What should Your CAD Standard Contain?

What should a CAD Standard cover?

Here is a brief list of the major topics that should be covered by every CAD Standard.

10 Essentials

The list below is what I consider the bottom line. These issues need to be fully defined and articulated. Go to whatever lengths to get these outlined completely to provide efficiency for your firm.

1. Standard Folders – names, locations, relationships, contents
2. Project Names – numbering, names
3. File Names – complete definition, how they are created, what folder they go in
4. Layer Names, Line styles, Pen Weights
5. Pen Tables – CTB, STB
6. Lettering Fonts and Sizes – when used, fonts, style names
7. Dimension Styles – exact names, all terms defined
8. Drafting Symbols – your basic symbology
9. Xref Usage – naming, content, attachment method
10. Layout tabs – names, format, page setup

A Fuller List

This list is a fuller definition of what may be included in your Standard. This reflects what may be found in a Standard for plain AutoCAD. If you have LDT, Civil 3D or Revit then a even larger list may be needed.

1. Standard Folders
2. Project Names
3. File Names
4. Standard Units
5. LTSCALE
6. Paper Space and Model Space
7. Viewports
8. Date stamping of plots
9. Revision tracking of files
10. Layer Names, Linestyles, Pen Weights
11. Pen Tables
12. Lettering Fonts and Sizes
13. Annotative Text guidelines
14. Dynamic Blocks
15. Dimension Styles
16. Drafting Symbols
17. Graphic Symbols
18. Xref Usage
19. PDF Underlay Use
20. Saved Views
21. Title Blocks
22. Layout tabs
23. Detail Creation and use
24. Menus
25. Support Files
26. Plotting
27. Hardware Requirements
28. Software Requirements
29. Deliverables

For ADT/ACA

1. Standard Directory Structure (for Project Navigator)
2. Project Names
3. File Names
4. Project Setup
5. Standard Units
6. LTSCALE
7. Paper Space and Model Space Use
8. Datestamp Drawing files
9. Revision tracking of files
10. Layer Names
11. Pen Tables, Pen Weights (CTB, STB)
12. Lettering, Fonts and Sizes
13. Dimensioning
14. Drafting Symbols – defined as common symbols used by all disciplines
15. Graphic Symbols – defined as discipline specific symbols
16. AEC Content
17. Xref Usage
18. Viewports
19. Saved Views
20. Spaces
21. Tags and Schedules
22. Sections
23. Elevations
24. Keynoting
25. Title Blocks
26. Layout tabs
27. Detail Creation and use
28. Custom Menus
29. Support Files
30. Plotting
31. Hardware Requirements
32. Software Requirements
33. File Exchange
34. Deliverables
35. Project Closeout
36. Archiving