Setting up Templates and Preferences for Repeat Clients
May 27, 2016
Presented by: Eric Stanley from GSBS
To save time and increase your accuracy, learn how to deliver a consistent drawing package for your repeat clients by setting up project templates and Preference Sets. In this webinar, we'll show you how to create templates organized by client, plant type, location, or any other category of your choice. Use these techniques to both streamline and speed up many of the processes your office uses most frequently.
Webinar Contents:
Note: The following catalog of content covered in this webinar is time stamped to allow you to follow along or skip to sections of the video that are relevant to your questions. You can also search for content on this page using the FIND command in your browser (CTRL + F in Windows, Command + F in Mac OS.)
- Intro & TOC
- Pros of Creating Templates
- Cons of Creating Templates
- When to Create Templates
-
Types of Templates
- Client
- Region
- Plant Type
- Beyond Planting
-
Demonstration of Template Creation by Client
- Creating a Project to Use as a Template
- Preference Set Selection
- Details
- Site Reference Notes (RefNotes)
- Plants
- Why You Shouldn’t Add Irrigation Equipment to a Template
- Saving the Template
- Creating a Project Based on an Existing Template
Drawing Consistency
- Graphically
- Sheet layout
- Quick recognition
Error reduction
- Chance to improve constantly
- Chance to refine from baseline
Scalability and Work Transfer (Portability)
- Transferring projects between staff
Efficiency
- Reduce production time while maintaining accuracy
Repeat Errors
Getting Stuck in a Rut
Remember: Innovations and changes need to be intentional.
- Not at first!
- Repeat clients/project types/regions – any repetitive process
- With a team
Client (11:35)
Region (11:55)
Plant Type (12:55)
Examples: trees, evergreens, perennials, grasses, drought tolerant, native
Beyond Planting (14:20)
Examples: details, RefNotes, scale of template, furnishings
Creating a Project to Use as a Template (18:40)
Preference Set Selection (20:00)
Creating an office standard (20:30)
Details (22:00)
Site Reference Notes (RefNotes) (26:00)
Plants (28:25)
Selecting color and SketchUp plant symbols and adding a cost to a plant (31:30)
Why You Shouldn’t Add Irrigation Equipment to a Template (34:00)
Irrigation equipment should not be part of your template. Because irrigation equipment is constantly being updated, it’s just not a good idea to have it in a template. For example, if you were to add a component that has been discontinued to a template, that component would remain in future projects based on that template, which could cause major problems in the installation.
Saving a Template (36:17)
Creating a project based on a template (37:40)
Question: Can I have the same symbol multiple times in a template? (38:50)
Answer: Yes. Land F/X can distinguish between different plants with the same symbol (although it can take away from the visual recognition of different plants).
Question: Is it a good idea to start making a template when using Land F/X for the first time? (39:40)
Answer: Absolutely!
Sample details template (41:25)
Creating a Project Based on an Existing Template (43:30)
Contact
- Land F/X
Our software tailors AutoCAD® to the needs of landscape architects, irrigation designers, and other professionals. We automate your most tedious tasks and ensure accuracy, giving you more time to design.