MSF125101-L

Autodesk AutoCAD Advance Steel – Creating a

Custom Drawing Style
James Branagan
IMAGINiT

Learning Objectives
• Learn how to create custom drawing styles
• Learn about model objects
• Create a labeling strategy for drawing styles
• Learn dimension requests for dimensioning model objects
• Modify drawing styles for drawing creation

Description
This will be a hands-on lab describing how to create a custom drawing style

Speaker(s)
Mr. James Branagan is a Civil/Structural Engineering Technologist with over 1 year of
experience as a software applications expert and over 11 years of experience on major and oil
and gas and transportation projects. As a software applications expert he provides
knowledgeable and competent support and training in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Infraworks, Advance
Steel. He also provides knowledgeable and competent support in design and layout of roads,
earthworks, structural steel, sludge ponds, piling, concrete work and underground utilities. Mr.
Branagan also provides knowledgeable and competent support in field inspection and resident
engineering duties.

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Introduction
Autodesk’s Advance Steel contains a number of predefined drawing styles for producing shop
drawing, single part and, assembly drawings. As well, users can create their own drawing
styles by either copying and modifying an existing drawing style, or creating one from scratch.

Editing within the Drawing styles dialog box.

The labeling strategies can be modified by either adding new strategies or renaming existing
ones.

- Create a new labeling strategy

- rename an existing labeling strategy

Copy vs Deep Copy

There are two different methods to copy styles in Advance Steel; Copy and Deep Copy.
Copy will copy the style and continue to use the associated sub-styles that area associated with
the original style. Therefore, modifying a substyle will affect all the drawing styles that are using
it.

Deep copy copies the original style as well as all of the associated sub-styles. This copy can be
edited at any level without affecting the original drawing style.

Model Objects

In Advance Steel, functions are assigned to the model objects either by applying construction
rules or interactively. In the drawing creation, these functions are used to explicitly differentiate
individual object groups.

The functions cover plate, end plate and butt plate automatically create a front plate view in a
main part. If no other elements, such as shear or gusset plates, are welded at this spot, no
further cut is offered by Advance.

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Model objects act as filters for 3D objects from model which are defined by the Advance Steel
object type, model role and an additional filter.

Labeling Strategies

An essential part of the automatic drawing design is the labeling of model objects in detail
views. A labeling rule contains settings for the content, the layout and the label arrangement.
Labeling strategies can be shared by different styles and can be managed separately.

Setting the label position

The label position is set in the “Text direction and combining labels” area of the dialog box.

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Max distance – combines labels so that the distance does not go passed the MaxDistance in
mm (in) on the drawing
Text direction – sets the text orientation between -90° and 90°
Place along the object – When this check box is checked the text will be placed in line with the
object.
Arrange beam label according to compass – When this check box is checked the lables will
be configured to show the member’s orientation by arranging the label to point on the beam end
based on the shop drawing orientation.
Leader Line – Will allow the leader to be used or not as well as setting the visibility status.

Setting the label content

The label content is defined in the “Label Content” area and includes the following options:

- Content of Label – the dropdown provides the name of the label being used.

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 o - Create a new label name
o - rename an existing label
- Used for object – allows the selection of which object the label is being used for
- Label format – the rest of the boxes are used to define the contents of the label and formatting.
Which token is being used, text style and height, and frame type can be defined.
- will set the label content as variable.

Setting the label arrangement

The label arrangement can be set based on two methods.

