Click here to play a movie in which we take a very simple drawing in model space and 'dress up' the model for presentation in AutoCAD's layout space. This is just a conceptual explanation of how paper space works. We look at some simple shapes in model space and then arrange different views of them in paper space.

Click here to show a drawing in which paper space is being used at a much more sophisticated level. We take a design for a building and its surrounds (plans and elevations) and show how paper space can be used to present may different drawings (sheets) from the one design. One of the sheets shows the wiring diagram for the house by turning on appropriate layers in the paper space view.

Click here to show a drawing in which paper space is used by a drafter working for a company (called GJC) producing electrical schematics. The design is carried out in a 'space' equal to an A3 sheet on a black background , but the paper space view is presented on a white background. We show how a second sheet can be generated from the design in model space. A series of drawings belonging to one job can then be stored within the one drawing file.

Editing 1

A detailed look at the various edit commands found in the AutoCAD or IntelliCAD environment. Where to find the various editing tools on the standard toolbar, the modify toolbar and the drop down modify menu. In this module, CUT, COPYPASTE,UNDO. The importance of changing the general properties of and element versus changing the geometry of an element. The ERASE, MOVE, Selection Sets, the PICKADD variable, UNDO, UNDELETE, using GRIPS to effect edits, overlapping entities, REDO, OOPS, the PEDIT command - using the Spline and Fit and De-curve options, inserting a new vertex, moving a vertex, EXPLODE a polyline, COPY - multiple option and vector option, OFFSET, and PARALLEL commands are covered. We complete a symbol typical of those used in electrical schematics - a choke symbol. Other exercises show how to create drawings quickly by combining editing commands.

Editing 2

More editing commands:  The SCALE, ROTATE, MIRROR, ARRAY - polar & rectangular, BREAK, JOIN, TRIM, ALIGN, and EXTEND and EDIT LENGTH commands.

Editing 3

More edit commands: The STRETCH, MEASURE, DIVIDE, CHAMFER, FILLET, EDIT POLYLINE, CHANGE, and PROPERTIES commands.

Text Input

Placing single line text in drawings with the TEXT and DTEXT commands. Using DTEXT to annotate several parts of the drawing 'in one go'. Creating a text style with the STYLE command. We deal with style names, font type SHX and True Type fonts, height obliquing angle etc. Problems with text 'bleeding' across other entities. Installing font files. Creating an AS1100 compliant text style. Dealing with fixed and variable text height styles. Editing text with the DDEDIT command. Creating a keyboard shortcut (TE) for the DDEDIT command. Placing multi line text with the MTEXT command. Using external word processors to place blocks of text. Using the shareware word processor NotesPad to manage boiler plate text. Importing text into drawings via blocks.

Object Snapping

Revising and extending the use of object snap (entity snap) tools. Using transient entity snaps - one time snaps. Monitoring the status of esnaps in a drawing session. Modifying flyover markers. Using various entity snap options from toolbars and keyboard - INT, NODE, MID, QUA, CEN, QUICK, NEA, NODE, INT, PER. Combining osnaps. Using the OSNAP command to set running OSNAPS.

Using Blocks

What's a block? Examples of the use of blocks in different disciplines. Where are blocks stored? The reasons for using blocks in CAD drawings. Blocks in the database. The BLOCK command. Making a ball valve block suitable for P&ID drawings. Horizontal and vertical versions of block. Listing blocks in a drawing. Blocks for landscape use. Using PDSIZE. The IntelliCAD (block) Drawing Explorer. The WBLOCK command from blocks already present. Using WBLOCK if no block definition is available. Block and the importance of layer zero. Colour and linetypes in blocks. The block path. Counting blocks with an AutoLISP program. Using object snaps with blocks. Blocks for electrical, civil, mechanical, architecture, landscape. Building intelligent blocks.

Electrical Drafting

A case study showing how an electrical design drafter might use paper space. We set up a drawing with an A3 sheet drawn to Australian standard and title block in paper space with a 10mm grid and 1.25mm snap setting for layout in model space. A named view allows the complete design to be presented in paper space without any need to adjust scaling factors.

Attributes

The value of using attributes with blocks. Inserting an A1 drawing sheet containing two blocks, each with attributes. Creating a sheet with 3 attributes for project title, drafter, scale, drawing file name etc. Using the sheet. Using the DDATTE command to edit attribute information.

Printing Overview

Sending drawings to the printer - an overview. Producing paper plots. Mapping colour to line thickness. Pens, paper colour line thickness pen tables, PCP files etc.

Advanced Printing

An overview of plotters and plotting. Pen and pencil plotters, large format inkjet printers. System and non-system plotters. Plotting a test drawing without assigning line weights. Plotting with line weights. Colour and line thickness. Paper space complications. the value of the DEFPOINTS layer. Scaling drawings. Scaling in paper space viewports. Using PCP files. Configuring a plotter. Testing a system plotter. Colours, line weights, paper space, model space plotting.

Creating PDF files

Plotting CAD drawings to PDF. Transmitting PDF files to external consultants.

Preliminaries

Setting up AutoCAD and IntelliCAD for maximum efficiency prior to using paper space. We show how to tune the drawing environment - loading different line type files - the ICADISO.LIN and ACADLTISO.LIN linetype definition files, loading hatch pattern files etc. We set the path to the fonts library, and set the path to your block library etc.

Prototype drawings

Understanding prototype drawings. Examining a prototype suitable for the type of electrical schematic drawings that are produced by a group of station broadcast engineers at a television station. Which prototype drawing should I use? Building a prototype drawing by 'cannibalizing' existing drawings. Building a prototype drawing from scratch. setting units, text styles, set linetype styles, dimension styles, layers, views, adjust VPLAYER settings in paper space, testing title block attributes, matching AS1100, UCSICON, UCS, Limits, snap and grid settings etc.

Using scanned images in paper space (and tiled model space)

Creating hybrid CAD files. Types of importable image files - TIFF, JPG, BMP, file formats etc. in CAD drawings. Preparing image files for insertion into CAD drawings in both paper space and tiled model space. As backdrops to CAD drawings. Rendering 3D images with different backgrounds. Scaling images. Using monochrome images in CAD drawings.

Protecting your work

Protecting CAD drawings. Understanding the DWG, BAK, AC $ and SV$ formats. How to analyze drawings that others have produced. Using Externally referenced drawings. A check list for dealing with drawings that have been produced by others. What to do with a foreign drawing before you use it?

Methods for presenting CAD drawings

A 'high level' examination of the two methods for presenting CAD drawings - in model space or from paper space. Simple plotting from model space, plotting to a defined scale, creating and plotting details, problems when plotting VPORTS. An overview of paper space presentation - plotting multiple views of the model on single sheets, plotting perspective views, enabling hidden line removal in paper space views.

Guidelines for using paper space

A check list for the smooth production of drawings using paper space presentation - five rules.