By John Flanagan
The AutoCAD bad practices included in this blog are some of the common ones witnessed in drawing offices.
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Putting objects on the Defpoints layer:
The Defpoints layer is created automatically when you add a dimension, and it is always a no-plot layer. Putting objects that you do not want to plot on the Defpoints layer may seem like a clever idea but what about instances where you may to plot objects on the Defpoints layer? It makes more sense to create a new layer, call it “non-plot” or something similar and put your objects there. -
Putting all objects on layer 0:
This is simply bad practice. AutoCAD has a great way of managing drawing objects using layers which also helps in controlling the properties of multiple objects directly using layer properties. -
Not using layering standards:
To reduce extra working hours, use layering/company standards. This ensures consistency when drawings are sent to other contractors. If consistent standards are not followed you might end up with drawings having different naming conventions that need to be translated before they can be used. -
Placing objects on the wrong layers:
This issue can be prevented by reviewing drawings before submission. A straightforward way to check if all objects are on the correct layer is by using the “Layer Walk” tool. -
Not specifying Drawing Units:
Checking your drawing units during drawing setup is good practice. Just select a company template or use one from AutoCAD default template and specify the drawing unit, precision, and length format like decimal or architectural before you begin your drawing.
The acadiso is the default metric template. -
Not using annotative scaling:
The annotative function was added in the AutoCAD 2008 version. Annotative objects and styles are used to control the size and scale at which annotation objects are displayed in model space or a layout.
Annotation objects include Single Line Text, Multiline Text, Text Styles, Dimensions, Dimension Styles, Multileaders, Multileader Styles, Geometric Tolerances, Blocks, Attributes and Hatches.
So, when adding objects like dimensions and text directly in model space drawings, create them using the annotative property. -
Not Locking Viewports in Paperspace:
When you have set the scale of a viewport in paper space you should always lock that viewport to avoid changing its scale accidentally. -
Blocks are not created on layer 0:
Many inexperienced users place AutoCAD blocks on a custom layer other than layer 0, but it should be avoided, and blocks should be created on layer 0.
Zero Layer
Layer 0 has special properties. When creating blocks, if the objects in the block are drawn on layer 0 they will assume the properties of the current layer when they are inserted. So, unless you want a block with a specific set of properties that does not change based on its layer, put it on layer 0. -
Not putting xrefs on a separate layer:
As far as possible always try to put Xref on a separate layer dedicated to only Xref and also ensure that the layer is not layer 0.
In this way, you can control the properties of X-refs in a better way and also it becomes easier to manage these external references in drawings.
Also, prefix the layer containing Xref with X or Z to keep it at the bottom of the layer list.
Toggling the visibility of all Xref’s also becomes easy when they are put on dedicated layers and with a prefix identifying the Xref layer clearly, it becomes easier to manage it too. -
Not assigning object properties by layer:
We have all received drawings with blocks and other objects assigned to a particular layer, but these objects are still using their custom properties not as per layer.
When you change layer properties these objects just stand out and do not inherit properties from layers and their properties remain unchanged which may not always be good.
Now in some instances, you may want to add custom properties that are different from the layer, and that is fine but try to assign properties by layer for as many objects as possible.
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