Single Project - Work Folder

The "Work" folder is found in the 02 Permits, 03b DD, and 04 CD directories.

02 Permits	03b DD	04 CD

WHAT FILES GO IN THE WORK FOLDER?
The work folder contains any CAD drawings and/or items that will be included with the CAD work that comes from our office. Planting plans, grading plans, sitework plans, etc.. This includes any file that is referenced (or linked) into a CAD drawing. Type of files include (but not limited to):

• AutoCAD files or ".dwg, dxf, or dwf"
• Adobe PDF or ".pdf" files
• Images or ".tif, .jpg, .sid, or .dwf"
• Excel Spreadsheets or ".xls or .xlsx"
• Word Documents or ".doc or docx"

HOW ARE THE WORK FILES NAMED?
The files names look like this:
A10100-plant.dwg or A10100-tree_list.xls

Any file in the work folder should follow this format [job number][hyphen][name of the file]. No spaces please, so use an underscore when a space is needed. Also, files should follow the general file naming principles.

When the folder structure is created using the Make Single Project Directory or Command "SPJ", a sample set of drawings will be placed in the 04 CD\work folder with the correct file naming standards. You can always refer to these sample templates to help you remember what the standards are for naming files. The Standard files in the work folder are (job number is typical):

• A10100-anno.dwg
• A10100-details-01.dwg
• A10100-details-02.dwg
• A10100-details-03.dwg
• A10100-grade.dwg
• A10100-site.dwg
• A1011-title.dwg

WHY ARE THESE FILE NAMES SO SHORT?
These files are short because when viewing xref layers in a drawing, we usually use the layer pulldown menu, and AutoCAD's layer menu will only support so many characters before the layername is truncated and made unreadable. The drawing name becomes part of the layer name. Xref layer names are prefixed with the [drawing name][vertical bar][layername] and look like the image below. When you combine the drawing name with our layer naming standards the entire xref drawing name and layer name will appear in the pulldown menu. The details file name is longer, but we don't turn layers on and off in a detail drawings so that name is allowed to be longer.


Xref Layer Names

Single Project - Xref Folder

The "Xref" folder is found in the 02 Permits, 03b DD, and 04 CD directories.

02 Permits	03b DD	04 CD

WHAT FILES GO IN THE XREF FOLDER?
Files in the "Xref" folder come from the 01 Consultant Bases folder (the vault). This is the folder where all the files we receive (not send out) are placed for editing. We do not edit the originals in the 01 Consultant Bases folder. They are copied to the Xref folder first and then edited.



HOW ARE THE XREF FILES NAMED?
The files names look like this:
A10100-xCivil.dwg (if a smaller project) or
A10100-xpbsexistingtopo.dwg (for a project with many files keeping their orignal file name but adding the job number plus the lower case "x").

Any file in the work folder should follow this format [job number][hyphen][lowercase "x"][name of the file]. The name of the file can be the same as they sent it to us but include the "job number","hyphen", and a lowercase "x". No spaces please, so use an underscore when a space is needed. Also, files should follow the General File and Folder Naming Practices.

For a more detailed look at xrefs and their file naming for consultant bases please refer to "Xrefs - Standard Folder and File Names"

SHOULD I KEEP THE XREF FILENAMES SHORT TOO?
Yes, keep them as small as possible, because the drawing name becomes part of the layer name. Xref layer names are prefixed with the [drawing name][vertical bar][layername] and look like the image below. When you combine the drawing name with our layer naming standards the entire xref drawing name and layer name will appear in the pulldown menu. The details file name is longer, but we don't turn layers on and off in a detail drawings so that name is allowed to be longer.


Xref Layer Names

Linetype Variables

There are a few variables that can control what your linetypes look like in AutoCAD.

LTSCALE - This variable is like a preview of what your linetypes will look like at a certain scale in Model Space.
PSLTSCALE - This is the variable that control what your linetypes will look like in Paper Space.
CELTSCALE - The is the current element linetype scale. If you set this in your properties dialog box, every linetype will have a specific linetype scale that will be multiplied by LTSCALE or PSLTSCALE.

The good news about all of this is, by using Scale Manager, you do not have to remember any of these. Just thought you would like to know what Scale Manager is doing for you.