolbar, select Piping from the Workspaces list to revert to the MEP Piping Workspace.

15. On the Workspace toolbar, select My Piping from the Workspaces list to revert to the new workspace you have just created.

1. On the Workspace toolbar, select Workspace settings from the list.

2. In the Workspace Settings dialog box, set your default workspace by setting My Workspace = My Piping.

3. On the Workspace toolbar, under Menu Display and Order:

■ Select HVAC.■ Select SEPERATOR and move it above

HVAC.■ Select My Piping and move it to the top.

4. Click OK to close the Workspace Settings dialog box.

5. View the changes in the Workspace toolbar.

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6. Right-click beside the toolbars and select BSPIPING > Pipe Design.

7. Verify that the Pipe Design toolbar is added.

8. Right-click beside the toolbars and select BSPIPING > Pipe Fittings.

9. Verify that the Pipe Fittings toolbar is added.

10. Drag both the toolbars to a docking position on the right side of the Drawing Window.

11. On the Workspaces toolbar, select Save Current As from the list.

12. In the Save Workspace dialog box: ■ Under Name, select My Piping.

■ Click Save.

NOTE: Click YES in the AutoCAD dialog box.

13. On the Workspaces toolbar, select Customize from the list.

14. In the Customize User Interface dialog box, Transfer tab, under Customizations in Main CUI, select Open Customization File.

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15. In the Open dialog box:

■ Browse to the Support directory.■ Select acad.CUI.

■ Click Open.

NOTE: The Support directory is located at C:\Documents and Settings\ <USER_NAME>\ Application Data\ Autodesk\ACD-MEP 2008\ enu\Support.

16. In the Customize User Interface dialog box, under Customizations in New CUI File, select Main CUI File (ABS.cui).

17. In the Customize User Interface dialog box:

■ Under acad.cui, expand Toolbars.■ Select Modify II.■ Drag it to the Toolbars under Main CUI

File (ABS.cui).

18. Click Apply to apply the changes.

19. In the Customize User Interface, Customize Tab, under All Customization Files:

■ Right-click ABS > Workspaces > My Piping.

■ Select Customize Workspace from the list.

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20. In the Customize User Interface, under All Customization Files, select Partial CUI Files > ABS_CAD_MANAGER > Toolbars > CAD Manager.

21. In the Customize User Interface, under Workspace Contents:

■ Select Done.

■ Click OK.

22. Drag Modify II and CAD Manager toolbars to a docking position on the top.

23. Repeat steps 11 and 12 to resave your workspace with the new CUI changes.

24. In the customized workspace, ensure that:

■ The Piping and Schematic pulldown menus are displayed.

■ The Layer Properties, Modify, Modify II, Navigation, Shapes, Standard, Workspaces, Pipe Design, Pipe Fittings, and CAD Manager toolbars are displayed.

■ The My Piping tool palette and the Properties Palette are located correctly.

25. Close all files without saving.

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Lesson: Setting Up a Project ■ 35

Lesson: Setting Up a Project

Overview

This lesson describes how to set up and manage projects with drawing management tools.

With drawing management tools, such as the Project Navigator and Project Browser, you can set up large building projects that are divided among multiple drawing files, levels, and divisions. Consistency is ensured in all aspects of the project because the design team creates and manages the project in a centralized environment.

The following illustration shows the Project Browser with the Sample Project building project.

Objectives


■ Describe the process of setting up a project. ■ Describe project properties. ■ Describe the Project Navigator. ■ Describe project levels and divisions. ■ Describe project-based tools. ■ Create a tool palette group and assign a library. ■ List the guidelines for setting up a project. ■ Set up a project.

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Process of Setting Up a Project

When you start a project, you can add constructs to pre-existing drawings of the project, if available. If the drawings are not available, you can create new drawings and add them to the project. A project consists of two parts, the building model and the reports generated from the model.

Building models are made up of:

Reports are made up of:

Within a project, elements are referenced into constructs, constructs are referenced into views, and views are referenced into sheets.

Option Description

Elements Generic and repetitive building blocks that are not associated with a specific location, such as a bathroom or classroom layout, that will be used several times in a project.

Constructs Unique portions of buildings that are associated with an explicit location, such as floor layouts and spaces.

Option Description

Views Drawings that present specific views of a building model, such as Plans, Elevations, and Sections.

Plotting Sheets Published construction documents; for example, scaled plans and sections of a building with annotations, dimensions, and title blocks in paper space layouts.

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Process: Setting Up a Project

The following flowchart displays the stages of setting up a project.

If you create a new project using an existing project as a template, the new project has predefined settings, support files, and drawing files. This is the quickest and the easiest way to create a project. However, when you create a new project with the structure of an existing project, the new project will have the structure and support files of the existing project but not its drawing files.

The following steps describe the process of setting up a project using AutoCAD MEP.

1. Create a new project, either with no template, using an existing project as a template, or using the structure of an existing project.

2. Define project settings, including general settings, tool palettes, the Content Browser library, project standards, project details, and project databases.

3. Define levels and divisions in the project.

4. Create elements and constructs for the project.

5. Create views of the project; for example, a first-floor view or a structural view.

6. Create sheets for the project, including title blocks and sheet views.

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About Project Properties

You can use the Modify Project worksheet to define and change project settings. The following illustration shows the Modify Project worksheet.

You can open the Modify Project worksheet by using the Project Browser.

The Project Browser is a tool for performing management tasks for projects, such as creating new projects, selecting the currently active project, renaming a project, and changing its location.

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Definition of Project Properties

Project properties are current project settings that are defined in the Modify Project worksheet. You can use this worksheet to specify properties such as an identifier for the project, name and description of the project, relative or full paths of external references within the project, the template (.DWT) file for the drawing type, location of the project tool palette group, storage type of the tool palette, root path for the tools used in the project tool palette group, default location for the Content Browser library, and so on.