- Based on area
- Based on angle

Exercise: Create sample labeling strategy

1. If not already open, open the Drawing Style Manager. Output Tab > Document

Manager Palette > (Drawing Style Manager)

2. On the left hand side of the dialog box, select Labeling Strategies.
3. In the tree, Expand User and Beams
4. Right Click on Section Name and select Copy
5. In the New labeling strategy Dialog Box enter “Part Mark & Section Name” for the
Group Name and click OK

6. Select the new Part Mark & Section Name Labeling Strategy
7. Under Label content select (New) at the end of the Content of Label line
8. In the New label type dialog box, enter Part Mark & Section Name for the name
9. In the content area hit enter to move HEA 100 down a line.
10. Select Main park mark for Token and adjust any of the other settings as desired.
11. Click on Apply and OK

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Dimension Request
A dimension request is used to define the dimensioned objects in a dimension chain.
Existing dimension styles can be used by different drawings at the same time. As such.
modifying a dimension definition affects all the drawing styles that are using it.

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Dimension definition properties
A dimension definition contains the following settings:
- A Dimension direction defines the dimension chain direction relative to the applies object
type.
- The selection of dimension points is a list of sub-styles that are available for point selection.
The sub-styles specify which points from what objects will be dimensions.
- The Dimension chain position includes several options for better positioning relative to the
object presentation.

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Setting the direction of the dimension chain
The direction of the dimension chain refers to the detail view on the drawing or to an object in
the model
Dimension chain direction
- Internal bolt/hole direction X
- Internal bolt/hole direction Y
- Internal direction angle
- Internal direction linear
- Negative x-axis of a main part
- Negative x-axis of an object
- Negative x-orientation of the view
- Negative y-axis of a main part
- Negative y-orientation of the view
- X-axis Bent Beam inner
- X-axis Bent Beam outer
- X-axis Bent Beam system
- X-axis of a main part
- X-axis of an object
- X-orientation of the view
- Y-axis Bent Beam
- Y-axis of a main part
- Y-axis of an object
- Y-orientation of the view

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Dimension arrangement on the drawing
The following options are available in the Arrangement on the drawing area for better
positioning.

Dimension Line must not overlap total geometry

Choose whether the dimension chain is free of intersections with the local or total
geometry of the detail.
G – Global
L – Local

Arrange the dimension line above and not below

Choose whether the dimension chain is placed above or below in a detail view. For
vertical details, above is to the left and below is to the right/
T – Top
B – Bottom

Create a separate dimension chain for each item marked with *

Choose whether every single object detected in the model has a dimension chain
created. If not chosen, the detected objects are dimensioned in one dimension chain.
S – Single
A – All

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The name of the dimension definition contains the settings mentioned above using the
abbreviation. For example;
Mp Y – Inside Proc Bottom LTS
L – no intersection with local geometry
T – dimensions placed above detail
S – detected elements are dimensioned in separate chains

Group only related dimensions

Dimensions for bolts and holes on secondary parts can be grouped. This will create a
dimension line for each group and dimensions the objects in the group.

Do not combine with other dimensions.

Prevents a dimension from combining with others.

Selection of Dimension Points

A dimension point selection rule contains setting to adjust:

- Model objects and geometric restriction – filter for defining the objects used for selection
of dimension points.
- Point type selection – properties of the objects geometry used in the points selection
process
- Position on object or main part – objects points used for dimensioning

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Drawing Style Properties

A drawing style is composed of one or multiple views. Each view is composed of properties,
objects, dimensions and labels, which have been defined above.

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View Properites

The view properties consists of four tabs

- Views arrangement – allows you to select the views, their orientation, arrangement and
distances
- Detail title – allows the definition of the detail title content and its position
- Cut view title - allows the definition of the detail title content and its position
- Model object selection – allows the definition of the objects that will be detailed by the
selected style
Each view consists of properties, objects, dimensions and labels. The aspects (Direction,
Contained Objects, dimension) are kept on the tree panel of the Drawing Style Manager and on
the View Definition tab. Selecting an item in the tree displys the items properties panel.

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- View direction and model box – Select how to look at the objects in the model and
options for the viewport definition
- Objects presentation – the list of model objects that determine the view content are visible
when the tree is expanded as well as what is labled
- View Dimension – set the dimension style for the view.

