Most firms have a company titleblock which most probably originated as a manually or CADD-generated document. This same titleblock is probably the one that will be used in 90% of the work generated by that particular office. For the purpose of these company standards this titleblock will be referred to as Titleblock Master and reside within the Company Standards Directory.

Each individual project in the office will have a copy of this master titleblock within a Project-Specific Directory created according to the guidelines outlined below. This copy of the titleblock will then be customized for that specific project and x-referenced into each and every plot sheet of the project. In some cases, an entirely different project titleblock may have to be created to conform to particular industry or government standards. The guidelines below apply to all titleblocks.

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Company Standards Directory and Project Specific Directories

Project directories are normally specified by the CADD Director or the Project Architect in charge of each individual project. The following "basics" are shown here for the benefit of new users who may not be acquainted with DOS or Windows procedures and terminology. (Only portions in italics are actually typed-in on the keyboard by the user.) Experienced users may skip over the next two chapters to the Project-Specific Directory chapter below.

 

Creating a "Company Standards Directory" in DOS:

Log-in to the local hard disk drive by typing C:<enter> (note that system may already be logged-on to C: drive.)

Change Directory to "Root Directory" by typing CD \<enter> (use keyboard space-bar between CD and \ only.)

Make Directory off the main branch of root by typing mkdir \ssa-stds<enter> (note space after mkdir command.)

Use the Directory List command to view results by typing dir<enter> (or dir /p to see directories page by page.)

To remove a mistyped directory or one just created, type rmdir \ssa-stds<enter> (the directory must be empty.)

 

Creating a "Company Standards Directory" in Windows:

Launch Windows application by typing CD \windows <enter>, then win <enter> (unless Windows auto-boots.)

Open File Manager by double-clicking its icon in Program Manager. (or open Explorer using Start and Programs.)

Highlight "Root Directory" by clicking on the C:\ at the top. (on the directory tree at the left side of the window.)

From File menu "Create Directory" or use "New Folder", then type SSA-STDS in name field. (use capital letters.)

To remove a directory, highlight name in File Manager or Explorer, use "Delete" key on keyboard and say "OK".

 

Guidelines for Creating a "Project-Specific Directory" using the Pyramid Scheme:

A project-specific directory must be created for each new project. Following procedures similar to the ones outlined above, a Directory Pyramid can be created within a main Projects Directory, either on the company server or on a designated project workstation, as shown below.

The following Six-Level Pyramid example is shown as a guideline to illustrate a typical Project Subdirectory Scheme:

C:\

C:\PROJECTS

C:\PROJECTS\UCLA-96

C:\PROJECTS\UCLA-96\dd-dwgs

C:\PROJECTS\UCLA-96\dd-dwgs\arch-ph1

C:\PROJECTS\UCLA-96\dd-dwgs\arch-ph1\*.dwg

Typical level 5 subdirectories are: arch-ph1, elec-ph1, ints-ph1, lscp-ph1, mech-ph1, strc-ph1.

Level 1 of the pyramid can be a local C: drive or a "mapped" network drive on a centralized server. A natural letter to map this drive to is "P:" for projects. For additional information on centralized server drive mapping, typical directory, subdirectory and file naming standards see the web page labeled:

Alphabetical Naming Conventions

Level 2 of the pyramid is suggested as directory PROJECTS for several reasons. Not only is this an extremely convenient place to perform backups from, but it also makes it easier for an operator to find all of the current projects on-line in one place. It also makes it much easier to control permissions to the entire directory and to assign permissions on a project by project basis.

Level 3 of the pyramid is a self-contained PROJECT DIRECTORY. This directory should contain "all" of the elements required for that particular project. A backup of this directory should not require drawings, documents or databases from any other directory in order to restore the project from an archive to it's original state. The number "96" in the sample above refers to the year. (Assuming that more projects will be performed for a particular client on a yearly basis or at some future date.) This directory could also be renamed as UCLA-96a to identify multiple buildings or multiple contracts within the same year if needed.