Refer to the online AutoCAD MEP help for detailed information on each property.

Example of Project Properties

You can modify the project bulletin board and project image for your project by specifying the path to the location of the images. The following illustration shows the modified image paths for the Sample Project project.

About the Project Navigator

After selecting a project in the Project Browser, you can create and edit the building and documentation data using the Project Navigator. You can create and edit elements, constructs, model views, detail views, section views, and sheets. You can also reference these items to one another. The following illustration displays the parts of the Project Navigator.

If a new project is based on a template project, the property settings of the template project apply to the new project. You can modify the properties as required.

Tabs

Drawing Explorer

Detail

Preview

Preview/Detail pane

Toolbar

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Definition of the Project Navigator

The Project Navigator provides the context in which you create, edit, and manage your project drawings. The four tabs on the palette correspond to the four main phases of project creation: specifying general project information, building data, creating views, and building documentation.

Project Tab

You can use the Project tab to enter information pertaining to the entire project such as levels and divisions.

Constructs Tab

You can use the Constructs tab to add the basic building data for your project. You can add, open, modify, and delete elements and constructs within the project. You can also create categories for elements and constructs and reference elements into constructs. Categories are folders within the project that help you organize project files.

Project tab

Constructs tab

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Views Tab

You can use the Views tab to create different views of your building data. You can add, open, modify, and delete view drawings in the project. You can also create categories for view drawings and add, modify, and delete model space views, detail views, section views, and elevation views.

Sheets Tab

You can use the Sheets tab to create and organize plotting sheets (layouts) for your project and also work with the project sheet set. The Sheets tab has two different views, Explorer View and Sheet Set View.

In the Sheet Set View, you can view the sheet set of the project and perform all actions related to sheets, sheet views, and the sheet set.

Views tab

Sheets tab

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In the Sheet Set view, you can perform the following actions:

■ Create sheet subsets that define the logical structure of the sheet set.■ Add, modify, and delete sheets in the project.■ Open sheet views.■ Assign numbers to sheet views.■ Insert a sheets table of contents.■ Electronically transmit the sheet set or a sheet subset.■ Archive the sheet set or a sheet subset.■ Publish the sheet set or a sheet subset to a plotter or a DWF™ file.■ Create sheet selections for specific tasks.■ Manage page setups for the sheet set.■ Launch a project-specific Content Browser library.

In the Explorer view, you can perform the following actions:

■ Create and delete categories.■ Open and delete sheets and sheet drawings.■ Use eTransmit.

Explorer View of the Project Navigator’s Sheets tab

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Drawing Explorer

Project drawing files are displayed on their respective tabs in the Drawing Explorer, as shown.

The drawing files are listed hierarchically based on their category (folder). You can use the Drawing Explorer to perform drag-and-drop operations or copy and paste drawing files.

Preview/Detail Pane

Below the Drawing Explorer is the Preview/Detail pane, as shown.

The Preview pane displays a preview of the selected drawing file and the Detail pane displays its description. You can use the Preview and Detail buttons to switch between the Preview and Detail panes.

Detail of the selected drawing in the Detail pane

Preview of the selected drawing in the Preview pane

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Project Navigator Toolbar

All Project Navigator tabs have a toolbar at the bottom. This toolbar helps you perform various tasks on each tab. The buttons on the toolbar vary depending on the tab selected.

You can launch a project-specific Content Browser library by using the Project Browser button on any tab.

Example of Using the Project Navigator

You can use the Project Navigator to add an existing drawing as a construct to the selected category. The following illustration shows the drawing 01 Building Outline.dwg set as a construct in the Architectural category.

Toolbar

You can open the Content Browser only when a drawing file is open. The Project Navigator remains open even when all the drawing files are closed.

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About Project Levels and Divisions

You can define the structure of a building by adding levels and divisions to a building project. After defining the structure of the building, you can create element drawings that are repeatedly used within the building; for example, a bathroom layout that is going to be identical on every floor of the building. You can also create construct drawings that describe unique portions of the building and assign those portions to levels and divisions.

After assigning constructs to levels and divisions, you can create view drawings that present a specific view of the building project.

Definition of Project Levels and Divisions

The levels in a project define the floors in a building. When you create levels, you specify the number of levels, floor-to-floor height, and floor elevation for each level. You can also add levels for basements and roofs.

The divisions in a project subdivide the building in the horizontal plane. For example, you can add a division to create a wing or an annexure. The length and width of a division are defined by the construct assigned to it.

The names used for the levels and divisions in a project help define the project standards. All users working on the project refer to the levels and the divisions by the same name.

The following illustration shows the mechanical equipment in a building with two floors.

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You can create several constructs for each level of the building. The constructs can then be assigned to a level or a division within that level. A construct, such as a drawing that contains a single duct that runs vertically across multiple floors, can be assigned to multiple levels and divisions. The following illustration shows electrical equipment in a construct that can be assigned to a wing within a level.

You can create a view drawing by selecting constructs from the project and referencing them into the view drawing. When creating multilevel views, each construct is referenced at its level height. The following illustration shows a general view and the second floor construct referenced into that view.

You can regenerate a view drawing if the constructs assigned to it change. For example, when you change the floor elevation of any level in the project, the construct assigned to that level also changes because it is referenced at the height of that level. When you regenerate a view drawing, all the external references used to generate that view are reloaded. The insertion points of the constructs that are referenced in the view drawing also change.

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Example of Project Levels and Divisions

The illustration on the left shows the mechanical equipment in a view drawing with the original level settings. In the illustration on the right, the floor elevation for the levels is higher and the views in the project have been regenerated. As a result, the insertion points for the constructs have changed.

Project-Based Tools

You can organize and access project styles through the tools you create on project tool palettes. You can also define a project-specific tool palette group. The default tool palette group created for each project is empty. You can customize the project tool palette group, as shown in the following illustration. The tool palette is displayed when you make the project current.

