Expert: Bob - 11/20/2007

Question
I am a survey analyst for a company and I get alot of architectural cad files that I have to put into our dwg and it gets to be a pain in the butt. Their scales and orientation coord are all over the place. Is there an easy way to do this right from the get go? Is it better to xref their dwg. or save as and make them live? If you could help me out, I could save a bullet to my head. John

Answer
Hi --
I didnt answer this instantly, because it confused me.  I will come as close as I can.
-- as far as scale goes, all AutoCAD drawings are 1:1 (PERIOD, so they are all the same scale, unless some are Metric or drawn by idiots or mavericks.
-- as far as orientation; architects would commonly draw buildings in an orientation that either shows the front door at the bottom, or is turned to fit on the page. They indicate North with an arrow.  Surveyors would put North at the top of the page, I believe.
Thus, you are going to be turning the building drawings to fit your surveyor's plan.
It is normal to xref at the appropriate angle. If the building is never going to to change, there is little problem in using WBLOCK or anther method to put it into your drawing.
Again, I am not an architect, have only done that a couple of times, but I am in the neighborhood.

BOB