Incoming wall of text, apologies
There's a handful of ways to do a plan detail utilizing Land F/X (LFX). The #1 goal in doing plan details is never to redraw masterbase linework. Other goals are to have it indexed in the detail manager as well have the ability to add dims, notes, and bubble callouts.
Method 1 - LFX typical - In a blank drawing, xref your DWG(s). Put a detail template around the area you want. Run xclip to template border. Add annotations. Save detail, index detail into the manager. Place on sheet
Pros - pretty typical method, everyone knows how to do this. Annotates easily.
Cons - Multiple details on a sheet cause a mess with layer management across the xrefs.
Method 2 - Viewport - In a blank drawing xref your DWG(s). In paperspace make a viewport of the area you want to show
Pros - Very simple. It's just another plan view but at a tighter scale. Can use VPfreeze to get xrefs correct across multiple plan details on a single paperspace
Cons - No bubble callouts, deep annotation. Not indexed in detail manager
Method 3 - Insert detail viewport - In a blank drawing xref your DWG(s). Run insert detail viewport around the area you want. Index into detail manager. Annotate. Place on sheet
Pros - Indexed in detail manager. Get flexibility of VPfreeze
Cons - No bubble callouts. Requires some training
My questions
Effectively what I want is to be able to have a "plan enlargements" DWG, xref in all my base DWGs. Run detail viewport and place a bunch of plan enlargements frames. Annotate them with dims and bubble callouts and then place them in paper space and use new viewport to isolate/freeze everything outside or the area of focus. I've had to use work area suffix in the past to achieve this freezing ability.
A note on New Viewport tool - I would love to use this but after testing I'm not able to use the new viewport tool inside of a placed detail viewport. New viewport seemingly does not work in a blank drawing where everything is xref'd. Only in the working file itself.
There's a handful of ways to do a plan detail utilizing Land F/X (LFX). The #1 goal in doing plan details is never to redraw masterbase linework. Other goals are to have it indexed in the detail manager as well have the ability to add dims, notes, and bubble callouts.
Method 1 - LFX typical - In a blank drawing, xref your DWG(s). Put a detail template around the area you want. Run xclip to template border. Add annotations. Save detail, index detail into the manager. Place on sheet
Pros - pretty typical method, everyone knows how to do this. Annotates easily.
Cons - Multiple details on a sheet cause a mess with layer management across the xrefs.
Method 2 - Viewport - In a blank drawing xref your DWG(s). In paperspace make a viewport of the area you want to show
Pros - Very simple. It's just another plan view but at a tighter scale. Can use VPfreeze to get xrefs correct across multiple plan details on a single paperspace
Cons - No bubble callouts, deep annotation. Not indexed in detail manager
Method 3 - Insert detail viewport - In a blank drawing xref your DWG(s). Run insert detail viewport around the area you want. Index into detail manager. Annotate. Place on sheet
Pros - Indexed in detail manager. Get flexibility of VPfreeze
Cons - No bubble callouts. Requires some training
My questions
- I want to use detail viewport for my plan enlargements. But I still want to use bubble callouts. Is this possible? Or any text I place inside of the "detail" needs to just be mleaders? Dims are great, but would be better with notes and bubble callouts
- Is it possible to utilize the new viewport tool inside of a detail viewport?
Effectively what I want is to be able to have a "plan enlargements" DWG, xref in all my base DWGs. Run detail viewport and place a bunch of plan enlargements frames. Annotate them with dims and bubble callouts and then place them in paper space and use new viewport to isolate/freeze everything outside or the area of focus. I've had to use work area suffix in the past to achieve this freezing ability.
A note on New Viewport tool - I would love to use this but after testing I'm not able to use the new viewport tool inside of a placed detail viewport. New viewport seemingly does not work in a blank drawing where everything is xref'd. Only in the working file itself.
Kevin Pfeiffer
set the type of the post as
Issue — 10 months ago
Kevin, as I understand it, your main ask is for bubble callouts inside detail viewports. I think that's doable and can get on the wishlist.
Our "New Viewport" tool (honestly we been discussing that we need to rename this to something else) is more of a picture-in-picture tool. It's meant to be used on a viewport in a layout space and select a work area to create a focus viewport inside a greyed out viewport. Power Tip: Show More with New Viewport
For what I think you're describing, you'd need to use new viewport on the viewport placed in layout sheet, but you'd first have to have a work area inside the detail boundary to help the new viewport tool clip.
-Amanda
Our "New Viewport" tool (honestly we been discussing that we need to rename this to something else) is more of a picture-in-picture tool. It's meant to be used on a viewport in a layout space and select a work area to create a focus viewport inside a greyed out viewport. Power Tip: Show More with New Viewport
For what I think you're describing, you'd need to use new viewport on the viewport placed in layout sheet, but you'd first have to have a work area inside the detail boundary to help the new viewport tool clip.
-Amanda
Thanks for adding to the wish list.
