The idea with next page when the first one is populated is teoreticaly ok, but the in practice one often needs more flexible approach.
The drawing process has pre-defined "detail drawings", which have predefined prototype.
Prototype can have a fixed frame and size, or scalable.
We use the scalable paper size, with predefined sizez for A4, A3, A2, A1, A0, 2A0 and few non standard sizes like 420 x 420 mm...
Why?
We have lot of different size models, from few tons to few hundred tons.
The model is divided in groups like traverse, beams, frames, etc. For every group we use 1 drawing process (most of the time) to extract the drawings, and then add some views or details, add or delete the dimension lines and labels if needed. And I can't rememeber the case it wasn't needed.
So - I can predefine 10+ different prototypes with all mentioned paper sizes and I can make 10+ different processes with same drawing style and different prototypes, but I can't predict exactly what size the page will be needed.
Most time I change it just one size + or - (e.g. from A3 to A2 or similar), but never the less I have to go trough same number of steps to do it as if I have changed it from A4 to 2A0...
I rearange the parts to specifc area;
Then I shrink/enlarge the frame;
Then I enter the plot command, and select the "window" and define the new print area to fit the frame;
Then I change the paper size (stil in PLOT window) to fit all previous mentioned;
Then I explode the drawing so the colleagues that don't use Advance Steel could open the drawing;
(Often I have to make small adjustments to the tables and sometimes even to some parts of the drawings) in exploded dwgs;
...
And then (not rarely) I get the new revision, so I am back at the beggining...
Do you have the better tehnique for mentioned metodology?
I have to say that we work as contractors and we have been given the predefined methodology so we have to stick to it, we can't for example choose A2 format and print 30+ pages on A3, because we can do it with fewer clicks...
Thanks for the answer,
cheers
p.s. - I am writing this text in notepad, and then copy-paste to this ridicilusly small input area for the answer. Is it possible that I am the only one bothered becose of the 3 line wide input area?
