Item Standards Manager

The Item Standards Manager command launches the Standards Draw Manager palette. This palette has a right-click shortcut menu allowing you to Insert, Modify, Delete and otherwise manage Items stored in the Standards Database file (.sdb). Other than the shortcut menu, this palette is identical to the Standards Draw palette.

The first time you launch the Item Standards Manager in a drawing session, a dialog box will prompt you to "Select Drawing Standards Data Source".

The Standards Data Source can be loaded by specifying a Universal Data Link file (.udl) or a Standards Database file (.sdb). The .udl file is a file that "points" to an .sdb file. CAD Managers may prefer to allow users access to the database through the Universal Data Link file (.udl). This allows the CAD Manager to limit access to the Standards Database file (.sdb) by storing it in a non-shared location. The CAD Manager can set "read only" or "read/write" permissions for the .udl file so as to limit editing access to the protected data stored in the .sdb file.

Carlson includes two Standards Database files (.sdb) with the installation: the Carlson_NCS_SurveyCivil.sdb which is a fully populated database based on the US National CAD Standard and empty.sdb which is a functional, but empty, database with which to start a new Standard Database. Updates and additions to the .sdb files provided by Carlson Software will be posted to this website: www.carlsonsw.com/cadstandards.html.

After specifying the data source, the CAD Standards feature is launched in "CAD Management" mode and the Draw Standard Item command is automatically issued. If you wish to place a Standard Item in your drawing at this time, you can simply continue the Draw Standard Item command as usual. However, if you need to perform any management tasks to the database, use the Enter key to finish the command and return to the Command: prompt. You can then access the Standards Draw Manager palette by hovering over the Draw Standard Item icon on the Draw Item toolbar.

By default, the Standards Draw Manager palette automatically hides within the Draw Standard Item icon. Hovering over this icon will display the palette. Once displayed, the palette may be dragged to a new location and re-sized. Since the palette is fully transparent, it can be "parked" in the drawing area and not interfere with other drafting tasks. The palette is also "transparent" with regards to command execution in that other commands are able to run while the palette remains open and available for use.Once displayed, right-clicking inside the Standards Draw Manager displays a menu containing the Standards Database management commands.

New Item Folder

Use this command to create a new folder or sub-folder in which to store Standard Items.

Name: The common name for Items in this Folder. The Folder Name is limited to 32 characters.

Description: Additional descriptive information about this Folder. The Folder Description is limited to 32 characters.

Characteristic: Distinguishing characteristic of this Folder. The Folder Characteristic is limited to 32 characters.

The "Name", "Description" and "Characteristic" of each new Folder can be organized and named using any consistent naming convention that makes sense for your office. The dialog also allows you to specify a "Prefix" and "Suffix" for both the "Description" and "Characteristic" of each new Folder. The "Prefix" and "Suffix" values shown in the example above have been set as parentheses ( ) and brackets [ ]. You can set the Default values for "Prefix" and "Suffix" in Item Database Preferences.

Label: This is a read-only value defined by combining the Folder Name, Description and Characteristic.

Quick Key: This value is not used or set for Folders.

Scale: This read-only value displays the current "Horizontal Scale" as specified in Carlson Drawing Setup.

Import Symbol Library

This command allows you to import a collection of blocks into the database as Standard Symbol Items. Default Scale, Attribute Properties and Rotation can be set for all symbols when importing to the database. For this command, all blocks should be saved out to individual Drawing files (.dwg) in a common blocks folder. And, contrary to accepted CAD practice, the blocks should be drawn on their standard layer instead of layer 0.

For instance, according to our standard, symbol SSWR-08 should reside on layer V-SSWR-STRC. If I intend to import this symbol into the database using the Import Symbol Library command, the symbol SSWR-08 should reside in its own drawing file named SSWR-08.dwg and should be drawn on layer V-SSWR-STRC in that Drawing file.

Except as noted above with regard to layers, all Symbols should be drawn according to the guidelines set forth in the Best Practices section of this document.

Scale: Because the default X, Y and Z scale factors correspond to the current "Horizontal Scale" setting in Carlson Drawing Setup, these values should all be set to "1" when defining Standard Symbol Items to the database.