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You can also set the Content Browser to open a project-specific tool catalog library, as shown in the following illustration, when you open it with the Project Navigator.

Tool Palette Group

When you make a project current using the Project Browser, the project tool palette group is displayed automatically if it contains at least one tool palette. You can create a new project tool palette group for a project or associate an existing tool palette group with a project. There are three settings that control the tool palettes associated with a project, as shown in the following illustration.

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Tool Palette File Location

Tool Palette File Location specifies the location of an existing project tool palette group. This tool palette group is automatically displayed when you make the associated project current.

Tool Palette Storage Type

Tool Palette Storage Type can be of the following two types:

Tool Content Root Path

By using Tool Content Root Path, you can set a root path for the tools used in the project tool palette group. When tools on the project tool palettes point to the tool content root path, the content root path is created as a variable (%AECPROJECT_DIR%) in the XML definition of the tool. When you change the tool content root path in the project settings, the path of the tools also changes. If you set a tool content root path, your tools remain consistent with the standards when the project or the standards drawings are moved during the project life cycle.

Project Library

When you open the Content Browser directly from the Project Navigator, a tool catalog library specific to the current project is displayed. For the Tool Catalog Library option, select the tool catalog library file you want to display, as shown in the following illustration.

Type Description

Per user workspace

catalog

The tool palettes are copied to a folder that is created on your local drive. If you make changes to the tool palettes in the original file location, the tool palettes displayed on your workspace do not reflect the changes.

Shared workspace

catalog

The path selected under Tool Palette File Location is added to your project profile. If you make changes to the tool palettes in the original file location, the tool palettes displayed on your workspace reflect the changes.

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Creating a Tool Palette and Assigning a Library

As a project owner, you can create project-specific tool palettes and set up a Content Browser library on a shared network drive. You can associate the tool palettes and the library with the project to quickly access the standard tools. All the project users can access this library. This is especially useful in a large project.

Procedure: Creating a Project Tool Palette

The following steps describe how to create a project tool palette.

1. Click Window menu > Tool Palettes.

2. Right-click the title bar of Tool Palettes. Click Customize Palettes.

3. In the Customize dialog box:

■ Drag a tool palette from the Palettes area to the project tool palette group.

■ Click Close.

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Procedure: Assigning a Project Library

The following steps describe how to assign a project library.

Guidelines for Setting Up a Project

To follow an organized and more productive approach to setting up a project in AutoCAD MEP, you should follow some recommended guidelines.

Guidelines

■ Work vertically with levels that include drawing objects at different elevations, such as Floors, Mezzanines, Basement, and Grade. Work horizontally with divisions that include drawing objects at the same elevation, such as Wings, Annexes, and Branches.

■ Work in full scale model space environment when you are working with constructs, elements and views.

■ Work in scaled paper space layout when you are working with sheets.■ Ensure that elements do not contain any xrefs or non-generic labels, and that constructs only

contain xrefs from elements or other constructs.■ Keep the number of views per drawing to a reasonable amount. Adding too many views to a single

drawing can slow system performance.■ Organize your views by keeping similar views within the same drawing. For example, place all your

piping support details on a single drawing and all your framing details on a single drawing.

4. Right-click the title bar of Tool Palettes. Click the new tool palette.

1. Click File menu > Project Browser.

2. Right-click the project to which you want to assign the project library. Click Project Properties.

3. Under Tool Catalog Library, specify the Content Browser library that will be displayed when Content Browser is opened from the Project Navigator.

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■ Ensure that you use the correct tab of the Project Navigator for different components of a project. For example:

• Use the Constructs tab to create, build, and maintain the building model. Elements should not contain any xrefs or non-generic labels. Constructs should only contain xrefs from elements or other constructs. Labeling and annotation should be minimized in constructs and elements.

• Use the Views tab to finalize the design process and begin the drafting process. Xrefs of constructs are used to create plans, sections, elevations and details. Annotation, notes, dimensions, tags, schedules, bill of materials, and so on, are added in order to prepare the drawings for publishing.

• Use the Sheets tab to finalize the layout drawings for document production. Xrefs of Views are added using scaled viewports on a paper space layout. In addition, title blocks and drawing specific annotation and notes are added.

Example of Working with Sheets in Scaled Paper Space Layout

The following illustration shows a scaled paper space layout that simplifies working with a sheet.

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Exercise: Set Up a Project

In this exercise, you set up a new project.

You are designing a project for a penthouse. You add levels, divisions, elements, and constructs to the project. You define the general view of the penthouse and create a sheet to plot the showroom drawing.


■ Create a new project and add levels and divisions.■ Add constructs and elements.■ Create view drawings.■ Create sheets.

Create a New Project and Add Levels

and Divisions


1. On the Standard toolbar, click QNew to open a new drawing.

2. On the Navigation toolbar, click Project Browser.

3. In the Project Browser dialog box, click New Project to create a new project.

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4. In the Add Project worksheet:

■ For Project Number, enter 581.■ For Project Name, enter Penthouse.■ Clear the Create from Template Project

check box.

■ Click OK.

5. The Penthouse project is displayed in the Project Browser. Click Close to close the Project Browser.

6. On the Project Navigator palette, Project tab, under Levels, click Edit Levels.

7. In the Levels worksheet:

■ Select the Auto-Adjust Elevation check box.

■ Click Add Level. A new level named 2 (1) is added to the current project.

8. To change the name of the level:

■ Under Name, right-click 2 (1).■ Click Rename Level.■ For level name, enter Roof.

■ Click OK.

9. On the Project Navigator palette, Project tab, under Divisions, click Edit Divisions.

10. In the Divisions worksheet, click Add Division. A new division named Unnamed is added to the project.

11. To change the name of the division:

■ Right-click Unnamed.■ Click Rename Division.■ For division name, enter Living Room.

