Section 1 - Introduction

CREATING SHEET MODELS OVERVIEW 

CONTACT PLAN GROUPING

THE CONTRACT BORDER TITLE BLOCK INTERGRATION

TABLES

ANNOTATION TOOLS

SCREENING FOR PDF CREATION

SHEET INDEXING

CREATING SHEET MODELS OVERVIEW 

The DDE no longer standardizes on the one model per DGN File sheet production workflow that was used in the SELECTSeries DDE. Each Contract Sheet DGN will contain several Design, Drawing and Sheet Models.

Creating a Sheet Model for publishing a PDF typically involves working with the following components:

• Design Model(s) — where the Base Models are referenced in to. 
• Saved Views — Used to set up views required for the drawing.
• Border Cell — Contains the border graphics and title block.
• Drawing Model — Contains annotations, dimensions and callouts.
• Sheet Model — Contains a Border Cell, Sheet Boundary (plotting shape) and may also have annotations, dimensions and callouts.

Two methods are used to create Sheet models, one that scales the border to enclose the design, or the other that scales the design to fit the border.

With both methods, for 3D work in particular, it is a good idea to have separate files one for design models and another for the drawing and sheet models. This lets users keep the purely drawing information, such as text and dimensioning, separate from the design information. Doing this reduces the likelihood of conflicts where others who wish to reference the same design model.

This process is similar to how the manual draftsperson works. Where it differs, however, is that instead of redrawing the model's geometry for each view, like the manual system requires, users simply attach views of the design model as references. Users attach as references views of their design geometry for each plan, elevation, section, and so on. The power of this system is that any changes made to the design model then is reflected immediately in each affected view in the drawings.

 

» Scaling the Design to Fit the Sheet Border

The sheet border cell is placed at full size and the design information is scaled up or down to fit inside the border, similar to how drawings are created with manual drafting. All text and dimensioning is placed at full size. When you create a Sheet model, you select Full Size for the Annotation Scale.

In this case, with Annotation Scale set to Full Size, the sheet boundary element appears at its real-world size (not scaled). This is a non-printing element that shows you the outer limits of the sheet size that you choose. The CTDOT Cell border will be placed at Full Size (with no scale factor) and dropped onto the sheet boundary.

References of the design are placed at the appropriate scales as required, to fit inside the sheet/border layout. For a 1/2" = 1'-0", or 1:24 scale drawing, the design model references will be placed in the Sheet model at a scale of 1:24. Similarly, any details that are at different scales are simply referenced at the required scale. For example, a 1/4" = 1'-0", or 1:48 scale detail would be referenced at 1:48 scale.

When attaching a reference (a design or drawing model) into a sheet model, the referenced model's annotation scale is applied as the detail scale, and the Reference Scale (Master:Ref Scale) is calculated from the referenced model's annotation scale and the active model's annotation scale.

Uses:

• Miscellaneous Detail Sheet
• Typical Sections Sheet

 

» Scaling the Sheet Border to Fit the Design

The sheet border cell is scaled up (or down) to cover the required area in the design, all text and dimensioning must be scaled the same amount, also. This is to ensure that when the scaled print is created, text and dimensioning elements are at the correct physical size.

To simplify this process, when users create a Sheet model, they have the option of associating an Annotation Scale to it, as well as a sheet boundary size. Additionally, if required, users can specify the origin of the sheet boundary and its rotation.

When an annotation scale is specified, the Sheet Boundary element also is scaled by that amount. This is a non-printing element that shows the outer limits of the sheet size that was chosen. To this, users then can attach the CTDOT border, to which you apply the same scale factor as that for the Sheet model. Additionally, any text that you place in the Sheet model, with the Annotation Scale lock enabled, automatically will be scaled by the same amount. For example, if you are creating a 1" = 40' scale drawing, any text that you place would have to be 480 times bigger than normal so that it prints at the correct size.

Uses:

• Plan View Sheet
• Profile View Sheet
• Cross Sections View Sheet 

 

CONTRACT PLAN GROUPING

Contract plans shall be grouped, by discipline into individual multiple page PDF files called discipline subsets.  The PDF order will dictate how the CAD files are organized and how the Title Blocks Cells are annotated. The project manager is tasked with determining the discipline subset numbering and grouping.   The first sheet in a discipline subset shall have “01” in the drawing number CAD DGN file.