Select the "Fixed" options for X, Y and Z Scales if you wish to manage the Symbol size solely by these values. Do NOT select the "Fixed" options if you want the Symbol size to vary depending on the "Horizontal Scale" setting of the drawing.

Properties: For blocks having defined attributes, use the settings here to Allow Moving, Rotating and Masking of attributes.

Rotation: Default Rotation for Symbols can be specified as "First", "Fixed" and "Previous". The "First" option will prompt for a Rotation angle for the first Symbol and then will automatically Rotate all subsequent Symbols to the same angle as the first. The "Fixed" option will use the Rotation angle as specified for the original Symbol. The "Previous" option will prompt for the Rotation angle of each Symbol that is placed, but will default to the Rotation angle of the previously placed Symbol.

Browse for Folder: Browse to and select the folder containing the Symbols to be imported. After importing Symbols from a folder, the database will automatically add the folder to the list of "Additional Support Paths" as specified in the Item Database Preferences. In order to insert the Symbol into other drawings in the future, the source drawing file containing the original Symbol/Block definition must be found in a Support Path.

Export Layer Library

Use this command to export all layers and associated properties (color, linetype, etc.) to a Layer Library file (.la).

Export Field to Finish

Use this command to export all Standard Items to corresponding field codes in a Field to Finish file (.fld).

Insert Item

Use this command to define a Standard Item to the Standards Database file (.sdb). If you wish to store the new Standard Item in a Folder, you must first select and highlight the Folder, then right-click and select Insert Item from the shortcut menu. If you do not want the new Standard Item saved in a Folder, simply right-click anywhere in the palette and select Insert Item. Once Items have been created, you can simply "drag and drop" Items from one Folder to another as needed.

A Standard Item, when defined to the database, can include any one or a combination of 3 types of entities: Symbols, Linework and Annotation (with or without a Leader). If more than one of any type (2 Symbols, for instance) are selected, you will be prompted to select the ONE entity to be used for the Standard Item definition.

Prior to Inserting a new Standard Item, all entities should be drawn according to the guidelines set forth in the Best Practices section of this document.

Select Objects: Select the entities that comprise the new Standard Item to be defined.

Name: The common name for this Item. The Item Name is limited to 32 characters.

Description: Additional descriptive information about this Item. The Item Description is limited to 32 characters.

Characteristic: Distinguishing characteristic of this Item. The Item Characteristic is limited to 32 characters.

The "Name", "Description" and "Characteristic" of each new Item can be organized and named using any consistent naming convention that makes sense for your office. The dialog also allows you to specify a "Prefix" and "Suffix" for both the "Description" and "Characteristic" of each new Item. The "Prefix" and "Suffix" values shown in the example above have been set as parentheses ( ) and brackets [ ]. You can set the Default values for "Prefix" and "Suffix" in Item Database Preferences.

Label: This is a read-only value defined by combining the Item Name, Description and Characteristic.

Quick Key: This is a nickname for the Standard Item. The Quick Key is used with the Draw Item command and allows you to specify the Standard Item to be drawn from the Command: line.

Scale: This read-only value displays the current "Horizontal Scale" as specified in Carlson Drawing Setup.

Symbol tab

Scale: Because the default X, Y and Z scale factors correspond to the current "Horizontal Scale" setting in Carlson Drawing Setup, these values should be set to "1" when defining Standard Symbols to the database.

Select the "Fixed" options for X, Y and Z Scales if you wish to manage the Symbol Size solely by these values. Do NOT select the "Fixed" options if you want the Symbol Size to vary depending on the "Horizontal Scale" setting of the drawing.

Properties: For blocks having defined attributes, use the settings here to allow Moving, Rotating and Masking of attributes.

Linework tab

Linetype: This read-only value reflects the Linetype of the Linework element. Using a "ByLayer" value allows for maximum flexibility in the future.

Scale and Width: The Scale and Width settings shown here reflect the Linetype Scale and Width of the entity selected. These values can be modified and can also be specified as "Fixed".