12. To change the ID:

■ Under ID, click Unnamed.■ Enter 2.

■ Click OK.

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Add Constructs and Elements

1. On the Project Navigator palette, Constructs tab:

■ Right-click Constructs.■ Click New > Category.

A new category named Unnamed is added under Constructs.

2. To rename the new category:

■ Right-click Unnamed.■ Click Rename.■ For category name, enter Architectural.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to create four more categories called:

■ HVAC■ Electrical■ Piping■ Plumbing


■ Right-click Elements.■ Click New > Category.

A new category named Unnamed is added under Elements.

5. To rename the new category:

■ Right-click Unnamed.■ Click Rename.■ For category name, enter Architectural.

6. Open i_ground_floor.dwg (m_ground_floor.dwg).

7. On the Project Navigator palette, Constructs tab, under Constructs:

■ Right-click Architectural.■ Click Save Current Dwg As Construct.

8. In the Add Construct worksheet:

■ For Name, enter Ground Floor.■ For Description, click i_ground_floor

(m_ground_floor).

9. In the Description worksheet:

■ For Description, enter Ground Floor.■ Click OK.

10. Under Division:

■ Select the Division 1 check box for Level 1 (Roof).

■ Select the Division Living Room check box for Level 1 (Roof).

■ Click OK.

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11. Verify that the Ground Floor construct is displayed under the Architectural category.

12. Open i_ground_floor_duct_work.dwg (m_ground_floor_duct_work.dwg).

13. Repeat step 7 for the HVAC category.

■ For Name, enter Ground Floor Duct

Work.■ For Description, click

i_ground_floor_duct_work (m_ground_floor_duct_work).


■ For Description, enter Ground Floor

Duct Work.■ Click OK.

15. Under Division:

■ Select the 1 check box for Level 1 (Roof ).■ Select the Living Room check box for

Level 1 (Roof).■ Click OK.■ Verify that the Ground Floor Duct Work

construct is displayed under the HVAC category.

16. Open i_ground_floor_utilities.dwg (m_ground_floor_utilities.dwg).

17. Repeat step 7 for the HVAC category.

■ For Name, enter Ground Floor Utilities.■ For Description, click

i_ground_floor_utilities (m_ground_floor_utilities).



Utilities.■ Click OK.

19. Under Division:

■ Select the 1 check box for Level 1 (Roof ).■ Select the Living Room check box for

Level 1 (Roof).■ Click OK.■ Verify that the Ground Floor Utilities

construct is displayed under the HVAC category.

20. Open i_ground_floor_walls.dwg (m_ground_floor_walls.dwg).

21. On the Project Navigator palette, Constructs tab, under Elements:

■ Right-click Architectural.■ Click Save Current Dwg As Element.

22. In the Add Element worksheet:

■ For Name, enter Ground Floor Walls.■ For Description, click i_ground_

floor_walls (m_ground_floor_walls).



Walls.

■ Click OK to close the Add Element worksheet.

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Create View Drawings

24. Verify that the Ground Floor Walls element is displayed under the Architectural category.

1. On the Standard toolbar, click QNew to open a new drawing file.

2. In the Application Status bar, click Grid and Snap to turn off the grid and snap options.


■ From the Architectural category, drag the Ground Floor construct to the drawing.

■ From the HVAC category, drag the Ground Floor Duct Work construct to the drawing.

■ From the HVAC category, drag the Ground Floor Utilities construct to the drawing.

The drawing appears as shown.

NOTE: You need to zoom extents to view this.

4. On the Project Navigator palette, Views tab:

■ Right-click Views.■ Click Save Current Dwg As View >

General.

5. In the Add General View worksheet:

■ For Name, enter Duct Work Ground

Floor.■ Click the Description value field.


■ Under Edit the Description, enter Duct

Work Ground Floor.■ Click OK.

7. In the Add General View worksheet, click Next.

8. Under Division:

■ Select the 1 check box for Level 1 (Roof).■ Select the Living Room check box for

Level 1 (Roof).■ Click Next.

9. For Content:

■ Clear the Constructs check box. All the check boxes are cleared.

■ Click Finish.

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Create Sheets10. Verify that the Duct Work Ground Floor view is displayed on the Views tab.

11. Under Views:

■ Right-click Duct Work Ground Floor.■ Click New Model Space View.

12. In the Add Model Space View worksheet:

■ For Name, enter Duct Work Ground

Floor.■ For Scale, enter 1/8" = 1'-0" (1:100).■ Click Define View Window.

13. In the drawing:

■ At the Specify First Corner prompt, click above the upper-left corner of the building.

■ At the Specify Opposite Corner prompt, click below the lower-right corner of the building.

14. In the Add Model Space View worksheet, click OK.

15. Click File menu > Close. Save the drawing.

1. On the Project Navigator palette, Sheets tab:

■ Ensure that you are on the Sheet Set view.■ Right-click Penthouse and select

Properties.

2. In the Sheet Set Properties dialog box, Sheet Creation:

■ Click the Sheet creation template field to activate it.

■ Click the Browse button for Sheet Creation Template field.

3. In the Select Layout as Sheet Template dialog box:

■ Browse to the Project and Tools Essentials folder and select i_adding_sheet_template.dwt or m_adding_sheet_template.dwt.

■ Click Open.

NOTE: The path for the sheet template is same as for the datasets.

4. In the Select Layout As Sheet Template dialog box, click OK to set the selected template as the template used for creating new sheets.

5. Click OK to close the Sheet Set Properties dialog box. In the Confirm Changes dialog box, click Yes.

6. On the Project Navigator palette, Sheets tab:

■ Expand Mechanical.■ Right-click Plans.■ Click New > Sheet.

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7. In the New Sheet dialog box:

■ For Number, enter 01.■ For Sheet Title, enter Duct Work Ground

Floor.

■ Click OK.