Level 4 of the pyramid refers to the PROJECT DEVELOPMENT LEVEL. This includes sk-dwgs for Sketches and/or Schematic Design Drawings, dd-dwgs for Design Development Drawings and cd-dwgs for Construction Document Drawings. Other significant directories at this level may include ar-stds for Architectural Standards and id-stds for Interior Design Standards - as well as the tb-stds directory for the Project-Specific Titleblocks. Only organizational directories belong at this level. Under no circumstances should any drawings be placed here.

Level 5 of the pyramid is the PROJECT PHASE AND PLOT SHEET DIRECTORY. Here is one of the most important control points in the backup and archive process of any given project. By simply adding the three (3) letters "ph1" to a standard four (4) letter plot sheet directory (i.e. ints-ph1), different phases or versions of a design can be properly documented, then backed-up and archived for future use. All individual Phase-Specific Titleblocks must be placed within their corresponding Phase-Specific Sub-Directories. These titleblocks would then be X-referenced into each of the final assembled "Plot Sheets", with consistent text and logos clearly identifying the project phase. Only plot sheets belong at this level. This directory must be kept absolutely clean and reflect the actual drawing index. (If there are twelve final drawings on paper, then there should be twelve drawing files in this directory.)

Level 6 is the final PROJECT BASE DRAWING AND DETAIL CELL SUB-DIRECTORY. This is where the actual base drawings used to assemble plot sheets in the directory above reside. All of these base drawings will eventually be X-refernced into one or more plot sheets. Symbols and blocks (such as detail bubbles and furniture items) used in these drawings must be placed in their proper "standards" directory from level 4 above. Even if at first glance it seems that six levels of sub-directories is excessive, it should be noted that once all of these directories and subdirectories are created, a simple point-and-click operating system is all that is needed to find and access any drawing necessary. The days of command line full-path typing are over and only the most die-hard DOS users still insist on short "cryptic and hard to interpret" file and directory names.

Using any more than six levels of subdirectories should be avoided as much as possible. Consistency from one project to another is highly desirable and maintaining each of these levels as shown above is one of the most basic ways to achieve this.

 

Basic Areas for Standard Sizes and Typical Scale Titleblocks

Although most offices regularly use letters to signify different paper sizes, most offices do not have adequate standards for organizing CADD titleblocks according to paper size by incorporating this "single letter" into their file names. The following chart is provided as a quick-reference guide to selecting the appropriate size and titleblock name to match a specific X-axis by Y-axis building footprint. (Note: allow for margin space. Sizes shown are to actual edge of paper.)

< File Name >	< 1" = 1" >	< 1/2" = 1'-0" >	< 1/4" = 1'-0" >	< 1/8" = 1'-0" >	< 1/16" = 1'-0" >
tba-mstr.dwg	11" x 8.5"	22' x 17'	44' x 34'	88' x 68'	176' x 136'
tbb-mstr.dwg	17" x 11"	34' x 22'	68' x 44'	136' x 88'	272' x 176'
tbc-mstr.dwg	24" x 18"	48' x 36'	96' x 72'	192' x 144'	384' x 288'
tbd-mstr.dwg	36" x 24"	72' x 48'	144' x 96'	288' x 192'	576' x 384'
tbe-mstr.dwg	42" x 30"	84' x 60'	168' x 120'	336' x 240'	672' x 480'
tbf-mstr.dwg	48" x 36"	96' x 72'	192' x 144'	384' x 288'	768' x 576'

