What's New in AutoCAD MEP 2014: Off the Scale! - Annotation Scaling and Unit Scaling Enhancements

AutoCAD MEP 2014 has some solid enhancements, one of them that will give companies and users flexibility is the ability to easily move from one unit to another which will more accurately represent annotation when scaled and get expected appearance and size relative to other objects.

AutoCAD Architecture and MEP have had real-world units since the original releases, along with a method for displaying annotation at different sizes for various drawing scales. When AutoCAD introduced Annotation Scaling, there were some very low level conflicts between the two systems. These resulted in rather unfortunate problems with the relative size of annotation.

When Drawing Units are changed, between units like meters and millimeters for example, you don’t want the content that is annotation scaled to become too large or small.

With the enhancements to the annotation and unit scaling, drawing units are changed, object tags, text and other annotation scaled objects now have the expected appearance and size relative to other objects.

In addition, many AutoCAD settings, such as linetype scale, are now properly modified when units are changed.

 
The bottom line is firms will be able to create more accurate construction documents with properly scaled tags, text and other annotation.

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Shruti Harve, LEED AP

Ideate Senior AEC Application Specialist
Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.

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What's New in AutoCAD MEP 2014: Saved by Zero! - Set to layer zero feature

AutoCAD MEP 2014 has some solid enhancements, one of them that will give companies and users additional control over consultant files is the ability to Set to layer zero command which modifies the definition of a selected block so all content objects are set to Layer 0.

Have you ever gotten a drawing from a consultant and wondered why the color of a block does not change as you expect it to? Most likely, the reason is that the components of the block are not on Layer 0. Layers that cannot be deleted, but are not apparently used, may also be due to this setting. MoveBlockToLayer0 will correct the definition of a block by changing all components with one click.

This new, timesaving command allows you to change the layer of all drawing entities to layer zero in a single click. You can also clean up drawings with objects on  unused layers by moving them to layer zero.

What is now done with a single click would previously require several actions: edit block reference > select all objects > set to Layer 0 > save changes.
This new enhanced Set by Zero drawing feature will:

• Improve block CAD standards
• Minimize errors resulting in objects on wrong layers
• Modify the definition of a selected block to layer zero
• Save time changing entities to layer zero

The bottom line is firms will be able to increase productivity and set drawing entities to layer zero in a single click.

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Shruti Harve, LEED AP

Ideate Senior AEC Application Specialist
Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.

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What's New in AutoCAD MEP 2014: What is your "Standard" - Enhanced Layer Standard NCS 5.0

 At Ideate, we’ve been reviewing the Autodesk 2014 product line and sharing new features and enhancements that we think will benefit users. AutoCAD MEP 2014 has some solid enhancements, one of the ones that will give companies and users additional flexibility is the Layer Standards and Layer Key Styles compatible with the new US standard - NCS 5.0.

Autodesk created the NCS 5.0 Layer Standard, NCS 4.0 Layer Standard, and 3.1. They had several goals to accomplish. Bring AutoCAD MEP up to date with NCS 5.0 Layer Standard. Make AutoCAD Architecture and MEP both use the same Layer Standard and Layer Key Style for consistency. Some companies standardize on a ALL CAPITAL LETTER layer format, and some on a Title Case format.

The MEP layer standard accommodates the NCS standard, with some flexibility (optional front status, and extra Minor3). The primary change in 2014, is the Field values match NCS 5.0 values everywhere possible (exception being the additional MEP values that support our content). Autodesk updated the layer values on the keys, so that they accommodate the NCS 5.0 values where applicable. That was huge in MEP, because back in 2007 they had Minor1 values that were only 3-characters. There is now the enhancement to have 4-character values in Minor1 everywhere in MEP.
 

This new enhanced Layer Standard drawing features:

o Ability to generate the correct layer names more easily 

o New layer standard and layer key styles

o NCS 5.0-compliant

The bottom line is for those firms that follow the NCS 5.0, you will no longer need to modify layer names manually to comply with NCS 5.0.

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Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist

Bill has over 20 years experience in applying AEC design solutions for large commercial companies. A graduate of Pasadena Institute of Technology, he has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill has also had the opportunity to act as Lead AutoCAD Designer for multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.

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