8. On the Sheets tab, double-click 01 Duct Work Ground Floor.

9. Drag the Duct Work Ground Floor view under the Duct Work Ground Floor view from the Project Navigator, Views tab, to the drawing. Click to place it in the drawing.

10. Click File menu > Close. Do not save the drawing.

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Lesson: Setting up Profiles

Overview

This lesson describes how to create and use profiles.

You use profiles to customize the drawing environment according to the working style of individual users. Profiles store and recall settings and locations for tools and data such as templates, palettes, catalogs, content, user preferences, units, and system variables.

Objectives


■ Describe profiles. ■ Manage profiles using the Options dialog box. ■ Create, export, and import a profile. ■ State the recommended practices for using profiles. ■ Create and use a profile.

Profiles installed with AutoCAD MEP

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Lesson: Setting up Profiles ■ 61

About Profiles

In a working environment, users have their own working styles based on their requirements and preferences. While one user might prefer a black background, another might want a white background. In addition, the company itself may want to have designers of certain disciplines accessing catalogs and content created for the specific type of work they are performing.

Profiles enable the user to define an efficient working environment, especially when working in multiple projects and disciplines.

Definition of Profiles

Profiles store all the settings in a drawing environment. You use profiles to manage all the settings required by designers. You can create profiles for different users or projects. When you share a computer with another user, you can change your drawing environment within your own profile without affecting the drawing environment of the other users.

You share profiles by importing and exporting them as ARG files.

Profiles store settings such as:

■ File locations such as support files and printers■ Default templates and locations■ MEP catalogs and content■ Tool palettes and customization files■ Default linetypes and hatch patterns■ Unit systems such as Imperial or Metric■ User preferences such as OSnaps and display settings■ Project files and locations

The following illustration displays the Files tab of the Options dialog box. The settings controlled here are saved within a profile. The active Current Profile is listed above the tabs.

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You store profile information in the system registry. Each time you change an option, setting, or any system value, the current profile is updated. You create and manage your profiles on the Profiles tab of the Options dialog box. AutoCAD MEP includes profiles for working with imperial and metric units.

AutoCAD MEP Profiles

When you install AutoCAD MEP, three profiles are automatically generated in the computer system. Desktop Shortcuts corresponding to each profile are also placed, providing quick and easy access to all three profiles. You can also create an AutoCAD profile during installation.

You can work with the following profiles:

Profile Description

AutoCAD MEP

(US Imperial)

Allows you to create documents using imperial measurements and content. All MEP catalogs, content, templates, tool palettes, tools, and settings refer to imperial versions installed onto your system.

AutoCAD MEP

(US Metric)

Allows you to create documents using metric measurements and content. All MEP catalogs, content, templates, tool palettes, tools, and settings refer to the metric versions installed on your system based on the General Service Administration (GSA) Guidelines.

AutoCAD MEP

(Global)

Allows you to create documents using international metric measurements and content. All MEP catalogs, content, templates, tool palettes, tools, and settings refer to metric versions installed on your system based on British Standard Institution (BSI) Guidelines.

AutoCAD Allows you to use AutoCAD MEP as standard AutoCAD. When you use this profile, none of the MEP tools or content is available. The menu system and palettes that are available in standard AutoCAD are loaded.

AutoCAD

MEP(UK)

Allows you to create documents using metric measurements and content. All MEP catalogs, content, templates, tool palettes, tools, and settings refer to metric versions installed onto your system.

The AutoCAD Profile is optional. To add an AutoCAD profile, during the installation process, select AutoCAD from the Content Packs list on the Configure Content Packs dialog box. You can also install a desktop shortcut for this selected profile by clicking Yes in the Desktop Shortcut column of the profile.

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Managing Profiles

You load a profile that you need to work on and then manage the profile using the Profile tab on the Options dialog box. You also define workspaces in the profile.

The most common way to load a profile is by using the desktop shortcuts. When you open AutoCAD MEP from one of these shortcuts, your current profile is set to the profile defined in the shortcut.

Workspaces and Profiles

Workspaces control the display of menus, toolbars, and palettes in the drawing area. When you change your workspace, you change the display of your drawing area. Workspaces work within the drawing environment specified in a profile.

Profiles save environment settings, including many of your user options, drafting settings, paths, and other values. Profiles are updated each time you make a change to an option, setting, or another value.

Options Dialog Box

You can load and manage a profile using the Profile tab on the Options dialog box. You open the Options dialog box from the Format menu.

Options listed under the Profiles tab

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Profiles Tab Options

The following options are available on the Profiles tab:

Creating, Exporting, and Importing a Profile

You can create a new profile using the Options dialog box. You may also need to create project-specific profiles and share them with users. To accomplish this, you can import and export profiles in a project. You can then make the settings, configurations, and drawing environment information available to each user.

Procedure: Creating a New Profile

The following steps describe how to create a new profile from an existing profile.

Option Description

Available

profiles

Displays a list of the available profiles.

Set Current Makes the selected profile current.

Add to List Saves the selected profile under a different name.

Rename Changes the name and description of the selected profile.

Delete Deletes the selected profile. NOTE: You cannot delete the current profile.

Export Exports the selected profile to an ARG file so that you can share it with other users.

Import Imports a profile from an ARG file created using the export option.

Reset Resets the values in the selected profile to the default system settings.NOTE: Perform this task only after exporting a backup copy of the selected profile.

1. Select an existing profile from the list of available profiles.

2. Select Add to List to open the Add Profile dialog box.

3. Enter a name for the new profile. You can also add a short description of the profile.NOTE: To make changes to your new profile, you need to set it as the current profile.

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Procedure: Exporting Profiles

The following steps describe how to export a profile.

Procedure: Importing Profiles

The following steps describe how to import a profile.

Guidelines for Using Profiles

The following recommended best practices help you manage your profiles.

