We are currently embarking on a project for a client. (This is a very large Bio-pharma project with multiple disciplines & 1200+ drawings.) They want us to use their CAD file numbering system. The nub of the problem is this: They treat all drawings as both drawings and xrefs. so each drawing is potentially an xref. So their ground floor plan is a drawing with a titleblock etc, but is also the master xref ground floor plan. Sheets are referencing sheets so to speak. This is further complicated by the fact that each discipline had a different breakdown on how drawings were numbered. Mechanical for instance numbered all layouts 2000 series drawings with arch numbered at 1000 series. So there is no synergy across the CAD files from a discipline point of view.
They also only permit one layout per CAD file.
-While in reality this is a possible way of conducting business, the normal "accepted standard" is to genrate a list of xrefs "ground floor plans" "site plans" etc etc. and to genrate a list of Sheet CAD Drawings.
-These sheet files only referencing the xrefs.
-The xrefs having similar numbers across the disciplines eg, all ist floor plans are 1000 series 2nd floor are 2000 and so on. Apples and oranges and all that.
-Xrefs are also are numbered such that they are readily identifiable versus Sheet CAD files. Xrefs numbered "<project No.>XR-0001.dwg" and sheet files "<project No.>DR-0001.dwg"
In theory the way they propose is "doable" it is very messy with sheet drawings referencing sheet drawings. our version is much more structured and neater. Does any one have any opinion on what I've just presented. Your input would help out a lot.
Regards
Diarmuid