 

» Drawing Number VS Sheet Numbers

• The drawing number is used primarily for sheet to sheet linking, typically in, but not limited to, section details, section cuts, and detail callouts. Drawing Numbers are placed in CAD files, they consist of the discipline/sheet type designator followed by a hyphen and a number.   Examples of drawing number prefixes can be found in Section 3 of the Appendix.  
• Sheet numbers are applied to the discipline subset after the contract plans are published to PDF. Please review the DIGITAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANUAL, Section 4, Contract Plan Drawing and Sheet Numbering for detailed instructions.

 

The first page of each subset shall be a subset cover sheet, this includes FIO subsets. This cover sheet shall contain both; an index of drawings contained within the subset that includes both drawing numbers and drawing titles and the form field place holder(s) which receives the digital signatures. This table must include the subset name and number displayed as a heading.

 

» Examples of the subsets

01-General

• Title Sheet - Note: The first page of the subset 01_General shall be the CTDOT digital project title sheet which includes an index of the subsets contained within the project, sheet count totals for all subsets, a list of drawings for the 01_General Subset, and an area(s) reserved for applying the digital signature(s).
• Detail Estimate Sheet

02-Revisions

• The Index of Revisions Sheets are created in Bluebeam – No CAD required. See the Digital Project Development Manual for instructions for creating this subset.

03-Highways

• Index of Plans
• Survey DataSheets
• Alignments Sheets
• ROW Sheets
• Typical Sections Sheets
• Miscellaneous Detail Sheets
• Intersection Grading Plans
• Boring Log Sheets
• Highway Plans
• Breakout Drainage Plans
• Highway Profile Sheets
• Highway Cross Section Sheets
• Landscape Plans
• Wetland Mitigation Plans

04-Structure

• Index of Drawings
• All Structure Sheets - Multiple subsets may be required for multiple Sites Ex: 04_Structure_Br.No.1266 

05-Traffic

• Index of Drawings
• Signing Pavement Markings Plans
• MPT Plans
• Traffic Signal Plans Etc. 

06-Illumination

• Index of Drawings
• All Environmental Compliance Sheets required 

07-Utiltiy

• Index of Drawings
• Utility Design plans. 

08-CL&P FIO

• CL & P For Information Only plans are submitted in PDF – No CAD required.  See the Digital Project Development Manual for instructions for creating this subset. 

09-AT&T FIO

• AT & T For Information Only plans are submitted in PDF – No CAD required.  See the Digital Project Development Manual for instructions for creating this subset.

CTDOT Highway STD CTDOT

• Highway Design Standard Index and Sheets required are created in Bluebeam – No CAD required.  See the Digital Project Development Manual for instructions for creating this subset.

CTDOT Traffic STD CTDOT

• Traffic Engineering Standard Index and Sheets required are created in Bluebeam – No CAD required.  See the Digital Project Development Manual for instructions for creating this subset.

 

THE CONTRACT BORDER TITLE BLOCK INTERGRATION

» Drawing Title

The Drawing Title will be populated with the text entered in the Modal Description Field.

 

» Designed and Checked By

There are two options for filling in this information:

1. Manual - Use the Text Editor to enter the Design/Drafter and Check By names.  This is generally used when creating a blank sheet model and manually placing the border cell.

2. Automated – Update fields through Item Types. The Engineer Name Item Type has been added to all Sheet Seeds.  Sheet models created using the sheet production, Place Named Boundary Tools and Detailing Tools will have this process available. Multiple models can be selected and updated at one time through the Properties Dialog Box under Engineer Name.

Please refer to your supervisor to determine if you will be inputting your Initials or First Initial. Last name.

» Revision Block

The Revision Block can be filled in by using the Edit Text command and clicking on the Data Fields, this will prompt the Text Editor to open. Note: Blank Data Fields can be made visual in the View Attributes dialog box. 

 

 

» CONNECTED Project Information

The Project Number, Project Description and Towns will be automatically populated from the WorkSet Properties, there is no need to enter or edit any of this text.

Please note: Older Border Cells placed prior to March 2023 point the CONNECTED Project Properties, moving forward CTDOT will use the CTDOT WorkSet Properties. Previously set up CONNECTED Project Properties will stay in place to accommodate the older border's title block integration.

 

 

» Drawing Number

The DRAWING NO. box will be populated by filling in the Sheet Number on the Properties Dialog Box.