Guidelines

■ Create backup copies of the profiles that you want to retain as the current profile is automatically updated with any changes in the profile settings.

■ Assign easy and recognizable names to a profile. Include user, client, or project names when applicable. This helps create a ready reference that is easy to comprehend, especially in a multi-user environment. You can also include drawing unit information such as Imperial or Metric.

■ Export a profile at the end of a particular project and archive it as an ARG file. This provides a ready reference in case you need the same profile for another project.

■ Create a desktop shortcut for a profile that you use frequently. Copy an existing desktop shortcut and change the startup switch (/p) under Target to open the desired profile.

■ Export a copy of a profile as a backup before resetting the values in a profile. When you reset a profile, you remove all the data stored within a profile.

1. Select the profile that you need to export from the list of available profiles under the Profiles tab in the Options dialog box.

2. Select Export to open the Export Profile dialog box.

3. Specify the location and file name for the profile. You can also save the profile on a network.NOTE: The default file extension is .arg.

1. Select Import from the Profiles tab on the Options dialog box.

2. Select the file type as .arg from the Import Profile dialog box.

3. Open the required ARG file.

4. Rename the profile and add a description in the Import Profiles dialog box. You can also specify whether to include path information.

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Example

The following illustration shows the properties of the AutoCAD MEP 2008 (US Imperial) desktop shortcut. By changing the profile name for the /p startup switch in the target, you can create a desktop shortcut for any profile that exists and make that profile current when starting AutoCAD MEP.

On the Properties shortcut on the right, the profile has been changed to AutoCAD MEP (US Imperial).

Profile set to /p "My Profile"

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Exercise: Create and Use Profiles

In this exercise, you create a profile and modify the MEP settings for use with this profile.

You are beginning a new project for a client who has requested you to meet some unique cable tray and conduit requirements. You have developed some catalogs for your use on the project and you need to make them available to this project without affecting other projects you are working on. You decide to use a profile to accomplish this and want to set a few user preferences to the drawing environment as well.


■ Create a profile and set user preferences.■ Set project catalogs.

Create a Profile and Set User Preferences


1. Click Format menu > Options to open the Options dialog box.

2. In the Options dialog box:

■ Select the Profiles tab.■ Under Available Profiles, select AutoCAD

MEP (US Imperial) or AutoCAD MEP (US Metric).

■ Click Add to List to open the Add Profile dialog box.

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3. In the Add Profile dialog box:

■ For Profile name, enter My Profile.■ Click Apply & Close.

4. In the Options dialog box, under Profiles tab:

■ Under Available Profiles, select My Profile.■ Click Set Current.

■ Select the Files tab.

5. In the Options dialog box, Files tab:

■ Expand Support File Search Path.■ Click Add.■ Click Browse.

6. In the Browse for Folder dialog box:

■ Browse to the Project and Tools Essentials directory.

■ Click OK.

NOTE: The Project and Tools Essentials directory is located where you installed the course datasets.

7. In the Options dialog box, Files tab:

■ Expand Template Settings.■ Expand Default Template File Name

for QNEW.

■ Select the file name and click Browse to open the Select a File dialog box.

8. In the Select a File dialog box:

■ Select Electrical_Template.dwt.■ Click Open.

9. In the Options dialog box, select the Display tab.

10. On the Display tab, under Window Elements, click Colors to open the Drawing Window Colors dialog box.

11. In the Drawing Window Colors dialog box:

■ Ensure the Interface element is set to Uniform Background.

■ Select White from the Color list. If your display color was already white, set it to Black.

■ Click Apply & Close.

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Set Project Catalogs

1. In the Options dialog box, select the MEP Catalogs tab.

2. On the MEP Catalogs tab, under Catalogs:

■ Under Domain, for Cable Tray, click the Path field.

■ Click the [...] icon to open the Select Catalog File for Cable Tray dialog box.

3. In the Select Catalog File for Cable Trays dialog box:

■ Navigate to the Projects and Tools directory.

■ Select My_Cable_Tray_Catalog.apc.■ Click Open.

4. Repeat step 2 and 3 to select My_Conduit_Catalog.apc for Conduit.

5. In the Options dialog box, click OK to save the changes.

NOTE: Close the Catalog Status regeneration message if it appears.

6. Click Format menu > Options to open the Options dialog box.



MEP (US Imperial) or AutoCAD (US Metric).■ Click Set Current. Notice that the screen

background color reverts back to the original color.

■ Select the MEP Catalogs tab. Notice that the Cable Tray and the Conduit Catalogs are set to the US Imperial (US Metric) versions.

■ Select the Files tab. Notice that Projects and Tools is no longer listed under Support File Search Path and QNew Template has been reset to its original status.



MEP (Global).■ Click Set Current.

9. In the Options dialog box, select the MEP Catalogs tab. Notice that all catalogs are now using the Global catalogs.

10. In the Options dialog box, select the Profiles tab and set My Profile as current. Notice that the background screen and other settings have reverted back to the values that you had specified earlier in the exercise.

11. Close all files without saving.

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Lesson: Using Project Standards

Overview

This lesson describes how to synchronize project drawings with standards.

You use project standards to synchronize projects with standards by detecting and removing discrepancies between project drawings and standards drawings. The following illustration shows a standards drawing associated with a project. The selected check boxes indicate the objects that define standards.

Objectives


■ Describe project standards. ■ Describe synchronization. ■ Explain the process of applying project standards. ■ Use manual synchronization. ■ Configure project standards.

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Lesson: Using Project Standards ■ 71

About Project Standards

In a project environment, you work with many other people working on different aspects of a drawing. Using inconsistent drawing object styles makes the drawing difficult to interpret and use. Standardizing features, such as styles and display settings, in a project prevents such problems and ensures consistency.

Definition of Project Standards

Project standards are a set of styles and display settings that you use to establish, maintain, and synchronize standards across all drawings in a project.