Agreed on "new viewport" maybe needing a rebrand? Picture-in-picture? Focused viewport? Tough one to think of.
To delve deeper (sorry not the best writer, please see my sketch attached) - From what I understand a Detail Viewport is a viewport in-and-of-itself. Therefore I could use new VP to isolate / focus the content inside of my detail viewport.
Agreed on "new viewport" maybe needing a rebrand? Picture-in-picture? Focused viewport? Tough one to think of.
To delve deeper (sorry not the best writer, please see my sketch attached) - From what I understand a Detail Viewport is a viewport in-and-of-itself. Therefore I could use new VP to isolate / focus the content inside of my detail viewport.
Amanda,
Maybe I am missing something but the process seems to only create a new viewport / isolated view of the detail template placed in model space. Not the things xref'd in model space as shown in my sketch. See my video example in the link below. Let me know if I'm taking a wrong turn somewhere.
Still stands a wish to be able to do bubble callouts and such in detail viewports!
VIDEO LINK
Maybe I am missing something but the process seems to only create a new viewport / isolated view of the detail template placed in model space. Not the things xref'd in model space as shown in my sketch. See my video example in the link below. Let me know if I'm taking a wrong turn somewhere.
Still stands a wish to be able to do bubble callouts and such in detail viewports!
VIDEO LINK
Hi Amanda,
Any update on this from above? "Kevin, as I understand it, your main ask is for bubble callouts inside detail viewports. I think that's doable and can get on the wishlist."
Having bubble callouts inside detail viewports would be amazing, that way we can annotate like the other details.
Thanks!
Any update on this from above? "Kevin, as I understand it, your main ask is for bubble callouts inside detail viewports. I think that's doable and can get on the wishlist."
Having bubble callouts inside detail viewports would be amazing, that way we can annotate like the other details.
Thanks!
OMG Kevin. I can usually follow these threads. I must hand it to Amanda. She is awesome!!! Somehow she understands my rants too and comes up with some amazing workarounds. She was the one that came up with the solution to having all of our schedules include all detail locations in the plan set even when they are not included. I know, that's confusing. Basically, the "Detail" column is all filled in. No blanks. Some state N/A when they are not included. Such as items being protected in place.
Kevin, Unless you are a one-man office, I don't know how you maintain educated employees. The results of your workflow are probably extremely clear (a noble goal), but to train others in your workflow must be time consuming and seems to leave room for human errors. Still, I'm very impressed in your abilities. Especially in generating details.
Kevin, Unless you are a one-man office, I don't know how you maintain educated employees. The results of your workflow are probably extremely clear (a noble goal), but to train others in your workflow must be time consuming and seems to leave room for human errors. Still, I'm very impressed in your abilities. Especially in generating details.
Steve,
Thanks for the note - here's my current system that I use that does have a couple steps but presents the most dynamic option with 0 double documentation.
1. Set up base drawings and sheets. Determine UCS / scale for regular plan series and enlargements in your paperspaces
2. Set up work area file where you'll house all of them. Set your work areas for your plans and enlargements. Wblock them out via the advanced work areas power tip. Enlargement work areas get prefixes
3. In plan series VPfrz all prefix stuff
4. Create a dummy detail for each enlargement. Place it outside of paper space where your enlargement will live, that way it is indexed in the detail manager
5. Treat enlargements just like another plan series. Use mleaders for text callouts in your basefile. Create a legend by freezing everything but the relevant prefix layers, place on sheet.
Thanks for the note - here's my current system that I use that does have a couple steps but presents the most dynamic option with 0 double documentation.
1. Set up base drawings and sheets. Determine UCS / scale for regular plan series and enlargements in your paperspaces
2. Set up work area file where you'll house all of them. Set your work areas for your plans and enlargements. Wblock them out via the advanced work areas power tip. Enlargement work areas get prefixes
3. In plan series VPfrz all prefix stuff
4. Create a dummy detail for each enlargement. Place it outside of paper space where your enlargement will live, that way it is indexed in the detail manager
5. Treat enlargements just like another plan series. Use mleaders for text callouts in your basefile. Create a legend by freezing everything but the relevant prefix layers, place on sheet.
Amanda,
What are the chances of getting this on a power tip? Also, you could share the N/A in the detail column trick.
I do hope that you are well.
Steve Cook (soon to retire
)
What are the chances of getting this on a power tip? Also, you could share the N/A in the detail column trick.
I do hope that you are well.
Steve Cook (soon to retire
)
Steve,
Do you mean using the Naked Detail callouts?
Power Tip: Naked Detail Callouts
The N/A column trick was to just save a blank detail, then place it on a non-plotting layout space assigned in the project to sheet number "A", place the detail on that sheet and number it "N".
This results in "N/A" where the "number/sheet" would go in the schedule.
I hope you're doing well, too, Steve! I'm going to be legitimately sad when you retire. But also so happy for you!
