CAD Operations
Manual
Jan-99
Manual:LOCKWOOD GREENE TECHNOLOGIESLT38 - LGT PROCEDURES / Revision: 3
Date: 03/22/01 / Number
LT38-1
2
2
2
Section:REVISIONS / Approval:
T.W. Sanders / Page
2
Procedure: CAD OPERATIONS MANUAL
REVISION HISTORY
DateSections Revised
01/99Initial Issue
12/00Drawing Reports Capability and AutoCAD Lite
23/01Re-organized and added Project File Checkout/in
35/22Revised CAD plotting
46/20Added half weight plotting
Manual:LOCKWOOD GREENE TECHNOLOGIESLT38 - LGT PROCEDURES / Revision: 3
Date: 05/22/01 / Number
LT38-1
2
2
2
Section:TABLE OF CONTENTS / Approval:
T.W. Sanders / Page
1
Procedure: CAD OPERATIONS MANUAL
Table of Contents
1.Introduction......
1.1Purpose......
1.2Basis......
2.UCNI or Sensitive Projects......
3.NTCADGET......
3.1Starting CAD......
3.2Checking a Project CAD File Out – “Checkout CAD Files”......
3.3Checking a Project CAD File In – “Checkin CAD Files”......
3.4Creating a New Project CAD File – “Create new CAD file”......
3.5Reviewing the Project CAD Startup Form – “Review CSF”......
3.6Purging Reference Files – “Purge Ref Files”......
3.7Inserting CAD File From an Outside Source Into the Project – “Load new CAD files”......
3.8Determining where a CAD file is checked out - “Review Checked out files”......
3.9Drawing Reports......
4.LGCheckout......
4.1Starting CAD......
4.2Checking a File Out......
4.3Refreshing CAD Files......
4.4Checking a File in......
4.5Updating Files......
4.6Creating a New Project CAD File......
4.7Purging Reference CAD Files......
4.8Inserting CAD File From an Outside Source Into the Project......
4.9Determining where a CAD file is checked out......
5.CAD Tools and Utilities......
5.1AutoCAD......
5.2Microstation......
5.2.1MicroStation Plotting......
5.2.2MicroStation Attaching Reference Files......
5.2.3MicroStation Refreshing Reference Files......
6.CAD Plotting......
6.1AutoCAD Plotting (AutoCAD LT 2000, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD Release 14)......
6.2Microstation Plotting......
7.The Standards (S:) Drive......
7.1CAD Applications and Client Standards......
7.2LGT and Client Borders......
7.3Data and Application Configuration Files......
7.4Standard Detail Drawings......
7.5Standards Documentation......
7.6Standard Blocks and Cells......
7.7Standard Menu, Macro, Driver, and Lisp Routines......
7.8Standard Notes......
7.9Standard LGT and Client Seed Files......
[KR1]
Manual:LOCKWOOD GREENE TECHNOLOGIESLT38 - LGT PROCEDURES / Revision: 3
Date: 05/22/01 / Number
LT38-1
2
2
2
Section:Introduction / Approval:
T.W. Sanders / Page
1
Procedure: CAD OPERATIONS MANUAL
1.Introduction
1.1Purpose
The purpose of this manual is to document the standard methods of operations for computer aided drawings (CAD) produced at Lockwood Greene Technologies (LGT).
1.2Basis
This procedure is to outline the steps for working with CAD files within LGT. The basis of the checkout/in system is that all of a project's CAD files reside on a single server and shall not be stored on the user’s PC. With the project's CAD files on a single erver, any person at any LGToffice can work on a CAD file by checking the CAD file out to their PC. With the checkout/in system only one person at any given time may have a specific file checked. Plotting is to be done using the builtin capabilities of each CAD software product. The S: drive is where all standards files are stored.
Manual:LOCKWOOD GREENE TECHNOLOGIESLT38 - LGT PROCEDURES / Revision: 3
Date: 05/22/01 / Number
LT38-1
2
2
2
Section:UCNI or Sensitive Projects / Approval:
T.W. Sanders / Page
1
Procedure: CAD OPERATIONS MANUAL
2.UCNI or Sensitive Projects
Additional security features have been added to the LGT computer network to provide restricted access to UCNI or sensitive project data. The Project Manager is required to inform the CIE Department of any project to be setup for restricted access. The restriction is applied on an individual basis and it will be up to the Project Manager to determine who should be allowed access. Requests for additions or removals from the access list will only be accepted from the Project Manager. Only LGT users who have been allowed access will be able to use the CAD files for that project. If the user has been cleared for access, all other CAD procedures remain the same.
Manual:LOCKWOOD GREENE TECHNOLOGIESLT38 - LGT PROCEDURES / Revision: 3
Date: 05/22/01 / Number
LT38-1
2
2
2
Section:NTCADGET / Approval:
T.W. Sanders / Page
1
Procedure: CAD OPERATIONS MANUAL
3.NTCADGET
The Ntcadget icon is on the desktop of any PC that has AutoCAD and/or MicroStation loaded onto it. All CAD users must be trained and approved to work on CAD files. This training must be redone on an annual basis. The Ntcadget program does not allow any user who is not approved from checking CAD files out or in.
