Settings fro dimensions should be set in your template files.  No need to have someone set them up every time they need to have a dimension.  So setting them once is best.

When setting up the standard, you need to go through every dimension variable to verify that each is set as you like it.  You can use the dialog boxes.

Here is a good tutorial on setting up Dimensions by Art Whitton, Chester, NE

Annotation scaling allows you to plot annotation text at the same height or size regardless of the viewport zoom scale. Annotation scales can be associated with annotative objects in AutoCAD so that these objects can be sized properly for specific annotation scales in model space and displayed correctly in paper space.

A Variable Specific to this topic:
The DIMANNO variable indicates whether or not the current dimension style is annotative.

0 – Nonannotative
1 – Annotative

You can create Annotative Dimensions for measurements in your drawing through annotative dimension styles.

Annotative dimension styles create dimensions in which all the elements of the dimension, such as text, spacing, and arrows, scale uniformly by the annotation scale.

You can change an existing nonannotative dimension to annotative by changing the dimension’s Annotative property to Yes.

Note: When the current dimension style is annotative, the value of DIMSCALE is automatically set to zero, and does not affect the dimension scale.

You can also create annotative tolerances. Geometric tolerances show acceptable deviations of form, profile, orientation, location, and runout of a feature.

Note:  A  icon next to a dimension style name indicates that the style is annotative.

In the AutoCAD Help files are many steps that can be done for creating, modifying, editing and switching dimensions to annotative.  I reproduce them here.

To create a new annotative dimension style

1. Click Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style.  (or at the command prompt, enter dimstyle)
2. In the Dimension Style Manager dialog box, click New.
3. In the Create New Dimension Style dialog box, enter a new style name.
4. Select Annotative.
5. Click Continue.
6. In the New Dimension Style dialog box, select the appropriate tab and make changes to define the dimension style.
7. Click OK.
8. (Optional) Click Set Current to set this style as the current dimension style.
9. Click Close.

To change an existing dimension style to annotative

1. Click Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style.
2. In the Dimension Style Manager dialog box, Styles list, select a style.
3. Click Modify.
4. In the Modify Dimension Style dialog box, Fit tab, under Scale for Dimension Features, select Annotative.
5. Click OK.
6. (Optional) Click Set Current to set this style as the current dimension style.
7. Click Close.

To create an annotative dimension

1. Click Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style.
2. In the Dimension Style Manager dialog box, Styles list, select an annotative dimension style.
3. Click Set Current.
4. Click Close.
5. Click Dimension menu and select a dimension type. At the command prompt, enter a dimension command.
6. Press ENTER to select the object to dimension or specify the first and second extension line origins.
7. Specify the dimension line location.

To change an existing dimension to annotative or nonannotative

1. Select a dimension in a drawing.
2. Click View tab Palettes panel Properties.
3. In the Properties palette, under Misc, click Annotative.
4. On the drop-down list, select Yes or No.

To update dimensions to reflect the current annotative properties of the dimension style

1. Click Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style.
2. In the Dimension Style Manager dialog box, Styles list, select a style.
3. Click Modify.
4. In the Modify Dimension Style dialog box, Fit tab, under Scale for Dimension Features, select Annotative.
5. Click OK.
6. (Optional) Click Set Current to set this style as the current dimension style.
7. Click Close.
8. In the drawing, select all the dimensions that you want to update.
9. At the command prompt, enter annoupdate.

LTSCALE – LineType Scale - Controls overall linetype scaling of objects displayed.

Sets the global linetype scale factor. The linetype scale factor cannot equal zero. This system variable has the same name as a command. Use the SETVAR command to access this system variable.

The initial value of LTSCALE is 1.

Use LTSCALE to change the scale factor of linetypes for all objects in a drawing. Changing the linetype scale factor causes the drawing to be regenerated.

PSLTSCALE – Paper Space LineType Scale – Controls linetype scaling of objects displayed in paperspace viewports.

When you change PSLTSCALE or use a command such as ZOOM with PSLTSCALE set to 1, objects in viewports are not automatically regenerated with the new linetype scale. Use the REGEN or REGENALL command to update the linetype scales in each viewport.

The initial value of PSLTSCALE is 1.

MSLTSCALE – Model  Space LineType Scale – Scales linetypes displayed on the model tab by the annotation scale

For model space or a layout viewport, you can display all the annotative objects or only those that support the current annotation scale. This reduces the need to use multiple layers to manage the visibility of your annotations.

When the MSLTSCALE system variable is set to 1 (default), linetypes displayed on the model tab are scaled by the annotation scale

Note: MSLTSCALE is set to 0 when you open drawings created in AutoCAD 2007 and earlier.

The initial value of MSLTSCALE is 1 (after 2008)

CELTSCALE – Current Element LineType Scale – Sets the current object linetype scaling factor. You can force an individual elements LTSCALE with this setting.

The Global Scale Factor value controls the LTSCALE system variable, which changes the linetype scale globally for both new and existing objects.