Note: The SHEET NO. box will remain blank in the CAD file, this will be populated in the discipline subset after the contract plans are published to PDF. Please review the DIGITAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANUAL, Section 4, Contract Plan Drawing and Sheet Numbering for detailed instructions.

 

» Last Saved By and File Name

These fields will auto-populate with the username and file path.

 

 

» PDF Text

The Plotted Date will populate when the PDF is Created.

 

The following Stamps are available to be placed in the PDF above the Designer/Drafter text as needed:

• ADDENDUM NO. Y
• DESIGN INITIATED CHANGE ORDER NO. Y mm/dd/yy
• NEW SHEET ADDED BY ADDENDUM NO. Y
• NEW SHEET ADDED BY DESIGN INITIATED CHANGE ORDER NO. Y mm/dd/yy
• DESIGN REVIEW STAMPS

The Signature Block info will also be placed as a stamp in the PDF.

Instructions for downloading the Stamps to the CTDOT Bluebeam User Profile

1. Click on the link below and download the zip file.

ctdot_bluebeam_user_profile

2. In File Explorer, browse to the downloaded location, it will most likely will show up in the Downloads folder. Double click on the user profile in the zip folder and the file will automatically install. 

Please review the DIGITAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANUAL, Section 4, Contract Plan Drawing and Sheet Numbering for detailed instructions.

TABLES

You can place tables in CONNECT Edition using the Place Table tool. Once placed, you can perform following formatting operations on a table:

• Add and remove rows
• Add title row, header row, first column, last column, and footer row, which can contain different formatting then the body rows
• Break a table
• Change height and width of rows and columns
• Merge and split cells
• Change cell margins
• Set cell fill color
• Add and remove borders
• Set border color, line style, and line weight

You can also perform following operations on the text in the table cells:

• Set text alignment
• Set text direction

You can also place a table using the data in an excel workbook or a .csv file.

If you have a report definition created, the report can be placed as a table in your model. The content in the table is automatically populated from the report definition.

You can also place a sheet index as a table.

 

» Table Seeds

Table seeds are available in the CTDOT DDE to use while placing a table in your model. A table seed can contain properties, formatting, and style settings that are inherited by the table.

 

» Place Table Tool

You can access this tool from the following:

• Ribbon: Drawing > Annotate > Table
• Explorer dialog Sheet Index tab: Place Sheet Index as a table
• Reports dialog: Place as table

Methods:

Empty table - Lets you place an empty table.

From report - Lets you place a table from a report definition.

From file - Lets you place a table using the data in an excel workbook or .csv file.

   

Options:

Seed - Lets you select a seed for the table. If you select to place a table from a Microsoft Excel file, you get an option "From Excel" in this drop-down list. If you select it, OpenBuildings Designer attempts to preserve the formatting such as colors, borders, text direction, text justification, fonts, font styles, font sizes, row/column/cell sizes, and cell margins.

Annotation Scale - Sets the Annotation Scale Lock. When this lock is on, the annotation scale is applied to the table and text within the table. By default, the annotation scale is taken from the model's Annotation Scale setting. You can change it only in the model's properties in the Properties dialog. The exception is when the model's Propagate Annotation Scale property is off. In that case, the annotation scale can be controlled independently for each element via its properties.

Text Style - (Available only when Seed is set to None) Sets the active text style from a list of all available text styles. Clicking Browseopens the Text Styles dialog in which you can create and modify text styles.

Active Angle - Sets the angle, in degrees, at which table is placed.

Row Count - Sets the number of rows in the table.

Column Count - Sets the number of columns in the table.

Report - (Available only when From Report is selected) Places the selected report as a table. Clicking Browseopens the Reports dialog in which you can create and manage reports and report definitions.

File Name - (Available only when From File is selected) Lets you select a file from which you want to place a table. Click Browseto open the File Open dialog and select the desired file from which the table is to be placed. If you select a Microsoft Excel workbook, then the Select Cells dialog opens, in which you can select the worksheet and cell range. 

