CAD standards
Standards make drawings predictable: anyone can open a file and find what they need. Learn what a CAD standard covers and how to check drawings against one.
In this lesson you will
- List what a CAD standard defines
- Apply naming conventions to files and layers
- Check drawings with the STANDARDS tools
- Write a simple project CAD protocol
What a standard covers
- Files: naming, folders, units, origin and coordinates.
- Layers: names, colours, lineweights, linetypes.
- Styles: text, dimensions, multileaders, tables, plot styles.
- Sheets: sizes, title blocks, numbering, revisions.
- Symbols: section markers, north points, door and window tags.
National and international references include the US National CAD Standard, ISO 13567 (layer structure), ISO 128 (technical drawing conventions) and, in many countries, national drafting standards such as AS 1100 in Australia. For information management on BIM projects, ISO 19650 sets out naming and workflow principles.
File naming
A good file name tells you project, originator, zone or level, type, discipline and number, e.g. KW23-ARC-L01-DR-A-1001.dwg. ISO 19650 national annexes give formal patterns. Avoid names like plan final v2 NEW.dwg — revisions belong in the title block and register, not the file name.
Checking drawings
Full AutoCAD includes a CAD Standards checker: save a standards file (.dws) from a correct drawing, attach it to project drawings with STANDARDS, and run CHECKSTANDARDS to find and fix non-standard layers, text styles, dimension styles and linetypes. LAYTRANS maps wrong layer names to the standard in bulk.
In AutoCAD LT, a good template, LAYTRANS, Quick Select and a checklist do much of the same job.
A project CAD protocol
For projects with several companies, agree a short protocol at the start: units, coordinates and origin, file naming, layer standard, exchange formats and frequency, and who owns which files. One or two pages saves weeks of rework.
Quick reference
| Command / tool | How to start it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARDS | Type the name | Associates a .dws standards file |
| CHECKSTANDARDS | Type the name | Checks a drawing against standards |
| LAYTRANS | Type the name | Converts layers to standard names |
| AUDIT | Type the name | Finds and fixes drawing errors |
Common mistakes
Received drawings use hundreds of odd layers.
Map them with LAYTRANS rather than editing by hand.
Revision in the file name.
Keep one file; track revisions in the title block and register.
Exercise
Write and apply a mini standard
- Write a one-page CAD standard: file naming, 12 layers, 3 text styles, 1 dimension style, sheet numbering.
- Build it into your template and save a .dws (full AutoCAD).
- Take a messy drawing and convert its layers with LAYTRANS.
- Run CHECKSTANDARDS (or check manually against your list).
You should end up with: A written standard and a drawing that complies with it.
Checklist
0 of 4 checked · saved on this device
Lesson quiz
Which file type stores a CAD standards definition for checking?
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