Topic: New Job Setup - Copy files plus use template

[Josh Nieman]

Ok I'm in a bit of a conundrum here.

I'm trying to revamp our template structure because some genius hosed my previous setup.  I knew it wasn't foolproof or secure as it should be, but I didn't think we had people here THAT foolish.

Anyways, the whole template folder seemingly just "disappeared" and apparently no one had used it or set up a new job using it for over a week when we discovered this fact, because none of the backups had that folder on it either, and our backups only went back a week.  They had just reformatted the one the monthly one (we keep the one from the last day of the month until the last day of the next month... our backup system is slightly flawed too, I think but that's another day)

Anyways.  There are three files I wish to be in every new job folder.

T-01.dwg (title sheet.  can be made from template or copied..  Self contained drawing, no xrefs, completely independent of anything)
X-TB.dwg (title block that gets xref'd into other drawings.  Contains job specific information.)
A-01.dwg (empty beginning drawing.. hoping I can make this into a .dwt.  Has X-TB.dwg xref'd into paperspace layout.)

Ok, so before now, we've just copied all three of these files to the new job folder and started editing them from there... copying A-01.dwg as many times as needed for further files, deleting the unnecessary, and drawing more.  Obviously a quite rudimentary process... worked well though, and got us by.

I'm wanting to make this a little more fail safe and make the process a little smoother.  I want to be able to just hit 'new drawing' in Autocad and use a .DWT that I set up (which would be A-01.dwg saved as a .dwt) but my problem is the initial job setup.  I have to have a unique X-TB.dwg for each job, because it contains job specific information.  So I can't just have the xref in the template file point to the xref in the template folder, because then we'd have a tb-sharing-nightmare.

How can I automate the creation of a new job folder so that I can set things up nicely?

1)  New job folder will contain X-TB.dwg
2)  New job folder will contain T-01.dwg
3)  A-01.dwt will be in template folder on server so users can hit 'new' and use that template for every new drawing.
4)  Not resort to users copying drawing from a template folder, because that means the templates can get hosed by anyone.

Bonus Question:  Can I have a folder on the server that only _I_ can access, but still have other users use files from it remotely?  To clarify:  Can I have a drawing in a restricted folder that the user does not have rights to access, and have a tool palette access the blocks within those drawings?  I want to start implementing parts of the block library I've been working on and of -all- things, that's the last thing I want someone being able to hose.

Any ideas/help/experience?

[Krushert]

Now I am just talking out my ......; that being said I think you want a button that will do all the work.  Like CADaver states make it so easy for the users, that they are not going to want to going looking. (speaking of the dead guy where is he?  I am actually missing his banter).  YOU would have to have your X-TB unique for that project so that if someone goes borrowing from another job (and it will happen) it wont screw up the pathing.  Then your A-01 would reference that project X-TB.  IF your project paths were structured in a way you pull a piece info (like a job#) and feed that to the renaming of the X-TB.  So a new project starts, your user fires up autocad and hit this Create-New-Project button and it will just ask the user New Project's location on the server and project number (if the project root folder has not been already created).  Then it creates all your sub-folders and pulls your files in and renames them appropriately.    I don't know if I would keep hitting the button to create a new A-sheet.  It is easier to copy and paste, and tweak the dwg# if all I am doing is another Details sheet.  Saves the user from going back and editing all the dynamic title text for every new sheet.

Ahh note on the side.  You steel boys should be using S-dwg# not As.  The As are for us prima donas and only us to use. 


This is just me rambling becuase you have a good Idea and I have not if this is the idea is this what you had in mind.  You got me to thinking that this would be cool set up.  It will be interesting to see how the Swamper's with lots of users approach this.

**edit - I need to call it a day**

[Josh Nieman]

You're pretty much on the right track, and yea, CADaver's mantra is what I'm hoping to accomplish here.  I want to make it really easy so they don't want to do anything different.

BTW, we use C's, A's, and S's   We're just that good   We do some design/build stuff and only sub out the electrical and mechanical.  The rest me and the boss do.

I'm going to think about the specifics you said and try to think of a way to incorporate this into a "easy button" dialogue, so to speak...

[hendie]

Josh, from reading your recent posts, I can't help but think that you seem to have a lot of unnecessary grief which could be solved by using an EDMS
Here's a screenshot of the new file dialog in Adept.

from here I can select a template and create a single, or series of documents, either drawings or any other file type including all MS office documents. Is that the type of thing you are looking for ?

[Avanti]

Isn't it ironic that some of the best ideas come from this sort of disaster.  I'm eager to see what solution you come up with.

[Josh Nieman]

Hendie, that seems to be kind of what I'm looking for.  If it does what I think it does.

So long as it can copy a file from one place (or create from template) and create the duplicate in a new place (new job folder) and do that for multiple items.