< File Name >	< 1" = 1" >	< 1" = 20'-0" >	< 1" = 30'-0" >	< 1" = 40'-0" >	< 1" = 50'-0" >
tba-mstr.dwg	11" x 8.5"	220' x 170'	330' x 255'	440' x 340'	550' x 425'
tbb-mstr.dwg	17" x 11"	340' x 220'	510' x 330'	680' x 440'	850' x 550'
tbc-mstr.dwg	24" x 18"	480' x 360'	720' x 540'	960' x 720'	1200' x 900'
tbd-mstr.dwg	36" x 24"	720' x 480'	1080' x 720'	1440' x 960'	1800' x 1200'
tbe-mstr.dwg	42" x 30"	840' x 600'	1260' x 900'	1680' x 1200'	2100' x 1500'
tbf-mstr.dwg	48" x 36"	960' x 720'	1440' x 1080'	1920' x 1440'	2400' x 1800'

 

Minimum Titleblock Layers, Client Logos and Project Headers

To make the titleblock absolutely simple, only two (2) layers are actually required. One using a thin line-weight color (light grey for instance) to signify the equivalent of a pre-printed "blank titleblock". The other using a medium-weight color (cyan for instance) to clearly identify the project-specific textual and client logo information (usually added by hand on pre-printed titleblocks). Note that any text labels normally found on a pre-printed titleblock should be placed within the "titleblock" layer and that both layers may contain more than one color. (see diagram below)

 

For additional information regarding layer naming conventions, see the web page labeled:

Drafting Layer Standards

 

Creating a Client Logo and a Project Title Header:

Most new CADD programs currently available will allow you to use multiple colors within a single layer, and that feature may very well be desirable to create a multi-color logo for instance. There is no way that using ten different layers to create a single logo is justified given the added overhead and confusion that this creates. A logo should be created as a separate drawing and then inserted on the titleblock drawing as a block. It should exist on a single layer.

Patterns and crosshatching used in a logo should be minimal and optimized for the final size to be used. If the need arises for a much larger sized logo, another version of the logo should be generated. A typical name for a standard size logo to be used in a titleblock is ssa-logo.dwg, where the first three (3) letters are a standardized abbreviation for the company name. All logo blocks should be placed in the Titleblock Standards Subdirectory.

Both the Client Logo and the Project Title Header are items that will appear on each and every titleblock of the project. As such, they should be created with great care and attention to detail. They should both reside on a separate layer from the "blank titleblock layer" (i.e. on layer 190-dwgtext not on layer 100-titlblk). The logo may use multiple colors for visual or plotter line-weight effects. Fonts used for the Project Title Header should be standard system fonts in order to avoid conflicts when transferring files to Project Consultants. All text not related to the logo should use standard text sizes & color (i.e. cyan). Only "logo-related text" is allowed to use odd sizes or to utilize multiple colors for accuracy.

 

Creating a Typical Project-Specific Titleblock in Paper Space

Project-Specific Titleblocks are titleblocks customized to a specific client and a specific project. Because in the normal life cycle of a project a client may change the title or logo for the project many times, it is well worth the effort to use an X-referenced titleblock in all the drawings so that any required changes can be made in one place and all the drawings can be automatically updated in one easy step.

Paper Space Standards

Assuming that a Company Standards Directory exists (i.e. \ssa-stds) and that Master Titleblocks have been created in accordance with the Interactive CADD Standards guidelines outlined within this document (i.e. with layer 100-titlblk set to color "9", layer 190-dwgtext set to color "cyan", and drawn within Paper Space at 1:1 scale), then proceed to copy the appropriate size titleblock (i.e. tbe-mstr.dwg) from the Company Standards Directory to the target Project Directory. (i.e. a pre-defined Level 4 "Project Titleblock Standards Directory" such as C:\PROJECTS\Proj-96\tb-stds)

Open the new titleblock within the Project Directory (i.e. C:\PROJECTS\Proj-96\tb-stds\tbe-mstr.dwg) and Insert the Client Logo Block (if one is available) at the desired location on layer 190-dwgtext. Next, add on the same layer any typical text which is to appear on each and every sheet for this phase of the work, including the Project Title Header. (Do not include any text which will change from sheet to sheet, such as: sheet number, sheet title, scale, etc.) This new Project Titleblock may also contain any Key Map backgrounds or Legends which are to appear on every plot sheet.

