Learn how to work on a CAD-301 plan model file, import layer information, and use the Design Center in this article. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to manage and set up layers for a more organized and efficient CAD design process.
Key Insights
- The article details the process of setting up a CAD-301 plan model file, including how to create a new file, choose a template, and save the file on the C drive.
- It explains how to import layer information into the drawing using the Insert tab, the Control button and number 2 on the keyboard, or the Tools and Palettes options on the menu.
- The article also discusses how to use the Design Center to manage and set up layers for the CAD design, highlighting several layers and their specific uses for multi-scale drawings.
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Well, let's begin. We're going to be working on our CAD-301 plan model file drawing. So I'm going to go File > New, and I will use the template, and I will save the file up on my C Drive.
So C Drive, CAD-301, and since you've already downloaded the file, I will choose CAD-301 plan model file. Now again, the plan model file that's available for you on the Online System is a dataset. If ever you need to go back, you can always go back and re-import the CAD-301 plan model file.
But I've just overwritten the drawing. What I'd like to do is to import the layer information into my drawing. So I can bring in the layer information a number of ways.
I can go to the Insert tab, and I can choose DesignCenter over here. Or I can hold down the CTRL button and the number 2 on the keyboard, so CTRL+2 calls up the DesignCenter. Or I could also go to the Menu pulldown, go to Tools > Palettes, slide over, and choose the DesignCenter.
So all three get me to the same place. Now you want to go to your C Drive, so I'm just going to minimize it, so you can see my C Drive, and then expand it. And theoretically, you already have your CAD-301 folder, so I would go into my CAD-301 folder and expand it.
Now right now, you will not see as many drawings in your CAD-301 folder as I have, because I've just downloaded them all already into my folder. But what we want to do is we want to go into our CAD-301 Extraction Model file. I will then expand that, and what I'd like to do is to choose Layers.
And so I'm going to slide my bar down a little bit right here to expand the interface. And I'm going to choose Layer 0, pull the slider bar down. I will hold the Shift key and go down and choose Defpoints.
So I've now selected all of the layers that are in the extraction model. And I will just hold down here with the left button, hold my mouse down, drag it over the interface. Again, you'll see the "No" sign.
I will slide into the black area of the screen. You can see my arrow with the suitcase, and lift up. So I've now dragged those layers into this drawing.
I'm going to close the DesignCenter, go back to the Home tab. I will go to the Layer Properties Manager, and you're going to see a whole bunch of layers, and these are the layers that we've brought in from our file.
All the layers are currently on. All of the layers have their ByLayer characteristics assigned. What I'd like to point out is some other information.
You can see that we have six different annotation areas where we're grouping the dimensions and the symbols into annotation. The number that's behind it is going to be the scale factor. We have 12 and 24.
We will be using these for our multiscale drawings. We will be using the Dims-48 for the dimensioning on our house. We have the 96, which we will be using on the roof plan.
And then we have the Annotation Symbols for our floor plan and our roof plan. So I'm going to close the interface, but before I do it, I'm going to make A-Wall my Current layer.
I can just double-click right here, and A-Wall is my Current layer. I'm going to close the interface. So again, here we are.
We've dragged in, using the DesignCenter, all of our appropriate layers. And now we're getting ready to start working on the house itself.