AutoCad2009 Application

Several component manufacturers have already done this for you. As you identify items you wish to use, go to the web site of the manufacturer and look under documentation. There you will find that the web is your library.

I agree with Post #2, as far as not having to create parts already available elsewhere.

However if you need to create a block from a drawing you have just done, use the "WBLOCK" command. This will allow you to save the selected item as a separate dwg file in a folder you decide. BLOCK will save a block within the existing drawing & it won't ba available to other drawings. WBLOCK (or world block) as the name suggests, is saved externally & can be used by the whole world, or at least anyone with access to the folder where you saved it.

You choose the scale when inserting it into a new drawing. You can leave it as you drew it or specify a new scale, or specify on screen once you have inserted it. This is an option in the dialogue box when you "insert Block".

You can reference blocks , stored in a separate drawing, in ACAD's tool palette. Do an F1 (help) search on Tool Palette and on Design Center.

I keep my blocks in drawing files that have names for the particular discipline and have the tool palette reference them from there. Then all you have to do is drag the icon of the block onto the new drawing and it is done. Once inserted into the new drawing, a copy belongs to the new drawing.

If you draw them at full scale, they can be inserted into any model space drawing. Then you would use paper space view ports to provide a scaled view to your title block template.

This link should get you started, but the ACAD help menu is pretty good as well.

Hello MazChicho,

I download the SfeaCAD2007.exe via the link you provided. However, i was unable to install it on my PC as the application can not run on Vista. Kindly assist me with anything Vista compatible.

Regards.

Depending on your version of Vista you can run the program in compatibility mode. I know Vista Ultimate 32 bit version does it, but not sure about the others.

You can also right-click on the desktop icon, or the Start menu listing, choose Run as Administrator, and click OK on the compatibility warning message. The program should run fine, but if you have problems, you're on your own. Or see if there is a 2008 or later version of the program. Or see if there is a patch for the 2007 program.

Another option, if you want to invest the time, is to study up on the programming capabilities inside AutoCAD and create menus that allow you to insert standard symbols. I once interviewed for a drafting position with a substation design group, and they had done just that.

Hello EnB.

SfeaCAD is not compatible with Vista OS. You can try this tool wich is an equivalent Software with the same features: http://www.sdproget.it/Appoggio_Download/SpacAutomazione2009_8.zip.

SPAC can be used with Vista OS 32 bits.

Regards.

MazChicho.

Hello.

I just want to know if you were able to download and install the 30-days demo trial of SPAC.

Thanks a lot for your feedback.

Best regards.

Simon.

Everything drawn has to be 1:1. You ONLY scale it (viewport, modelspace) in Paperspace to fit inside a sheet. If you need to scale anything in modelspace, you're doing it wrong. Look up Modelspace and Paperspace in AutoCAD help. Also buy a book for AutoCAD2009.

re: :If you need to scale anything in modelspace, you're doing it wrong."

This is not quite correct... If you are inserting a "part" into a drawing, say a bearing, you could insert the Bearing block, & you may scale it to suit the actual size of the bearing used in the drawing. Similarly if inserting say, a tree into a plan, you would use a generic tree block & scale it to suit the actual size of the tree being represented.

But, I agree with you that you would not usually "scale" an entire drawing.

Cheers

Tony