AutoCAD® 2009 & AutoCAD LT® 2009 All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies®

Chapter 2. CAD Standards

AutoCAD is a robust and complex drafting tool, so not all users discover or thoroughly understand every feature of the product; one such frequently overlooked feature is the built-in CAD standards tool. This chapter helps to shine some light on the topic of CAD standards and the built-in tools that AutoCAD offers to help make the managing of CAD standards easier. Don't get discouraged: Developing a good set of CAD standards and getting them implemented takes some time.

CAD standards can be handled in lots of ways, as you may already know from your experiences of working at different companies or working with a client's set of drawings. Many companies create their own set of CAD standards; others adopt an industry standard like those defined by an organization such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), National CAD Standards, or Construction Standards Institute (CSI). No matter how your CAD standards came about, they must be followed to avoid potential problems. If your company doesn't have such standards, maybe this is your time to shine by helping to establish them.

CAD Standards Overview

Book VIII, Chapter 1 is a primer of what is involved in establishing CAD standards. Drawing template files are one of the cornerstones of CAD standards because they help to promote the use of a company's standards. However, drawing templates alone won't get the job done. Creating and maintaining CAD standards is something of an art form when you consider everything ...