I'll take a look at Adept.

[Guest]

I rolled my own project setup program for our MEP department.  You have to specify what floors you need, where the project folder is, and what type of drawings you want it to create.  When you click the setup button, it runs through and copies standard DWTs from our network to the project folder, renames them according to what you've selected in the dialog boxes, then attaches all necessary xrefs.  If the files already exist within the project folder, they are NOT overwritten (this is in case some schmuck set things up and then someone else comes along and decides to use the project setup program - just so no work is lost).  It's all done in VBA.  If you're interested, I can help you create something.

The attached PDF has screen shots of the project setup program.

[Josh Nieman]

I rolled my own project setup program for our MEP department.  You have to specify what floors you need, where the project folder is, and what type of drawings you want it to create.  When you click the setup button, it runs through and copies standard DWTs from our network to the project folder, renames them according to what you've selected in the dialog boxes, then attaches all necessary xrefs.  If the files already exist within the project folder, they are NOT overwritten (this is in case some schmuck set things up and then someone else comes along and decides to use the project setup program - just so no work is lost).  It's all done in VBA.  If you're interested, I can help you create something.

The attached PDF has screen shots of the project setup program.

That.. that sounds exactly like what I'm looking at doing.  We wouldn't need anything as complicated, though.

I would just need something to create the three drawings I mentioned before, (I have the xref already attached in the .dwt) in a specified folder, from the templates.  That would be good.  It'll be the same for every job, really.  I plan on using the block library I'm setting up for the more specific stuff.

[David Hall]

Matt, I would love to have a look at your code if you dont mind.  That looks to be really well organized.  I can always use ideas for the future

[hendie]

Hendie, that seems to be kind of what I'm looking for.  If it does what I think it does.

So long as it can copy a file from one place (or create from template) and create the duplicate in a new place (new job folder) and do that for multiple items.

I'll take a look at Adept.

If you have any questions at all, just give me a shout

[Josh Nieman]

Hendie, that seems to be kind of what I'm looking for.  If it does what I think it does.

So long as it can copy a file from one place (or create from template) and create the duplicate in a new place (new job folder) and do that for multiple items.

I'll take a look at Adept.

If you have any questions at all, just give me a shout

How about a link to their site?  I keep getting blogs mentioned the EDMS software, or an EDM wire machine that has been termed 'adept' at what it does

[hendie]

http://www.synergis-adept.com/

[Josh Nieman]

I thank everyone for your answers and help.  It's great to get user-experienced replies to problems challenges at hand.  Great to see the DIVERSITY of solutions as well.  In the end, I found that MattWs suggestion fit our company and habits the best.  I subscribed to the K.I.S.S. mantra, and like what Krush said about CADaver's statements about Standards... if it isn't easier to adhere to standards than it is to break them, the users will break them. 

I plan on making a button that'll trigger the VBA routine that Matt wrote for me, so generously.

I ended up making a template folder (I got on the server and changed the access so that only I have complete control/access/write/modify-permissions to the folder and contents) to store all files that should never be modified, and Matt's routine copies those template files to a new job folder that the user creates through the routine, adds all subfolders the user selects, and adds all title blocks and/or drawings the user selects.  Perfect fit and suited to our process AWESOMELY.

This is a great long-term solution, and I think it is quite nearly foolproof, so even our newest of users can dive right in after a walk through.

YAHOOOOoooOO!

Endless thanks for the correspondence and awesome routine, Matt!

[Krushert]

That's awesome.  How well was this received by your bosses and users? 
Our document generation process is (or was) similar to yours.  You have given me a improvement idea that was not even on my radar screen for the future. 

[MP]

Awesome Josh; Kudos Matt.

[Josh Nieman]

That's awesome.  How well was this received by your bosses and users? 
Our document generation process is (or was) similar to yours.  You have given me a improvement idea that was not even on my radar screen for the future. 

Everyone is excited about it.  Even the boss who's generally unimpressed and thinks 'less' of CAD skills and such, raised his eyebrows and gave some enthusiastic comments.  The head boss actually went around to a couple other guys and asked "Hey, did Josh come set up that new job deal on your computer yet?  Ain't that freakin' awesome?"

I'm excited because, like I said... finally templates are 100% under my control and everyone is excited to be using this tool I created, thus making everyone create from the same templates.  There's one boss/user who I set up his main clients to be so automated that he won't be using it... but those jobs are a bit of an anomaly that is so cookie-cutter and specialized that it would hurt them to use this thing.

Glad you could get something from the convo, too, Krush.

[MP]

Another one hooked: Welcome to Hotel Automation, you can checkout any time you like but you can never leave.

[Guest]

I'm excited because, like I said... finally templates are 100% under my control and everyone is excited to be using this tool I created, thus making everyone create from the same templates.

