The Border File is one that is used on every sheet file and every project you have. Getting it right shows that you really have your act together. Getting it wrong can tell others that your level of quality is slipping. I have been in meetings and have seen the clients name spelled wrong on […]
Image Files 20 characters maximum (not including filetype extension). Common image file extensions will be .TIF, .JPG and .BMP. Image files are placed into the Sheet folder and referenced only to Sheet files. They may also be referenced to Model files as needed. Standard: ZPPAD-************** Z: Identified the file as an Image file to be […]
Continue reading about CAD Standards – Example File Names – Images
Sheet Files 14 characters maximum (not including file type extension) Standard: PPAD-TT-LLL_R PP: Project Identifier (2 characters) (Optional) A: Phase Identifier (1 character or “-“) (optional) D: Discipline (1 character) “-“: hyphen TT: File Type (2 character) (Optional) LLL: Sheet Number (3 characters ) _R: Revision suffix – (Optional 1 character and placeholder as required) […]
Continue reading about CAD Standards – Example File Names – Sheet Files
XREF (Background) Files 9 characters maximum (not including filetype extension) Standard: XPPA-DTTLL X PP A(-) D TT LL X: Identified the file as a Model file to be XREFed to other files. PP-: Project identifier (2 characters) (Optional) A: Phase identifier (Optional) (1 character or “-“ (hyphen)) D: Discipline (1 character) TT: File type (2 […]
Continue reading about CAD Standards – Example File Names – XREF
You need to include a discipline designator in your file names so that people can quickly see who created and is responsible for each file. Here is an NCS compliant example:
Every Standard has to have a way to identify what file type you have. Having a designator in the file name can help everyone know who is overseeing what. Here is an example – again – it is NCS compliant. File Type Designator examples: ARCHITECTURAL & INTERIORS: AD Area Development DP Demolition Plan EL Elevation […]
File naming is crucial to maintaining proper unification of your product. This is on my top ten list of Items to include in your CAD Standard and should not be overlooked at all. This is one area you want to get right, communicate well and enforce. Model / Construct / Background / Xref Files You […]
Continue reading about CAD Standards – File Naming Convention
Here are some notes about the folders that you may need to create to hold your CAD and other files. You can see example folder structures here. Admin, Specs, etc: Storage for non-CAD project files, such as budgets, email, reports, etc. Define usage and consistent subdirectories per project or office requirements. CAD: All CAD files […]
All of the CAD work on a project should be contained in a single CAD folder. I break out the CAD folder since I keep all project files in the same root folder. See this post on the Root Folder. Keeping all of the CAD files in one folder streamlines archiving and using tools like […]