DDBS1192 Layering Software

BS1192 part 5 & ordnance survey layering software for AutoCAD

DDBS1192 for BS1192 : Part 5 : 1998

Layering Standard

The following table displays the structure of the latest standard (NOTE that DDBS1192 DOES NOT currently adhere to this 1998 standard, but adheres to the 1990 standard):

Concept Class	No. of Characters	Example	Required	Comments
Agent Responsible	1	A = Architects B = Building Surveyors...		Same as BS1192 : Part 5 : 1990
Element	4	212_ = Wall, Outer Leaf 314_ = External Window		First three digits same as BS1192 : Part 5 : 1990,
Presentation	1	D = Dimension H = Hatch T = Text - = Whole Project (hyphen)
Sector	4	-1A3 = Basement, Block A, Zone 3 02BD = Level 2, Block B, Zone D ---- = Whole Project		Values used should be decided for each project
Status	1	N = New work E = Existing - = Whole Project _ = Not Used
Scale	1	E = 1:50
User Defined	Unlimited	Any Alpha-Numeric string		No restrictions

Layer Name Example

The table below gives an example of a typical layer name and it's construction

DDBS1192 for BS1192 : Part 5 : 1990

DDBS1192 acts as a front end to the 'Layer Naming Convention for CAD in the Construction Industry, Version 2' as developed by members of the AutoCAD User Group UK. Layer creation and manipulation is achieved using a simple dialogue box interface. Convertible demonstration software from ONLY £59.95p Compatible with AutoCAD 2002, 2000 & AutoCAD 14. DDBS1192 does not work directly with any version of AutoCAD LT, but the layers created by DDBS1192 are fully understandable by AutoCAD LT.

Click here to access the user manual in pdf format.

table of contents

DDBS1192 OVERVIEW
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CIS/fB Codes Divisible By 100
CIS/fB Codes Divisible By 10
CIS/fB Codes Divisible By 1
Features & Requirements
USING DDBS1192
DDBS1192 Interface
Creating a New or Renaming an Existing Layer
Showing Renamable Layers
Adding & Stripping Aliases
Dealing with Duplicate Layer Names
ORDNANCE SURVEY LAYERING

overview

The need for a CAD Layering standard in the Construction Industry has been recognised for a long time. As more and more designers share more and more data, this becomes crucial to the cost effective running of any CAD project.

With the Release 3 of AutoCAD AEC, Autodesk UK adopted the BS1192 part 5 ‘Layer Naming Convention for CAD in the Construction Industry’. Layer naming changed from the previously self-explanatory layer names such as ARWALL and ARDOOR to the, initially, unintelligible A3207X$0 and A3152X$0 layer names.

To make sense of these layer names Autodesk introduced layer name 'aliases' to the AEC layer dialogue box. This was all well and good for the AEC user, but a non AEC user, such as a Structural or Services Engineer, using AutoCAD drawings drawn by an Architect using AEC, for example, was flummoxed by the unintelligible layer names.

DDBS1192 fills this gap

• DDBS1192 - is ideal for offices running a mixture of AutoCAD and or AutoCAD LT

• DDBS1192 - creates new and renames existing layers in a simple and logical manner.

• DDBS1192 – is 100% relevant to Architects, Building Surveyors, Civil Engineers, Drainage, Sewage and Road Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Facilities Managers, GIS Engineers, Land Surveyors, O.S., Heating and Ventilation Engineers, Interior Designers, Telecommunication Engineers, Clients, Landscape Architects, Mechanical Engineers, Developers, Public Health Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Structural Engineers, Town and Country Planners, Voice and Data Communication Engineers, Contractors, Sub-contractors & Specialist Designers.

• DDBS1192 – allows you to correct incorrect layer names within an AutoCAD drawing, thereby updating legacy drawings so that they conform to BS1192 layering.

• DDBS1192 – allows you, in one simple action, to add or strip layer name aliases from existing layers.

• DDBS1192 – allows you to create and manipulate layer names conforming to the Ordnance Survey Land-Line and SuperPlan data formats. At last you can readily understand those Ordnance Survey CAD drawing you need to work on.

background information

It is only when you have been able to understand the structure of the BS1192 layering convention that you understand how logical and sensible it is. One of its main features is that you can be as specific or as non-specific as you like about the purpose of a CAD drawn entity within a building.

