Multiple Style Detail Frames

By Steve Cook on Wednesday, 08 July 2015

Posted in Customization

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We use a few different detail frames based on the design group that we are working with. One is a more horizontal layout and has a square box (shaded and such) while our other one is a vertical format with the more LA traditional line with a circle for the detail ID. Is there a way to use both frames as necessary? Even if we have to identify them differently in our folder structure, that would be alright.

Not sure if this would be feasible... but...

The 'linework' part of the detail would be easy enough. "layer-name-title-1" and "layer-name-title-2". Yes, when you insert your detail frame it will be a bit of a hot mess. And, when you insert the detail into your sheet, it will turn on ALL the detail layers. You would end up need a little script to toggle the right layers on and off, and remember to do it each time.

The text is the tough part. It is probably relocated for each frame. Maybe a different style even? Different size? Would it be possible to change the detail text to annotative? With annotative text you can relocate it depending on the annotative scale. You could create to annotative scales, and name them by the 'design group'. Technically, they are the same scale, but have different names. When you have ANNOTATIVE-STYLE-1 active, the text is in a certain location/size. When you have ANNOTATIVE-STYLE-2 on, it would shift to the second location. Keep the annotative scale and layer toggles in sync.

Its a bit of a coordination issue, but could keep you from having to manage duplicate sets of details.

You could even get fancy... I assume there is a different titleblock for each design group as well? You could create a script... lets call it 'rectify detail frames'. Upon execution, it checks the titleblock that is in the sheet, then toggles the annotative scale and layers accordingly.

This all assumes that you can actually use annotative text as the text that is in the detail right now... if not... well... 2 sets of details it is... or tell your design groups to deal with the same detail frame.

t.

Timothy Starkey

9 years ago

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#119

The detail frame has to support a large amount of customization. Some details may opt to remove the Scale, some formats have the detail file number reading vertically, and of course the Title and Number can dramatically differ in placement and size. Further, the detail format has to be able to enlarge to match any desired width. So the only conceivable way for this to remain as a "block" to be able to swapped out, would be if it was a Dynamic Block. But then dynamic blocks can't be WBlocked, so even that would need to be exploded first.
So alas, no, the format can't change.

I wonder if it worth trying to Xref the source detail into another drawing, which would have just the revised template, and then turn off the layers for the template in the other detail???
Maybe???

--J

Jeremiah Farmer

9 years ago

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#50

Well, i didn't quite understand your "what if" but you did stir my grey matter a little. We could do it all with layers. Our detail template just needs to have the various options included so that the layers can just be controlled. Would we have to have all of the layers on when we save the detail, or will it keep the entities and layers of the offed layers when we save the detail? One configuration is more dominant so we could save it with that configuration on for viewing through the detail explorer.

Steve Cook

9 years ago

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#51

Yeah, the layers need to be on when originally saving, as it does a Crossing Window for the WBlock operation.
And note that every time you place a detail, the system automatically turns on all layers within it that do not have "NPLT" within the layer name.

--J

Jeremiah Farmer

9 years ago

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#52

Does it turn all the layers on in the detail sheet every time you slap a new detail on? Even if the layers are frozen after adding the first detail on the sheet? When we update details, will it thaw all the layers again too? If it's that problematic, maybe we'll have to try something else.

Steve Cook

9 years ago

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#53

When you place any detail, all layers within said detail are turned on and thawed.
Unless, that is, that layer has "NPLT" in its name.

--J

Jeremiah Farmer

9 years ago

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#54

Thanks Jeremiah. Does anyone else in the "Community" have any ideas?

Steve Cook

9 years ago

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#55

Unless I am not understanding the question, I think this is already built into LandFX using preference sets. In the lower left corner of the LAndFX detail preferences is the preference set option. I just tried it, and made 2 different detail frames for two different preference sets. It inserted the detail frame based on the preference set selection.

Timothy Starkey

9 years ago

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#94

Yes, you can create two different preference sets, but you would then have to save every detail in duplicate.
I'm assuming that the OP was attempting to use a single detail library with two different templates.

--J

Jeremiah Farmer

9 years ago

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#95

You are both right, but Tim has a good point. Once you've saved it to one preference set, you do have the drawing all set up to remove he one frame and add the other. We'd need to save all of the details to different sub-folders, but I think that may work. Thanks Tim and Jer.

Steve Cook

9 years ago

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#96

Thanks Tim. I believe that if we were a one man shop here, all of your solutions would be great. They's work for sure. We have multiple designers that may share the same project. I think that we can go as far as creating a script file that controls the layers every time a new detail is inserted or updated. Adding more responses to the various designers is inviting too many opportunities for human error. - I think that this will work without storing two different details, but I'm not sure at this point. You and Jeremiah have sure provided enough information for us to now make an educated decision. Thanks to both of you!

Steve Cook

9 years ago

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#122