To set standards, you
create a file that defines properties for layers, dimension styles,
linetypes, and text styles, and you save it as a standards file with
the .dws file name extension.
Depending
on how you organize your projects, you may decide to create and associate
more than one project-specific standards file with an individual drawing.
When you audit the drawing file, conflicts may arise between settings
in the standards files. For example, one standards file specifies
that the layer WALL is yellow, and another standards file specifies
that it is red. In the case of conflicts, the first standards file
associated with the drawing takes precedence. If necessary, you
can change the order of the standards files to change the precedence.
If you want to audit drawings using just a
specific plug-in, you can specify the plug-in when defining your
standards file. For example, if recent changes to a drawing are
limited to text changes, you may want to audit the drawing using
only the layers and text styles plug-ins to save time. By default,
all plug-ins are used when auditing drawings for standards violations.
To create a standards file
- Click the Application button, and click
New menu
Drawing. 
- Enter a template file name, or press
Enter to continue.
- In a new drawing, create any layers,
dimension styles, linetypes, and text styles that you want to be
part of the standards file.
- Click the Application button, and click
Save As AutoCAD Drawing Standards.
DWS files must be saved in the current drawing
file format. To create a DWS file in a previous drawing file format,
save the file in the desired DWG format, and then rename the DWG
file using a .dws extension.
- In File Name, enter a name for the standards
file. Click Save.
To associate a standards
file with the current drawing
- In the Configure Standards dialog box,
Standards tab, click the plus (+) button (Add Standards File).
- In the Select Standards File dialog box,
select a standards file. Click Open.
- (Optional) Repeat steps 2 and 3 if you
want to associate additional standards files with the current drawing.
- Click OK.
To remove a standards file
from the current drawing
- In the Configure Standards dialog box,
Standards tab, select a standards file in Standards Files Associated
with the Current Drawing.
- Click the X button (Remove Standards
File).
- (Optional) Repeat steps 2 and 3 if you
want to remove additional standards files.
- Click OK.
To change the order of
standards files associated with the current drawing
- In the Configure Standards dialog box,
Standards tab, select the standards file whose position you want
to change in Standards Files Associated with the Current Drawing.
- Do one of the following:
- Click the up arrow button (Move Up) to
move the standards file up one position in the list.
- Click the down arrow button (Move Down)
to move the standards file down one position in the list.
- (Optional) Repeat steps 2 and 3 if you
want to change the position of other standards files in the list.
- Click OK.
To specify which standards
plug-ins to use when auditing a drawing
- In the Configure Standards dialog box,
Plug-ins tab, do one of the following:
- Select the check box for at least one
plug-in to audit a drawing for standards violations.
- To select all plug-ins, right-click in
the Plug-ins list. Click Select All. (You can clear all plug-ins.
Right-click in the Plug-ins list. Click Clear All.)
- Click OK.
CommandsCHECKSTANDARDS
Checks
the current drawing for standards violations.
STANDARDS
Manages
the association of standards files with drawings.