The Select Cells dialog has the following options:

• Worksheet - Lists the worksheets in the selected excel workbook.
• Range - Allows you to select the cell range of the file that will be placed as a table. If set to Automatic, selects the range of cells which Microsoft Excel considers to be the "used area" of the sheet. It is usually a rectangle containing all non-empty cells, or cells which have otherwise been modified by the user, such as by resizing the rows or columns. If set to Manual, allows you to select the range of cells in the From and To fields. Named ranges are also supported.
• From - If Range is set to Manual, allows you to enter the start of the cell range.
• To - If Range is set to Manual, allows you to enter the end of the cell range.

Worksheet - (Available only when you select an excel workbook in the File Name setting) Lists the worksheets in the selected excel workbook.

Range - (Available only when you select an excel workbook in the File Name setting) Displays the cell range of the file that will be placed as a table.

Contains Title Row - (Available only when From File is selected) If on, places the first row as a title row.

Contains Header Row - (Available only when From File is selected) If on, places the second row as a header row.

Retain Association - (Available only when From Report or From File is selected) If on, the association with the report or external file from which the table is placed is retained. In such a case, if there are any changes in the report definition or the file, you can refresh the table to get the changes.

 

» Refresh a Table

If you have a placed a table from a report/external file and the Retain Association option is turned on, any changes made to the report or the source file can be updated in your table using this procedure.

1. Select the table. The row and column headings display.
2. Do one of the following:

Right-click any cell or the row or column headings and select Refresh Table from Data Source.

or

Click the Refresh Table from Data Source icon in the Table Tools contextual tab.

 

ANNOTATION TOOLS

All annotation such as: call outs, labels, notes and dimensions are placed in drawing and/or sheet models.It is important that the proper tools are selected so the annotation is placed using the correct attribution.

Common Annotation Tools can be found in the Ribbon by selecting the CTDOT Workflow.Users will find the needed tools in the Annotation and Dimensioning sections on the CTDOT Tab.

 

» CALL OUTS

There are several call out options available:

Label (Weight 2) - Used for Plan View Annotation of General Pay Items.

Small Label (Weight 2) - Used for Plan View Annotation of General Pay Items where space maybe limited.

Label (Weight 0) - Used for Detail Annotation.

Small Label (Weight 0) - Used for Detail Annotation where space maybe limited.

Non-Pay Item – Used for items that remain in place, or become the property of the contractor, or to be saved and no associated cost/pay is incurred.

Paid by Others - Is usually for utility items, such as poles to be removed, replaced or placed by the utility companies.  Any work that is not performed by the project contractor will be called out with this item.

ROW – Used for Right of Way items such as but not limited to Taking Line, Construction Line and Drainage Right of Way (D.R.O.W.).   

Begin Project Limits – Used to define the beginning of project, this note will include the following information:

Begin Project No. XXXX-XXXX

F.A.P. NO. XXXX(XXX)

CL STA. XX+XX

Northing Coordinate

Easting Coordinate

Limits of Construction – Used to define the limits of construction on intersecting roadways, this note will include the following information:

Limits of Construction

CL STA. XX+XX

Northing Coordinate

Easting Coordinate

End Project Limits – Used to define the end of project, this note will include the following information:

End Project No. XXXX-XXXX

F.A.P. NO. XXXX(XXX)

CL STA. XX+XX

Northing Coordinate

Easting Coordinate

The Circle and Hexagon call outs can be used as needed to annotate Plans and Details.

 

 

» NOTES

Notes are used to convey information such as right of way and construction sequencing. General Notes are usually found on the first plan view sheet of each subset but can be placed on any sheet as needed.  The Notes Tool is also used for Legends on Typical Section Sheets, Notes on Detail Sheets and for Row Legends. Tools to place annotation for Existing Features, Match Mark Lines and Match Mark Text are also located on this Menu.

 

General Notes can also be placed in a table.  A Table Seed for General Notes is provided for this use.Tables will allow auto-return of text when the width is adjusted.

 

» DIMENSIONS

The Set Style tools in the Dimensioning section will set basic attributes for dimensioning. After choosing one of these options a Placement Tool will need to be selected.

 

After a Placement Tool is activated a dialog box will appear, users can now select the needed options to get the desired output for the Dimension.

 

» ANNOTATION ATTRIBUTE POINTERS

The example of how an annotation tool calls for the correct Annotation Attributes is detailed below.

 

SCREENING FOR PDF CREATION

The Pen Tables delivered with the CTDOT CONNECT DDE gives the user the ability to set screening options when PDF files are created.