Select the "Fixed" option for "Scale" if you wish to manage the Linetype Scale of the entity solely by this value. Do NOT select the "Fixed" option if you want the drawing's LTSCALE setting to control the Linetype Scale of each entity.

Note: The "Fixed" option here applies to the Current Entity Linetype Scale and not the global LTSCALE that we are accustomed to changing based on the scale of the drawing. For the LTSCALE to behave in its traditional fashion, it requires the Current Entity Linetype Scale value be set "Fixed" to "1".

Select the "Fixed" option for "Width" if you wish to manage the Width of the entity solely by this value. Do NOT select the "Fixed" option if you want the Width of the linework to be scaled by the "Horizontal Scale" of the drawing.

Closed: Select this option if the Linework is to be forced to be a "Closed" polygon.

Offset Items - Insert: This button can be used to draw multiple Linework Items parallel to one another. When defining Offsets, you will Insert one Linework Item to the database and then specify the other Linework Items to be drawn parallel to the original Item. The Offset Linework Items do not have to be drawn at the correct Offset. After each Offset Item has been selected, you will be prompted to specify the Offset distance from the original Item.

For instance, in addition to defining separate Standard Items for "Back of Curb", "Gutter Line" and "Edge of Pavement", you might also define a Standard Item named "Standard 30" Curb" that combines all three Standard Items.

First, use the Insert Item command and select the "Back of Curb" Item as the first Item.

Next, pick the Offset button and select a "Gutter Line" Item that has been previously drawn in the drawing. You'll be prompted at the Command: Line to specify the Offset Distance from the original Item. This value can also be added or changed in the dialog box. The Offset Distance for the "Gutter Line" would be 0.5, representing a 0.5' wide curb.

Next, pick the Offset button again and select an "Edge of Pavement" Item that has been previously drawn in the drawing. Again, you'll be prompted at the Command: Line to specify the Offset Distance from the original Item. The Offset Distance for the "Edge of Pavement" would be 2.5, representing a 2.5' wide curb with gutter.

After being added as Offsets, both of these values should be marked as "Fixed" because their Offset values should not change based on the "Horizontal Scale" of the drawing.

Offset Items - Delete: After selecting an Offset, pick this button to delete the Offset from the Standard Item.

Annotation tab

Style: This read-only value reflects the Text Style of the Annotation element.

Height and Width Factor: The Height and Width Factor settings shown here reflect the Text Height and Width Factor of the entity selected. While both the Height and Width Factor can be modified, the Width of the text is a read-only, computed value. You also have the option of specifying the Height as "Fixed".

Select the "Fixed" option for "Height" if you wish to manage the Height of the entity solely by this value. Do NOT select the "Fixed" option if you want the Height to vary depending on the "Horizontal Scale" setting of the drawing.

Rotation: Default Rotation for Annotation can be specified as "First", "Fixed" and "Previous". The "First" option will prompt for a Rotation angle for the first Annotation entity and then will automatically Rotate all subsequent entities to the same angle as the first. The "Fixed" option will use the Rotation angle as specified for the original Annotation entity. The "Previous" option will prompt for the Rotation angle of each Annotation entity that is placed, but will default to the Rotation angle of the previously placed entity.

Leadered: Select this option if you wish to have the ability to place a Leader with each instance of your Annotation. The Leader option is only available if you selected both a Text/MText entity and a Leader entity when Inserting the Item to the database. The read-only value to the right reflects the Dimension Style of the Leader entity selected.

Mask: Select this option if you wish to have each instance of Annotation "masked" using a WIPEOUT entity. If selected, the "Height Offset" option becomes active allowing you to control the size of the WIPEOUT.

Modify Item

Right-click on any Item or Item Folder and select Modify Item to make changes.

Delete Item

Right-click on any Item or Item Folder and select Delete Item to remove the Item from the database.

Item Database Preferences

Right-click in the palette and select this command to manage Item Description and Characteristic Prefix and Suffix values and also to Add or Delete "Additional Support Paths".

Pulldown Menu Location(s): Draw > Draw to Standard
Keyboard Command: configItem
Prerequisite: Populated Standards Database file (.sdb)