-Amanda
Do you mean using the Naked Detail callouts?
Power Tip: Naked Detail Callouts
The N/A column trick was to just save a blank detail, then place it on a non-plotting layout space assigned in the project to sheet number "A", place the detail on that sheet and number it "N".
This results in "N/A" where the "number/sheet" would go in the schedule.
I hope you're doing well, too, Steve! I'm going to be legitimately sad when you retire. But also so happy for you!
-Amanda
Hi Amanda,
I wasn't speaking of the naked callout, although how many years has referencing multiple details in the Schedule been on the list? Maybe someday that will become a reality. Using a naked callout in a schedule is nice because it can be updated (not automatically with the schedule though), but since it's not a part of the Schedule, when the Schedule is regenerated, the naked callout may not align with the proper element. It's not anchored nor is it part of the Schedule Block. There's just a greater a risk for human error.
I was speaking of the detail "N" on sheet "A" trick that you taught me oh so many years ago.
Remember, the computer is your foe. Also, we can be our own worst enemies. The whole thing is a game. Play to win!
I wasn't speaking of the naked callout, although how many years has referencing multiple details in the Schedule been on the list? Maybe someday that will become a reality. Using a naked callout in a schedule is nice because it can be updated (not automatically with the schedule though), but since it's not a part of the Schedule, when the Schedule is regenerated, the naked callout may not align with the proper element. It's not anchored nor is it part of the Schedule Block. There's just a greater a risk for human error.
I was speaking of the detail "N" on sheet "A" trick that you taught me oh so many years ago.
Remember, the computer is your foe. Also, we can be our own worst enemies. The whole thing is a game. Play to win!
BTW, I too have mixed emotions about retiring. I'll be missing my LandFX family. I'll also be missing some amazing clients. Especially at the City's of Anaheim and Laguna Beach. I'm going to miss all of my Manufacturer Reps (Hunter, Rain Bird, Netafim, GPH and Toro). I know that going to miss so many colleagues. Not just the Landscape Architects, but also the Civil & Structural Engineer's, Environmental task leaders, Building Architects, Electrical Engineers & Lighting specialists. And my administrative support team is fantastic. I'm even going to miss some of the IT support staff.
People ask me if I'm looking forward to retirement. I tell them like I just told you that I have mixed emotions. Last year, someone that I've worked with for over 20 years just died while working. Another is out on open ended medical leave. It really made me think about my near term future. I don't want to die at my desk. I would prefer to spend more time with my family (every one of them exceptional humans). I especially want to spoil my grand children a little. I'll be boating and fishing more. Lately I've been practicing retirement. I tried something new. I found 6 petrified shark teeth last week at a real nice white-sand beach on the Gulf of America. I still enjoy my adult beverages with friends while listening to live music (or even without live music). I've not seen as much of the United States as I would like to (God willing). Of course, I'll be tinkering all the time. Maybe I'll get a little board once in a while. But that's a price that I'll have to pay.
And who knows? I may even pop in and see how the LandFX forum is doing without me. I'll be a lurker.
You, and all of the LandFX staff members (i don't want to list them in case I accidently leave someone out) have contributed to making my "job" an enjoyable experience. There's not a lot of people that I speak with that have had the opportunity to love their job as much a I have. Thank you for helping make it so.
People ask me if I'm looking forward to retirement. I tell them like I just told you that I have mixed emotions. Last year, someone that I've worked with for over 20 years just died while working. Another is out on open ended medical leave. It really made me think about my near term future. I don't want to die at my desk. I would prefer to spend more time with my family (every one of them exceptional humans). I especially want to spoil my grand children a little. I'll be boating and fishing more. Lately I've been practicing retirement. I tried something new. I found 6 petrified shark teeth last week at a real nice white-sand beach on the Gulf of America. I still enjoy my adult beverages with friends while listening to live music (or even without live music). I've not seen as much of the United States as I would like to (God willing). Of course, I'll be tinkering all the time. Maybe I'll get a little board once in a while. But that's a price that I'll have to pay.
And who knows? I may even pop in and see how the LandFX forum is doing without me. I'll be a lurker.
You, and all of the LandFX staff members (i don't want to list them in case I accidently leave someone out) have contributed to making my "job" an enjoyable experience. There's not a lot of people that I speak with that have had the opportunity to love their job as much a I have. Thank you for helping make it so.
Steve, the list is so long, and we are but mere humans who try to add as many awesome things as we can without breaking things! That's the real problem! Assigning multiple details has not dropped from the radar, you'll be happy to hear! It just couldn't make it into last year's RefNote schedule improvements without changing too much all at once (we changed so much).
That's a really important perspective on retirement! I'm so glad we might still see you around here, but also don't be a stranger if you visit SLO!
-Amanda
That's a really important perspective on retirement! I'm so glad we might still see you around here, but also don't be a stranger if you visit SLO!
-Amanda
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