At its simplest level the BS1192 layering convention requires that as a minimum you use the first two 'categories' of the convention. The first category is the originators' discipline, e.g. Architect or Building Surveyor. The second category is the CIS/fB code that corresponds to the drawn element within a building. 314 being an External Door and 732 being the Kitchen Sink, for example.

CIS/fB codes divisible by 100

As soon as you draw a line in a CAD drawing, it should be placed on an appropriate layer. In the early stages of a project, where an Architect does not want, or need, to be specific about what part of the building structure the line he is drawing belongs to, he can draw it on a non-specific layer such as A200. 'A' Being an Architects layer and 200 being the 'Primary Element' or 'Carcass' layer. In this instance the CIS/fB code used, 200, is an 'all-encompassing' code for the Building Carcass - at this level, using the CIS/fB code 200, we are using CIS/fB numbers divisible by one hundred.

CIS/fB codes divisible by 10

As the Architect's drawings progress, he will need to be more specific about the information he is drawing. He will need to put more detail into the 'Building Carcass', perhaps drawing the External Walls on Layer A210, stairs on layer A240 and Roofs on layer A270 - at this level, using the CIS/fB codes 210 and 240, we are using CIS/fB numbers divisible by ten.

CIS/fB codes divisible by 1

Continuing with the example of drawing stairs, at some point the architect may need to differentiate between different types of stair. For example he may need to differentiate between stairs and ramps. In this instance he would draw the ramps on layer A241 and the stairs on A242, we are using CIS/fB numbers divisible by one.

The above example may not be strictly correct. The CIS/fB code 242 is designated to 'Straight Stairs'. If the Architect was also drawing 'Dog-leg' Stairs, these should be drawn on layer A243; 'Curved and Spiral' stairs should be drawn on layer A244 and so on. As you will be able to appreciate this could be getting over-complex for many people. A simple way around the need to differentiate between ramps and other stairs is to draw the ramps on layer A241 (CIS/fB number divisible by one) as suggested above, and then draw all other stairs on layer A240 (CIS/fB number divisible by ten).

features & requirements

DDBS1192 version 3 is intended for use only on AutoCAD R14. Layer name creation and manipulation is achieved using a simple dialogue box interface. The interface and working concept of DDBS1192 have changed since previous releases. Previously DDBS1192 acted as a substitute to the AutoCAD layer dialogue. With version 3, DDBS1192 compliments the AutoCAD layer dialogue and runs separately from it.

DDBS1192 also conforms to the Ordnance Survey ‘Land-Line’ and ‘SuperPlan’ Layer naming conventions.

using DDBS1192

Once the installation has finished, start AutoCAD and you should find an additional DDBS1192 Pull down Menu and an additional DDBS1192 Toolbar Menu. From the DDBD1192 Pull-Down or Toolbar select ‘DDBS1192 Layers’. The next dialogue box prompts you to enter the Security Code.

DDBS1192 interface

When starting up DBS1192 in a new drawing, the main DDBS1192 Interface is displayed.

Create new or rename exisiting layers

If you want to rename an existing layer, select the layer to rename from the ‘Existing Layer to Rename’ drop down list. The layer name will then be displayed in the ‘Existing Layer to Rename’ window. You do not have to do this if you are creating a new layer.

Whether you are creating a new or renaming an existing layer, select the relevant discipline from the ‘Discipline’ drop down list. You will see that the layer name in the ‘New BS1192 Layer Name’ window changes to reflect the discipline you have chosen. Next, in turn, select the relevant CIS/fB category for the layer from the ‘Category 1, 2 & 3’ lists. As you select each of the categories, the layer name in the ‘New BS1192 Layer Name’ window changes to reflect the current CIS/fB code selection.

At this point you will have a layer name something like ‘A212--Wall_Out_Leaf’ displayed in the ‘New BS1192 Layer Name’ window. You now have the choice of being more specific about the layer name by selecting options from the ‘Graphics’, ‘Grade’, ‘Level’, ‘Status’, ‘Scale’ & ‘Time’ categories. Set these categories, only if required.