Great...Here we go.... trying to steal my thunder!  Good thing I stopped by!   

[Josh Nieman]

I'm excited because, like I said... finally templates are 100% under my control and everyone is excited to be using this tool I created, thus making everyone create from the same templates.

Great...Here we go.... trying to steal my thunder!  Good thing I stopped by!   

haha oh snap, I'm sorry.  Typing without thinking.

I actually told them where I got it.  They know I visit a couple CAD forums for this type of stuff, for peer-support and the like.  I put it this way... "Everyone in this BUILDING, let alone this company, comes to me when they're stuck on a CAD problem... who the heck do _I_ go to when _I_ have a problem?!" and they laughed and agreed.  A couple of the engineers visit an engineering-specific board from time to time, though, so they understand first-hand the value of peer-support.

I should have said "Implemented" rather than created, which is what I was thinking, anyways.  Sorry about that.  I'm excited to get all my templates done, title blocks tweaked, and everything set up so I can dig in and modify the basics of the file and get me started at editting/modifying VBA code... I can't wait until I think of a function I may want to add/modify and look up how to do so and learn.

Heck, maybe one day I'll be able to roll a basic tool for someone else on here and pass on the love!

[Krushert]

okay someone get a Josh a box of tissues.  If he keeps up with this blubbery stuff, he is gonna need them. 

[deegeecees]

I got a warm, fuzzy feeling...

[Guest]

Here's what the final product looks like - short but sweet.

[Josh Nieman]

fyi, I mapped a macro that runs this routine to the "sheet set manager" button on the "STANDARD" toolbar via each users CUI.  I also changed, under the "File" menu, the "New Sheet Set" to "New Job" and tied the same macro there.

We don't use sheet sets, nor will we (already tried it on one job) and the 'sheet set' buttons/menu-picks were taking up some primo real estate that is where a "new" button would logically go... so... blammo.

The macro being a simple:

-vbarun;"CASE Inc Project Setup.dvb!modMain.Main"

[Josh Nieman]

Dang!

VB is awesome!

I've got back to working on some standard templates, fixing/updating the ones I was about to roll out, and adding others... I looked at Matt's program for about 5 minutes, figured out the navigation of the VBAMANager, understood what was going on...

In about 15 minutes total, I was able to add another checkbox to the dialog, add another template sheet, re-organize the order of the sheets, and got it to work on the first try.

This is easy to modify/hack/update at least.

Now I just gotta get me a good resource or list of common strings to help me write my own stuff, when necessary.  I love how easy it is to add functions to the interface... I mean... you click "checkbox" and then place the checkbox on the grid... then edit the properties for the name, function callout, colors and all that good stuff..  yahoo!

Although there's still things VLSP is more efficient at from what I've read and seen... VBA rocks the socks off of VLSP in general. 

Below is the very modest change... but it means a lot to me! lol.... oh man I'm so easily amused

[Josh Nieman]

I think my first challenge is to add an option to skip job folder creation, and create subfolders in a specified folder you can browse to... sometimes the engineers create the job folder as a place-holder, and leaves it empty until they get more info or a purchase order or something.  So I guess I'd just modify step one to add an either/or ability.  Browse to existing folder and create there... or create folder (what Matt has in there already)

[MP]

VBA rocks the socks off of VLSP in general.

And pliers blow away screw drivers.

[Josh Nieman]

VBA rocks the socks off of VLSP in general.

And pliers blow away screw drivers.

ok sorry... just read everything I said as in relation to "for what I'm using it for".

[Guest]

Dang!

VB is awesome!

I've got back to working on some standard templates, fixing/updating the ones I was about to roll out, and adding others... I looked at Matt's program for about 5 minutes, figured out the navigation of the VBAMANager, understood what was going on...

In about 15 minutes total, I was able to add another checkbox to the dialog, add another template sheet, re-organize the order of the sheets, and got it to work on the first try.

This is easy to modify/hack/update at least.

Now I just gotta get me a good resource or list of common strings to help me write my own stuff, when necessary.  I love how easy it is to add functions to the interface... I mean... you click "checkbox" and then place the checkbox on the grid... then edit the properties for the name, function callout, colors and all that good stuff..  yahoo!

Although there's still things VLSP is more efficient at from what I've read and seen... VBA rocks the socks off of VLSP in general. 

Below is the very modest change... but it means a lot to me! lol.... oh man I'm so easily amused

Did you remember to change the TAB ORDER of the controls so when you press the TAB button they jump to the next one in some sort of logical order??   

[Josh Nieman]

I did not, yet, but I had come across the entry for that in the help file while I was referncing the OptionButton thing.  I made a note to add that in before I release it.

Awesome help file... I just wish I knew WHAT to have to search for, first..  I'm skimming through the terminology and stuff on lunch today and going to see if I can wrap it up today.