The Current Object Scale value controls the CELTSCALE system variable, which sets the linetype scale for new objects.

The CELTSCALE value is multiplied by the LTSCALE value to get the displayed linetype scale. You can easily change linetype scales in your drawing either individually or globally.

Sets the linetype scaling for new objects relative to the LTSCALE command setting. A line created with CELTSCALE = 2 in a drawing with LTSCALE set to 0.5 would appear the same as a line created with CELTSCALE = 1 in a drawing with LTSCALE = 1.

CAD Standards Issues:

Define what you will allow or demand in these settings.  The application of differing settings to these will make you files hard to decipher when used by others.  It will also make it hard to figure out goofy looking linetypes if you let CELTSCALE be used too often.

Specifically define your LTSCALE and verify that it is always the same on every file.

Show example screen shots of each area of the border and define what goes where.

Showing users exactly what they expect to see when a Title Block is added and filled in will help tremendously. Don’t leave it to them to guess.  Make notations as to what each area of the Title Block is supposed to contain and convey.

Include exact fonts and sizes for all text that the users may be placing.

Example text that could be included in your standard:

When referenced, the insert point for the titleblock/border file is 0,0,0 in Paper Space.

A titleblock attribute text block will be provided. Included in this block will be the typical symbol blocks and text styles required to annotate the plot/sheet file.

Titleblock entities will be placed the G-ANNO-TTLB layers. Typical layers for the titleblock will be G-TTLB, G-TTLB-ANNO, G-TTLB-KPLN & G-TTLB-GRID.

The key plan will be located in a space above the Issue Block area. Place the key plan on layer G-TTLB-KPLN.

Matchlines will be placed in Paper Space. It may be necessary to also place matchlines in model files, so other disciplines can find the matchlines.

North arrow and scale(s) will placed in the lower right hand area of the drawing area, just left of the Sheet number.

Project Managers and those that interact with the client take the brunt of these discussions. They are in the meetings with the clients and owners. If the client is the one that catches these mistakes – it makes them look pretty bad. You don’t want to have that happen very often. They can come back from meetings with a very sour attitude.

Reviewing Your Border

Take the time needed to fully define and refine your border files. If you have a standard company border that is used on every project, then get it perfect. Review the look and feel issues fist. Does it have all the info needed? Does it reflect the current locations of your firms offices? Does it look like it was created in 1950? Is it time to change the look? Does it reflect the current format of other collateral that your firm uses like letterhead layout, logos, fonts, etc.?

Now that the look is defined then take a long look at the layers you are using. Keep them as simple as you can. Reduce the layers that you use to the most minimal that get the job done. Use color to your advantage. If you are using CTB for plotting then don’t let the layer colors stray from something simple. If you are using STB, then make the colors pleasing on the eye.

Reduce the fonts and linetypes used. Does it use non-AutoCAD standard fonts? Are you using TrueType fonts that may not reproduce on other folks plotters and screens? Consider using PLINE for thickness and not color. Consider gapping CONTINUOUS lines in place of linestyles which can be impacted by someone changing LTSCALE.

Is the Logo an Image? Most CAD packages are handling images better, but I would still consider redrawing your company logo in CAD and not using an image file. The image files are usually externally referenced into the files and can be left behind when transmitting the deliverables.

Cleaning up the File

Now that you have reviewed and perfected the look and layers – Clean the file up. Leaving artifacts from unused data clutters the file up. Take an extended time period to get all the junk out of the file. PURGE the file to death. WBLOCK it out to another file. Check REGAPPS. Check residual fonts, layers and more. Check it, Check it, Check it. Clean it, Clean it, Clean it.

Once it is clean (you did clean it – right?) put it into a central location and lock it down. Do not let users fiddle with the standard file. They may copy it into their project location, but they should not adjust any of the standard border graphics or data.

Top  Ten CAD Manager Failures – the Second Five

AutoCAD 2010 – Sneak Peek

AutoCAD 2010 – Bloggers Speak Out

A Tour of the Autodesk Gallery

January Survey results

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Most CAD Managers have a good handle on their environment.  Most have a good “feel” for what shape their files are in.  Most have a positive perspective on things going well.

But what about the things that you may not know about.  What about those hidden things that pop up at the most inopportune times. What is happening that you don’t know about…

By keeping your radar tuned into the things that you may overlook, you can find and fix some of the unspoken troubles that may come up. Stay on your toes and don’t let smooth sailing lull you into a sense of “everything is alright”. There may be an iceberg just under the surface looming on the horizon.

Click on the links below to read the list… in two parts…

Ten CAD Management Problems – the First Five

Ten CAD Management Problems – The Second Five

August Poll Results – checking email?

See it as published

Here is a link the the one that was sent via email.

Or you can go directly to the articles…

Identifying CAD Project Killers

Book Review – Ascent Revit Training Manual

July Survey Results

Upgrading hardware and controlling software is part of every day life.

What do you do to keep things moving forward and keep users satisfied?

Hardware Wars

Software Collectors

June Poll Results

See the whole thing…