From personal preference when using the BS, we just use the two required fields, a layer name being E632 for example, for the following reasons:

1. Layer names are simpler and shorter.

2. The GRAPHICS type can be added or omitted as required. We tend to add the graphics type where Text, Hatch or Dimensions are being drawn, but omit it for 2/3D Graphics and Attributes. In any case it should be plainly obvious from looking at a particular entity whether it's a circle, piece of text or dimension for example.

3. The GRADE or line weight of a layer will change depending on the scale a drawing is plotted at and what output device it is plotted on.

4. LEVEL - Personal preference here dictates that each level in the building is contained in a separate DWG file, using Xrefs or Wblocks to manipulate information between levels.

Where it is required on a particular project, the full convention for layer naming can be used and the 'Status', 'Scale' and 'Time' fields added.

Once you have selected the required layer name, click either the ‘New’ or ‘Rename’ button. Note that the layer name is only actually created or renamed when selecting ‘OK’ to exit DDBS1192. If at any point ‘Cancel’ is selected, or if you close the DBS1192 window by clicking the ‘X’ in the top right-hand corner of the window, no changes will be made to the AutoCAD layers.

showing renamable layers

In the ‘Show Renamable Layers’ section of the DDBS1192 interface you are able to filter the layer list displayed in the ‘Existing Layer to Rename’ drop down list. The three options ‘All Renamable’, ‘Only BS1192 Layers’, and ‘Non BS1192 Layers’ are self-explanatory

This feature can be useful when you wish to rename layers in a drawing that contains a mixture of some layers conform to BS1192 and others that do not. In this instance, select the ‘Non BS1192 Layers’ radio button and then work your way through the ‘Existing Layer to Rename’ list, renaming the layers as appropriate.

adding & stripping aliases

If you have opened up an existing drawing that uses BS layers, layer names will be displayed in the ‘Existing Layer to Rename’ drop down list. At this point they will not have aliases next to them. To add aliases to all layers that conform to the BS1192, click the ‘Add Aliases’ button. If you now check the layer names in the ‘Existing Layer to Rename’ drop down list, you will see that all BS1192 layers will have aliases appended. When you click ‘OK’ to exit DDBS1192, the layers will be renamed appending aliases as appropriate.

If you now read the layer names in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, they are readily and easily understandable.

At some point you may need to remove the aliases from the drawing; if you are send the drawing to another person for example. You can easily remove all aliases by clicking the ‘Strip Aliases’ button.

duplicate layer names

There may be instances where, for example, when you are working with DDBS1192 aliases added to layer names in your current drawing, that you inserted another drawing that does not have the aliases added. If, for example, you had a wall layer in the current drawing called ‘A212--Wall_Out_Leaf’ and you inserted another drawing that contained a layer called ‘A212’ then you have a situation where a duplicate layer exists. If, in this situation, you ‘Add’ or ‘Strip Aliases’ a warning message will be displayed ‘Duplicate BS1192 Layer Names Found’.

consolidating duplicate layer names

If you choose to ‘Consolidate’ duplicate layer names, DDBS1192 will attempt to move all reference entities onto one common layer. The empty duplicate layer will then be deleted.

ignoring duplicate layer names

If you choose to ‘Ignore’ the duplicate layer names, aliases will neither be stripped nor added to layers that have a duplicate.

Ordnance survey layering

Any layer that begins with G801 or G803 will be considered by DDBS1192 to be conforming to the Ordnance Survey 'Land-Line' and 'Superplan' layering conventions respectively. The layer name aliases should be self-explanatory. Detailed information about these conventions can be obtained direct from the Ordnance Survey:

Ordnance Survey
Romsey Road
Southampton
UK
SO16 4GU

Telephone: +44/0 1703 792000
Website http://www.o-s.co.uk

If a layer is created with or renamed to begin with G801 or G803 the DDBS1192 Interface changes so that the Graphics, Grade, Level, Status, Scale and Time drop down lists are deactivated and either the OS Land-Line or OS SuperPlan down list is activated. Select the required OS Layer from this list. These drop down lists are ONLY available if the first for characters of the layer name are G801 or G803. They will not be activated if the layer name begins with A801 or A803 for example.

Page Last Reviewed 16 April 2004