There are three aspects to project standards:

■ Standards drawings■ Project tool palettes■ Content Browser library

Standards Drawings

Standards drawings are the drawings that establish the standards, styles, and display settings for a project. You can use standards drawings to compare and detect discrepancies between the standards drawings and the project drawings. You can create standards drawings in different file formats such as drawing files (DWG™), drawing templates (DWT), or AutoCAD standards drawings (DWS). AEC Standards consist of two types of project standards: Standard Styles and AutoCAD Standards.

Project Tool Palette Groups

A project tool palette group is a collection of tool palettes that you can use to set project standards. Each project has a specific tool palette group associated with it. By default, the tool palette group associated with a project is empty.

Content Browser Library

The Content Browser library is a collection of tool catalogs that contains a project’s tool palettes. When you open the Content Browser, you see a project’s tool catalog library.

Project Standard Description

Standard Styles Standards for all AEC and MEP components from the Style Manager and the Display Manager such as property set definitions, schedule table styles, and mask block definitions. You can create one or more standards drawings for a project. For example, you can create one DWS file for object styles and another DWS file for layer key styles.

AutoCAD Standards Standards for all AutoCAD components in a project such as AutoCAD dimension styles, AutoCAD layers, text styles, and linetypes. In contrast to Standards Styles, AutoCAD standards for a project are stored in a single AutoCAD standards drawing (DWS) file. For example, you cannot define one DWS file for dimension styles and another DWS file for linetypes.

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Example of Project Standards

The illustration on the left shows a drawing associated with the Standard Styles. The illustration on the right shows an AutoCAD standards drawing associated with the same project.

About Synchronization

Having standards drawings and project tool palettes do not guarantee that your project drawings are drawn to standard. You need to synchronize project drawings with project standards to identify and remove discrepancies between the project drawings and project standards. The following illustration displays the available settings for synchronization of project drawings with project standards.

Standard Styles

AutoCAD Standards

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Definition of Synchronization

Project synchronization is the process of comparing project drawings with the standards drawings to discover and fix version discrepancies between them.

There are three types of synchronization:

■ Automatic■ Semi-automatic■ Manual

Each type has its own set of operations for synchronizing a project with standards.

Automatic Synchronization

You use automatic synchronization to automatically update project drawings with the standards drawings. When you use automatic synchronization, the following operations are performed:

Semi-automatic Synchronization

You use semi-automatic synchronization to retain some of the styles in a project drawing, while automatically synchronizing others. When you use semi-automatic synchronization, the following operations are performed:

Operation Description

Automatic synchronization

initiation

Automatically starts synchronization immediately after you open the project drawing.

Overwriting of styles and

display settings

Overwrites the styles and display settings in the project drawing automatically with the styles and display settings specified in the project standards.

Rejection of drawing changes Rejects the changes that you make to the standards drawings for a project.


Automatic initiation of

synchronization

Automatically starts synchronization immediately after you open the project drawing.

Overwriting or ignoring of

styles and display settings

Overwrites the styles and display settings in the project drawing with the styles and display settings specified in the project standards or ignores the inconsistent styles and display settings present in the project drawings.

Display of styles and display

settings

Displays a list of the styles and display settings that are not standardized.

Save or rejection of drawing

changes

Uploads or rejects the changes to the standards drawings for a project.

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Manual Synchronization

You use manual synchronization when you are not sure which drawings are being added to a project and which drawings already exist in the project. When you use manual synchronization, the following operations are performed:

Example of Synchronization

You are working on a drawing for the third floor piping plan of an office building. Your project has two standard styles drawings and an AutoCAD standards drawing associated with it. One of the standard styles drawings defines the standard styles and display settings for the piping objects in the project.

To accommodate special needs of your client, you have customized the Pipe Custom Fitting styles on this floor. You need to synchronize this piping plan drawing with standard styles to make sure that your piping designs will work within the project standards. You have not added any new AutoCAD objects; therefore, you do not need to synchronize your drawing with AutoCAD standards.

Your project is set up for manual synchronization, so you can proceed to step through the procedure for synchronizing your floor plan with the standard styles.

Process of Applying Project Standards

Applying standards across all drawings in a project makes it possible for a team of architects, drafters, and engineers to work together on the same project through separate drawing files. Once standards drawings and project tool palette groups are created for your project, you can concentrate on your designs. Any non-standard styles or settings that you introduce into your drawings are identified and corrected through a synchronization process.


Manual initiation of

synchronization

Requires a manual start to begin synchronization.

Overwriting or ignoring of

styles and display settings

Overwrites the styles and display settings in the project drawing with the styles and display settings specified in the project standards or ignores the inconsistent styles and display settings present in the project drawings.

Display of styles and display

settings

Displays a list of the styles and display settings that are not standardized.

Save of drawing changes Uploads the changes to the standards drawings for a project.

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Process: Applying Project Standards

The different steps in the process of applying project standards are shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process of applying project standards:

1. Create standards drawings.

You create standards drawings for objects and AutoCAD components.

2. Create project tool palette groups.

You create project tool palette groups.

3. Associate standards drawings.

You associate the standards drawings with the project.

4. Add standard object styles.

You add standard object styles to project drawings.

5. Synchronize project drawings.

You synchronize project drawings with the project standards.

6. Update objects or components.

You update any objects or components that are inconsistent with the project standards.

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Using Manual Synchronization

You need to manually synchronize a project with AEC standards under the following conditions:

■ When a style or display setting in the project drawing has changed and must be updated with the correct version from the project AEC standards.

■ When a style or display setting in the AEC project standards have changed and must be updated in the project drawings.

■ When styles and display settings not included in the AEC standards drawings are added to a project drawing.

When you set up AutoCAD standards for a project, a CHX batch checker file with the project name is created in the project folder. This CHX file is used in the synchronization of the AutoCAD standards with project drawings. You need to update the project CHX batch checker file before you start the AutoCAD Batch Standards Checker to ensure that the CHX file contains the current list of AutoCAD standards files and project files.

