When set up and managed properly, title block borders can automate many of the essential tasks related to producing accurate documents at every phase of the design process. Title block borders comprise both the layout for presenting the information, and the linked data that ensures the information presented is up to date. When title block border styles are used, they help ensure consistency across the project.
The recommended workflow for setting up title block borders in a file is as follows:
● When Creating title block borders, select the existing title block border style that is most similar to the layout and parameters needed, and from the Title block border settings dialog box, click Convert to Unstyled. The existing parameters and layout remain unchanged, but they can be edited as needed.
Alternatively, use an existing title block border style as is, or create a custom title block border.
● In the Title Block Border Settings dialog box, set up the parameters to control the appearance and data for the title block border object.
● Use the Sheet Border, Sheets Zones/Grids, North Point, and Drawing Stamp panes to establish the appearance of the sheet border and related objects.
● Use the Project Data, Sheet Data, Revision Data, and Issue Data panes (Design Series required for the Revision Data and Issue Data panes) to enter the information displayed in the title block area of the title block border object.
● The Title Block pane controls basic appearance parameters and provides quick access to object editing mode, where the title block layout and the link between text blocks and data records are controlled.
● Design the layout and graphic appearance of the title block itself, the bounding box that determines how the title block aligns with the sheet border, and the placement of the north point and drawing stamp using the enhanced object editing mode described in Editing a title block layout. This is where you can add your own company logo and other custom elements.
● While still in object editing mode, use the Object Info palette’s enhanced controls for text blocks for Linking title block text to data records. Once established, these links will automatically update the title block any time the data record changes.
● When the title block border parameters, layout, and text links are completed, save the title block border as a plug-in object style (see Creating plug-in object styles). When creating the style, set which parameters, including the title block graphics and layout, are locked by the style for consistent use throughout the file and by all users, and which are set by instance and can be edited independently in each title block border object.
The title block border style can be saved onto the network for Sharing custom content using workgroup folders (Design Series required).
● Repeat the previous steps to design multiple title block border styles to meet a variety of needs, such as vertical or horizontal layouts, different sheet sizes, different design phases or disciplines, and so on. Give particular consideration to which parameters are set by style or by instance in each title block border style, as changing among styles with different style settings may require corrections to specific title block border objects.
Depending how similar the new style being designed is to existing styles, you may opt to begin with your own custom title block border style, or from a standard style.
● Insert title block borders of the desired styles on each sheet layer as needed, using the Title Block Border tool, or copy an existing title block border in the file into additional layers (see Placing a title block border on multiple sheets). Multiple different title block border styles can be used in a file. Confirm that all active title block borders have This Title Block is Active selected on the Object Info palette.
Only title block border objects with This Title Block is Active selected in the Object Info palette are eligible for various operations, to prevent inactive or unused sheets from accidental inclusion.
To more easily update which title blocks are active for a particular purpose, create a report with the This Title Block is Active field displayed, and edit the field directly from the worksheet; see Creating reports and Editing worksheets.
● With Design Series products, use the Title Block Manager to manage multiple title block borders efficiently.
With a Fundamentals license, use the Title Block Border Settings dialog box to edit individual title block borders as needed.
● Select Sheets to Use for operations that involve multiple sheets within the project, such as changing the title block border style, adding revisions or issues, and so on.
● Edit multiple selected title blocks at once, including title blocks in external files. If editing sheets with one or more title block border styles, only parameters set by instance can be changed, just as with the Title Block Border Settings dialog box.
● Create and place worksheets that display the project’s issue/revision history.
● Save sets for future use.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~