…CT_Configuration\Organization\Tables\Pen

Users can direct the PDF to create with certain reference files screened by using a wildcard in the DGN reference file’s logical name.

• If the reference logical name begins with “screen” the output weight is 2
• If the reference logical name begins with “one” the output weight is 1
• If the reference logical name begins with “sww” the output weight is unchanged

Wildcard Examples:

Screen – Shows as screened with a default remap line weight of 2 when the PDF is created.  Example Logical Name: Screen Ground Survey

one - Shows as screened with a default remap line weight of 1 when the PDF is created.  Example Logical Name: one Ground Survey

sww – Stands for “screen with weights”. Shows as screened and will retain the original weights of a particular reference file when the PDF is created.  Example Logical Name: sww Ground Survey

 

SHEET INDEXING

The Explorer Dialog Sheet Index Tab contains controls to manage sheet indexing.

A sheet index is an organized and named collection of sheet models from one or more design files. You may link any sheet model from any design file into a sheet index. You can then manage the properties of all the sheet models within the sheet index collectively. Sheet indexes may also be added to print organizer print sets for printing.

Refresh - Refreshes the content of the sheet index. Though the sheet index automatically refreshes when you make any changes, in some cases, you may need to refresh it manually by clicking this icon.

Open Sheet Index for Edit - Allows you to make changes to the sheet index. When you click this icon, other users cannot make changes to the sheet index.

Make Sheet Index Read Only - Turns off editing options on the sheet index. When you click this icon, the changes made to the sheet index are saved and other users can make changes to the sheet index.

Manage Sheet Index - Opens the Manage Sheet Index dialog in which you can manage the sheet index and its properties.

• Create Folder - Creates a new folder in the sheet index.
• Add Sheet - Opens the Add Sheet dialog from where you can select the file from which you want to add sheet links.
• Delete - Deletes the selected folder or sheet link from the sheet index. If the folder contains links or other folders, they are deleted as well.
• Place as Table - Starts the Place Table tool to place the index sheet. An index sheet contains properties of all the sheets in the sheet index that is placed as a table. Once placed, a report definition of the index sheet is also created in the Reports dialog.
• Open Print Organizer - Opens the Select Print Style dialog. Selecting the desired print style in the Select Print Style dialog and clicking OK opens the Print Organizer. The Sheet Index displays in the Print Organizer. You can compose a new print set file using the sheet index.

Reset pop-up menu for sheet index - Right-clicking the sheet index opens a pop-up menu with following options:

• Validate - Verifies that all the targets in the sheet index still exist in the locations to which the links point. If any targets do not exist, the sheet names turn red. They remain red until you revalidate and confirm that all targets in the folder exist in the specified locations.
• Add Sheet - Opens the Add Sheet dialog from where you can select the file from which you want to add sheet links.
• Update Sheet Model Properties - If you make changes to the properties in the sheet index, selecting this option updates those properties in the sheet model.
• Details - Opens the Details dialog displaying the properties of the sheet index.
• Properties - Opens the Properties dialog displaying the properties of the sheet index.

Reset pop-up menu for folders - Right-clicking a folder opens a pop-up menu with following options:

• Validate - Verifies that all the targets in the folder still exist in the locations to which the links point. If any targets do not exist, the sheet names turn red. They remain red until you revalidate and confirm that all targets in the folder exist in the specified locations.
• Add Sheet - Opens the Add Sheet dialog from where you can select the file from which you want to add sheet links.
• Update Sheet Model Properties - If you make changes to the properties in the sheet index, selecting this option updates those properties in the sheet model.
• Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected folder.
• Details - Opens the Details dialog displaying the properties of the folder.
• Properties - Opens the Properties dialog displaying the properties of the folder.

Reset pop-up menu for sheet links - Right-clicking a sheet opens a pop-up menu with following options:

• Validate - Verifies that the target sheet still exists in the locations to which the links point. If any targets do not exist, the sheet names turn red. They remain red until you revalidate and confirm that all targets in the folder exist in the specified locations.
• Update Sheet Model Properties - If you make changes to the properties in the sheet index, selecting this option updates those properties in the sheet model.
• Open - Opens the selected sheet.
• Add Link to Element - Adds the sheet link to the selected element in the open DGN file.
• Details - Opens the Details dialog displaying the properties of the sheet link.
• Properties - Opens the Properties dialog displaying the properties of the sheet link.