Tip: Importing Layouts

Have you ever been in the situation where you realise that your layout sheet size isn't going to work with your drawing scale? Wouldn't it be great if you could quickly set up another layout to the correct paper size, complete with title block, standard annotation, and even configured to the correct print settings? Well using the _LAYOUT command you can.

To use Layout simply right click on one of your paper space layout tabs. In this case the option we want to use is the "From template" option.

This allows you to select any existing drawing, or template to import a layout from. You could even set yourself up a template drawing just for this purpose, containing all your standard sheets sizes, view ports, annotation, print settings etc.

 

Having selected your drawing, you simply choose from a list of available layout names

The selected layout will now be available in your target drawing.

Too slow? Well using a bit of basic LISP, you can even automate the process.

(command "._LAYOUT" "_TEMPLATE" "MyLayouts.dwt" "A4-Border")

This will import the layout called "A4-Border" from the template called "MyLayouts.dwt". Just make sure that you check that the file you want to use is included on your support file search path, otherwise Bricscad won't be able to find it.

If we place this lisp on to a menu, we can simply pick it to run.

 

And you can place it on a Tool Palette, satisfying all your options in the need for speed.

Guest Post by Jason Bourhill
CAD Management & Consulting