Frequent tipster Leonid Nemirovsky shares with us how he uses the Sheet Set Manager to create drawing files for AutoCAD projects.

"I use sheet sets all the time, and as a rule I start new drawings from the Sheet Set Manager. The benefits are great: it always starts the drawing from a project DWT file that includes a title block and has the common fields filled in. In this case, I copy and paste things from existing drawings, often from different projects.

"First, I start a new drawing from the Sheet Set Manager. Then I go to the source drawing, switch to model space, and use the Copyclip command. I select the objects I need (or Select All), then go to a new drawing (in model space) and use the Pasteorig command (paste to original coordinates). Then I return to the source drawing (in paper space), turn all viewports on, and Copyclip. Finally, I go to paper space of the new drawing and Pasteorig.

"This method seems a bit cumbersome, but it works: You get an exact duplicate of source drawing (or parts, if you choose) in the new drawing. Plus, you are not dragging the wrong title board with wrong layers, and there is no need to manually fill in the new titleboard."
 
Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: The Sheet Set Manager is a great tool — in fact, it's one of the most important file management tools in AutoCAD. It provides a list of all drawing files related to your project. It gives all departments easy access to your project drawings. You can print files from it, and even create new drawing files as well.

When you want to create a new drawing, use the New Sheet option. Select where you want the file to be saved, and which template file (DWT) to use to start the file. Your new drawing is not part of the current sheet set. When you set up a sheet set for a project, you can assign which template file is to be used for new drawings. Have your users always create a new drawing with sheet sets, and it will ensure they are always using the correct template file. Once created, use Len's copy and paste methods to add any master xref files or linework that the file needs.