The following window message appears when a user has not been setup to perform CAD work:
The following window message appears when a user has less than 28 days to be re-trained for CAD operations:
3.1Starting CAD
To start using CAD, double click the Ntcadget icon from the desktop. This brings up the “CAD start” menu. This menu is used to check CAD files out/in from the project directory, insert or create new CAD files into the project, review the “CAD Startup Form,” purge the reference file directory, and open the desired CAD program.
3.2Checking a Project CAD File Out – “Checkout CAD Files”
The first button is “Checkout CAD Files.” This is used to check out CAD files from the server to the PC. This button will only check files out from the project that is logged into. If the project number logged into has not been set up for CAD, this message is displayed:
Select the “OK” button and this message is displayed:
Select the “OK” button and return to the “CAD start” menu. If the project is set up for CAD, another menu appears and asks to download reference files.
After selecting “YES” or “NO” a “File Filter” menu will come up.
This menu allows a key-in of the file name or wildcards or click the “OK” button to get a listing of all the files in the project. This brings up the “Multi-Receive files” menu. From this menu, select the files by clicking on the ones to be checked out from the project. Click the “OK” button.
A “Transfer Results” menu displays the results of the checkout process for each file selected.
If the file selected to be checked out is already checked out to someone else, the “Transfer Results” menu will display the file name and the name of the person who has that file checked out as well as the workstation it is checked out to.
Press the “OK” button to return to the “CAD start” menu. The files checked out are placed in the c:\lgcad directory on the PC. Pressing the “Cancel” button from any menu other than the “CAD start” menu returns the user to the “CAD start” menu. It is very important that this method is used to checkout the CAD files to be worked on because it sets the standards to be used for the project in MicroStation and downloads the correct PC2 and CTB files needed to plot correctly in AutoCAD
3.3Checking a Project CAD File In – “Checkin CAD Files”
The “Checkin CAD Files” button is used to send the files that are checked out to the PC back to the server. Unlike the “Checkout CAD files” button, files on the PC are sent back to their proper project, regardless of the currently logged-in project. By clicking the “Checkin CAD Files” button, the menu “Checked out files” will list the files that are currently checked out to the PC. Select all the files that are to be checked back into the server and then click the “OK” button. All files have to be checked back into the server before the user logs off the workstation at the end of the day. No CAD files are to reside on the workstation overnight.
This brings up the “Transfer Results” menu that states whether CAD files were transferred back to the server properly or not.
If the results state that the files did not transfer properly, close all CAD menus and restart the Ntcadget and try again. If the problem continues, contact the CIE Department.
3.4Creating a New Project CAD File – “Create new CAD file”
A new file is created by copying an existing file (seed) that resides in the current project or elsewhere on the PC. The “Create new CAD file” button is used to create a new file within the current project. Selecting the “Create new CAD file” button will bring up the “Enter New File Name” menu. Type in the desired filename and select the “OK” button. Note that the filenames must follow the 8 character filename with a 3 character extension (Example “filename.ext”).
If the filename exists in the project, a “File Exist” menu will be displayed.
Select the “OK” button to return to the “Enter New File Name” menu and try a different filename. After an unique filename is entered, the “Source Location” menu will be displayed. This menu is asking the question, “Do you want to use a file from the project?” or is the file to be used as a seed file located on the server or another location.
By answering “Yes,” the “File Filter” menu will be displayed. This allows the user to input the exact filename to be used as a seed file or enter a wildcard to view a listing of files in the CAD project directory. The wildcard “*.*” is NOT an acceptible. After entering the desired wildcard, select the “OK” button.
The “Seed file selection” menu will be displayed. This is a listing of CAD files related to the current project. Select the file to be used as the seed file for the new drawing and select the “OK” button. This will then return the user to the “CAD start” menu.
If the “NO” button is selected from the “Source Location” menu, it will bring up “Select Seed File.” This is asking for the path of the seed file only, not the seed filename.
Then the “Select Seed File” window lists all files from the directory specified from the previous menu. Select the file to be used as the seed file and select the “OK” button.
At this point the “CAD start” menu will reappear. The file that was created now resides with the current project CAD files, for both methods of “CAD File Mak’n,” and are ready to be checked out.
3.5Reviewing the Project CAD Startup Form – “Review CSF”
The “CAD Startup Form” (CSF) is used as a document that indicates project title, standards to be used, border size and type, and other project information. The Project Manager for each project will fill out the CSF and send it to the CIE Department. The CIE Department will open a project for CAD only after receiving a CSF from the Project Manager. To review the CSF select the “Review CSF” button from the “CAD start” menu and the “CSF files” menu appears. A listing of all CSFs in that project CAD directory will be displayed.
Select the project number filename that ends in “.csf” and select the “OK” button. This will pull up the CSF file to review.