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Exercise: Create sample Drawing Style

1. If not already open, open the Drawing Style Manager. Output Tab > Document

Manager Palette > (Drawing Style Manager)

2. On the left hand side of the dialog box, select Drawing Styles
3. Expand User > 5 – Assemblies
4. Select 5 – Beam. Right-click and select Copy. Name the copy 5 – Beam - Example.
5. Select and expand 5 -Beam - Example
6. In the right hand window, In the List of views created by this detail, select and delete
all views EXCEPT 5 – Beam – Front

7. In the tree, select 5 – Beam Front

8. select the (New) button beside the View name dropdown box. Enter 5-Beam-
Front – Example for the name
9. In the tree expand 5-Beam-Front – Example > Objects presentation
10. In the tree select Objects Presentation
11. In the right hand window, under Set of objects select the (New) button. Enter
Beam – Front – Example for the name.
12. In the tree expand Objects presentation > MP-Beam-All and select on Labeling
Strategy.
13. In the Labeling strategy dropdown menu change Off to. Part Mark & Section Name
which was created earlier. If you were not able to create the labeling style, select
Section Name

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14. In the tree, collapse Object presentation and select on View dimensions
15. In the right hand window, under Dimension select the (New) button. Enter Beam
– Front – Example for the name.

16. Select line 24 Mp X – Assembly overall (+ MP infos) GTA and select to delete
it.
17. Click apply
18. Click use and select the beam in the drawing
19. Click OK to close the Drawing styles Manager

20. Open the document manager and open the newly created drawing.

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Conclusion
Autodesk’s Advance Steel contains a number of predefined drawing styles for producing shop
drawing, single part and, assembly drawings. This guide has touched on the basics of how to
modify and create custom drawing styles.

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Appendix A
Backing up Databases and Folders:
Important Databases:
To backup your Databases, you can use file explorer and locate the following files and back
them up somewhere. ( XXXX= year version, i.e. 2015,2016, etc) (USA for 2018) (2018 mdf not
mdb)
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Advance Steel XXXX\USA\User2\Data
- AstorAddin.mdb (this database will be copied from version to version)
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Advance Steel XXXX\USA\Steel\Data\
- AstorBase.mdb
- AstorGratings.mdb
- AstorRules.mdb
- AstorSettings.mdb
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Data
- AstorProfile.mdb
Important Folders:
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Advance Steel XXXX\Shared
- ConnectionTemp folder
- StandardPartTemplate folder
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Advance Steel XXXX\Shared\Support
- BOMTemplate folder
- Prototypes folder
- Template folder
What’s being stored in each database:
- AstorAddin.mdb (contains most of the modifications and settings that can be done by
the user)
o Drawing Styles and Processes (User folder)
o User added Materials; Model roles; Coating; Bolt coatings, Notes; Texts (added by
MT – Object property editor)
o Explode settings (profiles)
o Preferred sizes / settings
o User BOMs
o QuickConnections settings
o Numbering prefixes
- AstorBase.mdb

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 o Newly added or modified bolts, anchors, or shear studs
o New materials or coating
o New model roles
o Symbol configurations
- AstorGratings.mdb
o New or modified gratings
- AstorRules.mdb
o Configurations done to the accepted profile sizes/classes by joints like the Purlin
Structural element
o Saved joint library elements
- AstorSettings.mdb
o Modifications done to the default values (ones set in Management Tools)
- AstorProfiles.mdb
o New or modified profiles
- AstorDetails.mdb
o Drawing Styles and Processes (Advance folder)
o Country Drawing Styles and Processes (Advance Folder)

Note: These databases contains links to other databases, but the definition of DS itself and DP
(drawing process) is fully contained in each corresponding database.
Use Microsoft Access for 2014,2015,2016,2107
SQL Server for 2018
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/advance-steel/getting-
started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/AdvSteel-GetStarted/files/GUID-36721418-4385-
475A-91CA-384AE72121D8-htm.html

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