After saving the modified Project Titleblock with all of the information required above, create or copy from the Company Standards Directory, a "Text Block with attributes" for the remaining text which does change from sheet to sheet. Save this text attribute block in the same "Project Titleblock Standards Directory" as the Project Titleblock and use a similar name (i.e. tbe-text.dwg). This text attribute block will be inserted (not X-referenced) into each drawing later on. Defining attributes is perfomed using the DDATTDEF or "Attribute Define" command. (On layer 190-dwgtext.)

Next, begin assembling the individual Plot Sheets by using File / New Drawing, and X-ref Attach the Project Titleblock within Paper Space, at origin 0,0 and on layer 100-titlblk at 1:1 scale with zero rotation. It is extremely important to X-ref titleblocks with their lower-left corner at origin 0,0 and on layer 100-titlblk for several reasons. (To access paper space, use the TILEMODE command and look for the triangular UCS icon.) Be sure to match each of the actual Drawing Numbers and Drawing Titles with their appropriate File Names. (i.e. a plot sheet numbered A 1.01 with a sheet title such as First Floor Plan, should have a filename like 101-fpln.dwg, with a standard eight (8) charachter maximum name, and it should be located within a pre-defined Level 4 "Project Phase Directory" such as C:\PROJECTS\Proj-96\arch-ph1)

Last but not least, Insert the Text Block created above at origin 0,0 and at 1:1 scale, on layer 190-dwgtext. If some or all of the information requested when inserting this block is not available, simply accept the defaults and use the DDATTE or "Attribute Edit" command to fill-in the sheet to sheet Textual Information for each of the Plot Sheets later on when it becomes available. The only purpose of using attributes on a titleblock is to achieve consistency from drawing to drawing and to be able to review all of the required information in one place. However, with a little discipline, it may be just as effective to insert an ordinary text block, explode it and edit the text the old fashioned way.

 

Using Grid & Snap Commands to Establish Titleblock Margins

Due to nature of assembling detail sheets composed of "detail cells" located within a detail cell grid, it is absolutely necessary to establish titleblock margins to match the selected detail cell grid by using the Grid and Snap commands. Although most of the time titleblocks will be placed in paper space at 1:1 (or actual size), it may become necessary at times to use titleblocks created in model space at a specific scale. The following chart illustrates the various settings used for Grid and Snap (and corresponding text sizes required) for titleblocks drawn at the scales specified below:

< Scale >	< Grid >	< Snap >	< Text 1 >	< Text 2 >	< Text 3 >
1" = 1"	.2	.1	3/32"	1/8"	3/16"
6" = 1'-0"	.4	.2	3/16"	1/4"	3/8"
3" = 1'-0"	.8	.4	3/8"	1/2"	3/4"
1 1/2" = 1'-0"	1.6	.8	3/4"	1"	1 1/2"
1" = 1'-0"	2.4	1.2	1 1/8"	1 1/2"	2 1/4"
3/4" = 1'-0"	3.2	1.6	1 1/2"	2"	3"

< Scale >	< Grid >	< Snap >	< Text 1 >	< Text 2 >	< Text 3 >
1/2" = 1'-0"	4.8	2.4	2 1/4"	3"	4 1/2"
3/8" = 1'-0"	6.4	3.2	3"	4"	6"
1/4" = 1'-0"	9.6	4.8	4 1/2"	6"	9"
3/16" = 1'-0"	12.8	6.4	6"	8"	1'-0"
1/8" = 1'-0"	19.2	9.6	9"	1'-0"	1'-6"
1/16" = 1'-0"	38.4	19.2	1'-6"	2'-0"	3'-0"

For additional information regarding detail cell conventions, see the web page labeled:

Detail Cell Standards