Old style – Text formatNew style – Excel spreadsheet
3.6Purging Reference Files – “Purge Ref Files”
The “Purge Ref Files” button is used to delete all the reference files located in the c:\lgref directory on the PC. This is to be done every day prior to the user logging off. Reference files are not to be left on a workstation overnight.
3.7Inserting CAD File From an Outside Source Into the Project – “Load new CAD files”
The “Load new CAD files” button is used to place CAD files onto the server in the current project CAD file directory. Select the “Load new CAD files” button and the “Load CAD File” menu will be displayed asking for the path to the file to be loaded onto the server. Note that the directory name cannot have any spaces in it, such as “c:\my documents”.
After keying in the path to the file to be loaded, a secondary “Load CAD Files” menu will appear showing all the files located in the specified directory. Select the file or files to be sent or loaded onto the server and select the “OK” button.
A “Transfer Results” menu appears, which will tells the user that the file has been placed in the
project CAD directory. This process does not delete the file from the path in which it was specified. After the file has been loaded up, the user should go back and delete the original file.
3.8Determining where a CAD file is checked out - “Review Checked out files”
To check to see if a file has been checked out and to whom before attempting to check out a file, use the "Review Checked out files" button. This will present a list of current project CAD files that are checked out.
By selecting a file or files and clicking on the "Ok" button, a window will be presented with the information about where a file is checked out.
3.9Drawing Reports
A list of the CAD files that are contained in a project is available by using Drawing Reports selection. The list can be created by using the menu shown to filter for the file names required and clicking on OK.
A list of the files is then compiled and displayed within Notepad. This list may then be printed or saved.
LT38 - LGT PROCEDURES / Revision: 3
Date: 05/22/01 / Number
LT38-1
2
2
2
Section:LGCheckout / Approval:
T.W. Sanders / Page
1
Procedure: CAD OPERATIONS MANUAL
4.LGCheckout
The LGCheckout file checkout program is to be used when files are located on a project P: drive which is generally when the project is shared with a non-LGT office. This allows the non-LGT office to work directly with a file as it resides on the server drive while LGT personnel may check files out/in; however, only one user may have write access to any file at any given time.
4.1Starting CAD
To start using, double click on the LGCheckout icon from the desktop. The resulting menu that appears is used to check files out/in from a mounted project directory, usually the P: drive.
4.2Checking a File Out
Select prior to clicking on the Checkout button whether CAD reference (or XREF) files are to copied and whether the CAD plot configuration files are to be copied. Clicking on the "Checkout " button calls up an "Explorer" type window that is navigated until the needed file is located. Click on the file(s) and then on the "Open" button.
Files will then be "checked out" to the user and copied to the local PC. CAD files are copied to the c:\lgcad directory and non-CAD files are copied to the c:\lgproj directory. Reference files are copied to the c:\lgref directory. A file that is "checked out" on the server is set for READ ONLY on the server and there is a text file on the server with the same name as the checked out file but with a "-out" added to the file extension. This file can be read with Notepad or Wordpad to determine who checked the file out to what PC at what date and time. A comma delimited record of this transaction is written to the P:\common\transfer.log file for historical purposes.
A "Transfer Results" window appears to inform what files have been checked out and the associated reference files that were copied to the local PC if the reference files were found on the server.
Files from a project can not be checked out to a PC that already has a file with the same name in the c:\lgcad directory. Up-to-date reference files that are found on the local PC will not be copied down again so the check out process is as fast as possible. Files that are unavailable for checkout are noted as such.
4.3Refreshing CAD Files
New copies of reference files may be required during a CAD session. Click the "Refresh" button and then select the file or files whose reference files need updating. Click the "Open" button and new copies of reference files that have changed will be copied to the local PC's c:\lgref directory. Do not select any CAD file for refreshing that is currently opened.
4.4Checking a File in
After completing modifications to a file, check it back in to the project server by clicking on the "Checkin" button. The "Explorer" type window that results is targeted for the c:\lgcad directory for CAD files. If non-CAD files are to be checked in, locate them in the c:\lgproj directory within this window. Select the file or files to be checked in and click on the "Open" button. The files will then be checked back into the proper project directory, reset the file from READ ONLY, delete the "-out" indicator file and write a transfer record into the P:\transfer.log file. Files that have been checked out from several projects will get checked back into the correct projects without the user logging into that project first. This keeps the user from having to remember what project each file belongs.
The results of the checkin are shown in the Transfer Results window:
Files can only be checked in by the person who checked them out or from the PC where the files were checked out to.
4.5Updating Files
Sometimes files that are being worked on need to be updated on the server but the user still wants to work on it. This could be done by checking the file back in and then checking it out again. A faster method is to just "Update" the file on the server by sending an updated copy to replace the version that is on the server. This is done by clicking on the "Update' button and then selecting which files need to be updated back to the server. Clicking on the "Open" button will then update the server version of the file and enter a record in the P:\common\transfer.log.