General Info

Introduction

This manual is presented to provide standards for a CAD system and is envisioned as a beginning, a foundation from which to build and continuously improve the means of rapidly exploiting CAD-related technology. It is intended that these standards should be an outline for producing a set of in house documents.
These standards are intended to be neither static nor all-inclusive and thus will be updated and enhanced as appropriate. Suggestions for improvements are strongly encouraged so that subsequent updates to this manual will reflect both the input and needs of the CAD users.
Use these standards at all times unless client systems and preferences have been established.
These standards establish the following objectives:

Free the operator and project manager from repeatedly determining the conventions and procedures to be used on each project.Create uniform design, presentation and construction information and establish a clear and precise method of communication.Create a uniform CAD station configuration to limit the time and involvement in maintaining the CAD stations.User can more easily switch between multiple projects without having to learning a new system.Data can be quickly shared between projects without having to translate.
Forward

Drawings produced by the guidance of these standards should demonstrate a professional and quality appearance. The technical competence and aesthetic judgment of the firm should be appropriately demonstrated at every level, to the point that a client should never find cause to question. Construction drawings should demonstrate at least as much finesse as the design they illustrate. There is no better way to maintain client satisfaction and the promise of repeat business than a job well done.

User Responsibility

Adherence to the standards and procedures contained in this manual is essential in preserving a homogeneous character in drawings issued by the firm, and in increasing the efficient use of project time and management. This uniformity allows information to be correctly keyed, added and displayed at any phase in the project.

Modifications of the standards and procedures in this manual may be necessary for specific situations. Submit the required temporary modifications in memo/email form to the Project Manager and the CAD Management Staff. Do not make arbitrary changes without prior approval. Submit requests for permanent changes in memo/email form to the CAD Management Staff, for review and possible inclusion in this manual. Requests for deviation shall document:

Why the current procedure or standard is inapplicable or ineffective.
What the proposed deviation or change should be.
How it would improve the CAD standards or procedures and the overall productivity.

The most efficient use of AutoCAD is not necessarily in the initial creation of a file, but in the ability to reuse the file or any part of the file at a future date. The true meaning of CAD productivity is embodied in not having to do the old job again, rather than simply doing the old job faster. As an example, the reuse and modification of "Prototype Drawings" can yield a very efficient use of project time and economics. On a broad scale this can be very productive; however, the reuse process must not end here. Each user must continually examine the reusability of any information in a current file. The massing of information in differing libraries will take time and effort on the part of the users and computer management staff; however, future dividends of this endeavor will be advantageous.

Each user shall be responsible for the general upkeep and care of both the computer hardware and software.

General Care of System

Extreme care should be taken in the overall maintenance of both computer hardware and software. In the case of software, a general cleanup will be needed if the user encounters a system "lock-up", "crash" or the display of a systems error. For this cleanup, the user should immediately notify the CAD Manager. In the case of computer hardware, every effort should be made to keep the keyboard, monitor and CPU free from foreign substances that may be detrimental to the system. Eating or drinking over or near any computer equipment is not recommended. In addition, the general area around each workstation should be maintained in a neat and orderly manner.

Network

All office and project related data is to be stored on the network drives. See Chapter 3 on Files for more information. Storing data on the local drive is strictly prohibited for two reasons. First, information stored on the local drives is not accessible to other user that may need it. Second, files stored on the network are backed up nightly for security and corruption protection. Data stored locally is suspect to hard drive corruption that may lead to permanent data loss.