Procedure: Synchronizing a Project with Standard Styles

The following steps describe how to manually synchronize a project with AEC standards.

1. Make your project the current project.

2. Click CAD Manager menu > AEC Project Standards > Configure.

3. In the Configure AEC Project Standards dialog box, Synchronization tab, click Manual.

4. Click CAD Manager menu > AEC Project Standards > Synchronize Project with Standards.

NOTE: The top list in the Synchronize Project with Project Standards dialog box shows styles and display settings of older versions. The bottom list shows styles and display settings that are not standardized.

5. In the top list in the Synchronize Project with Project Standards dialog box, do one of the following:

■ Select Update from Standards from the Action list to update styles or display settings in the drawings.

■ Select Do not Update from the Action list if you do not want to update styles or display settings. These objects will be listed again the next time you synchronize.

■ Select Ignore from the Action list if you want to ignore the style or display settings. These objects are not listed in future synchronizations unless you select Show Objects Set to Ignore During Project Standards Synchronization.

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Procedure: Synchronizing a Project with AutoCAD Standards

The following steps describe how to update a CHX batch checker file and synchronize a project with AutoCAD standards.

6. In the bottom list, do one of the following:

■ Select Skip from the Action list if you want to skip over a nonstandardized style or display setting. These objects are listed again the next time you synchronize.

■ Select Ignore from the Action list if you want to ignore the style or display settings. These objects are not listed in future synchronizations unless you select Show Objects Set to Ignore During Project Standards Synchronization.

1. Make your project the current project.

2. Click CAD Manager menu > AEC Project Standards > Configure.

3. In the Configure AEC Project Standards dialog box, Synchronization tab, click Manual.

4. Click CAD Manager menu > AEC Project Standards > Update Project AutoCAD CAD Standards.

NOTE: A progress bar shows the progress of the CHX update.

5. Click Start menu > All Programs > Autodesk > AutoCAD MEP 2008 > Batch Standards Checker.

6. In the Batch Standards Checker dialog box, click File menu > Open Check File.

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Guidelines for Synchronizing Project Drawings Using Manual Synchronization

Follow these guidelines for setting up and synchronizing project standards.

■ Synchronize a project with AEC standards when a style or display setting in the project drawing has changed and needs to be updated with the correct version from the project standards.

■ Synchronize a project with AEC standards when a style or display setting in the project standards have changed and needs to be updated in the project drawings.

■ Synchronize a project with AEC standards when styles and display settings that are not included in the standards drawings have been added to a project drawing.

■ Update the project CHX file before you start the AutoCAD Batch Standards Checker to ensure that the CHX contains the current list of AutoCAD standards files and project files.

■ Use Synchronization at the end of a project to convert drawings from your company standards to your client’s standards. This enables your designers to work with the system they are familiar with while meeting requirements driven by the client.

7. In the Batch Standards Checker - File Open Dialog dialog box:

■ Browse to the project folder.■ Select the project CHX file.■ Click Open.

The Drawings tab shows the list of project drawings that you want to check.

8. Click Check menu > Start Check.

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Exercise: Configure Project Standards

In this exercise, you use project standards to synchronize project drawings with standards drawings.

You have saved a drawing file with all the electrical styles and definitions that you want to use as standards. You also have a drawing file for your display settings and a standards file for your AutoCAD settings. You want to set up the project standards so that your project drawings can automatically synchronize with the standards when the drawing files are opened.


■ Configure project standards.

1. Click QNew to open a new drawing file. Click File menu > Project Browser.

2. In the Project Browser dialog box:

■ Browse to the location of the Medical Research.apj file and make it the current project.

■ Right-click Medical Research.apj.■ Click Project Properties.

3. In the Modify Project worksheet, next to Project Standards, click Configure.

4. In the Configure AEC Project Standards dialog box, select the Enable Project Standard for Project 1023 - Medical Research check box.

NOTE: If you see Electrical Standards added under Standard Drawings column heading, select Electrical Standards and click Remove Drawing.

5. On the Standard Styles tab, select Electrical Objects from the Select Which Objects to Display in the List Below list.

6. Click Add Drawing.

7. In the Select Standards Drawing dialog box:

■ Click Electrical Standards.dws.■ Click Open.

NOTE: If an AutoCAD dialog box is displayed, click OK.

The Electrical Standards drawing is listed under Standards Drawings.

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8. In the Configure AEC Project Standards dialog box:

■ Right-click the column heading for the Electrical Standards drawing.

■ Click Select Column. All electrical styles are checked.

9. Select Browse from the Select Drawing to Use for Standard Display Settings list.

10. In the Select Standards Drawing dialog box:

■ Click Display Settings.dws.■ Click Open.

11. On the Synchronization tab, verify Automatic is selected.

12. On the AutoCAD Standards tab, click Add Drawing.

NOTE: If you have the path of the AutoCAD Standards.dws selected under Standards for Checking Project Drawings on the AutoCAD standards tab, click Remove Drawing to delete it before clicking Add Drawing.

13. In the Select Standards File dialog box:

■ Click AutoCAD Standards.dws.■ Click Open. The DWS file is listed under

Standards for Checking Project Drawings.

14. Click OK to close the Configure AEC Project Standards dialog box.

15. In the Version Comment dialog box:

■ Enter Standards for Electrical Styles.

■ Click OK.

16. Click OK to close the Modify Project worksheet.

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Chapter Summary ■ 81

Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you learned how to create a working project environment.

Having completed this chapter, you can:

■ Create and use templates. ■ Describe the workspace components in the MEP 2008 interface and how you can modify the

workspace to suit your requirements. ■ Set up and manage projects with drawing management tools. ■ Create and use profiles. ■ Synchronize project drawings with standards.

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