Topic: Standardized Project Folder

[bfred805]

Hello all -

Our office has a very specific way of setting up projects. However, this generally takes about an hour to do manually. I am wondering if anyone has experience or could help me develop a LISP routine that can automatically configure a project folder and files? For example, here is a stab at how the program would interact with the user:

User runs "PROJECT SETUP.LSP"
1. Command line returns "Input Job code"
  1.1 User inputs "01-TEST
2. Command line returns "Input Job Name"
  2.1 User inputs "Project 01 Test"

- A folder is created from a template project folder in a pre-defined location on the server  of windows explorer (T:\\projects\*job code-job title*).
- The following .dwg files are created based on a specified drawing template within a subfolder of the folder above named "DRAWINGS"
  1. *job code - BASE* (based on Template-Base.dwt)
  2. *job code - CONSTRUCTION* (based on Template-Construction.dwt)
  3. *job code - LANDSCAPE* (based on Template-Landscape.dwt)
  4. *job code - SOILS* (based on Template-Soils.dwt)

- The following .dwg files are then loaded as XREFS as specified below.
  1. *job code - BASE* (overlayed into: *job code - CONSTRUCTION* , *job code - LANDSCAPE* and, *job code - SOILS*)
  1. *job code - CONSTRUCTION* (overlayed into *job code - LANDSCAPE* and, *job code - SOILS*)
  2. *job code - LANDSCAPE* (overlayed into *job code - CONSTRUCTION* and, *job code - SOILS*)

- The same .dwg files are then loaded as XREFS into respective sheet files similar to how they are loaded into the XREF files.
- Furthermore, these sheets are automatically loaded into a sheet set manager based on an existing template

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My goal would be to fast track the monotonous setup of a project and have the user spend more time focusing on content of the package rather than setup. A routine like this could save our company countless hours spent on file setup at the beginning of a project, on training of new employees, and allow for us to spend more time designing our projects. If you know of anything like this or would be willing to collaborate with me, please let me know or shoot me a private message.

Thanks and happy new year to all!

[bilançikur]

A lot of this is possible in a relative easy way.
I am not sure about the sheets / sheetsets though.

But would this be an approach you might want to try?

1. Set up a <standaard project folder> containing all the files and folder the way you need them
2. Enter the command "PROJECTSETUP" and give all the needed info
3. Let Autocad rename all the specific files.

I am sure it will work without a hassle but I can't tell you about sheet sets.

[bfred805]

A lot of this is possible in a relative easy way.
I am not sure about the sheets / sheetsets though.

But would this be an approach you might want to try?

1. Set up a <standaard project folder> containing all the files and folder the way you need them
2. Enter the command "PROJECTSETUP" and give all the needed info
3. Let Autocad rename all the specific files.

I am sure it will work without a hassle but I can't tell you about sheet sets.

Yes, I'm not sure how AutoCAD can rename files like this, though.

[BlackBox]

A lot of this is possible in a relative easy way.
I am not sure about the sheets / sheetsets though.

But would this be an approach you might want to try?

1. Set up a <standaard project folder> containing all the files and folder the way you need them
2. Enter the command "PROJECTSETUP" and give all the needed info
3. Let Autocad rename all the specific files.

I am sure it will work without a hassle but I can't tell you about sheet sets.

Yes, I'm not sure how AutoCAD can rename files like this, though.

Simple - using either vl-File-Copy, or vl-File-Rename LispFunctions.

[BlackBox]

This may also be of use:

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=22517.msg554146#msg554146

[bfred805]

A lot of this is possible in a relative easy way.
I am not sure about the sheets / sheetsets though.

But would this be an approach you might want to try?

1. Set up a <standaard project folder> containing all the files and folder the way you need them
2. Enter the command "PROJECTSETUP" and give all the needed info
3. Let Autocad rename all the specific files.

I am sure it will work without a hassle but I can't tell you about sheet sets.

Yes, I'm not sure how AutoCAD can rename files like this, though.

Simple - using either vl-File-Copy, or vl-File-Rename LispFunctions.

Would there be any need to go outside of AutoCAD and use a ROBOCOPY routine, here?

[bfred805]

This may also be of use:

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=22517.msg554146#msg554146

I guess I DO understand that, however I would like to handle all of this at the command line rather than in a dialog that requires browsing. Is that still possible?

[BlackBox]

A lot of this is possible in a relative easy way.
I am not sure about the sheets / sheetsets though.

But would this be an approach you might want to try?

1. Set up a <standaard project folder> containing all the files and folder the way you need them
2. Enter the command "PROJECTSETUP" and give all the needed info
3. Let Autocad rename all the specific files.

I am sure it will work without a hassle but I can't tell you about sheet sets.

Yes, I'm not sure how AutoCAD can rename files like this, though.

Simple - using either vl-File-Copy, or vl-File-Rename LispFunctions.

Would there be any need to go outside of AutoCAD and use a ROBOCOPY routine, here?

Nah - If 'going outside of AutoCAD', I'd just use external FileSystemObject Object, as Lee aptly demonstrates here.

[BlackBox]

This may also be of use:

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=22517.msg554146#msg554146

I guess I DO understand that, however I would like to handle all of this at the command line rather than in a dialog that requires browsing. Is that still possible?

Possible - yes.

Create a template project with all of the generic file naming conventions, prompt for project information, make/copy the folder/files accordingly, rename them if not done at copy, then open them via ObjectDBX and programmatically modify the pre-existing XREFs using the project-specific information as needed.


In the interim - until you learn to, or someone else volunteers to entirely develop this super time saving routine for your employer - you're welcome to use Tim's excellent XREF Manager as you like.

Cheers

[bilançikur]

@ Brewser: I was just looking through some other posts of you to see if you have any experience in lisp, but I found you have AutoCAD LT.
Is this correct? In that case I doubt you will achieve this.

[kdub_nz]

bilançikur,
The unavailability of API's has been explained to him but he seems to want to ignore the advice.

[bilançikur]

kdub; thanks for the info.
This is where "I call it a day".