Achieve title block consistency automatically!

Title Block Manager  ™

 A component of MicroStation Acceleration Garage ™
 
 

Easy title block management

Easy to use and install, Title Block Manager automates batch changes to title blocks placed in design files, helps maintain consistency of title block information and provides full reporting capabilities.

Title Block Manager can intelligently read a batch of design files and distinguish between elements in the design and those in the title block. Once the title block elements are found, Title Block Manager finds the values within the title block and attaches a Title Block Manager-specific linkage to them. This feature dramatically cuts down the time it takes to perform mundane tasks like modifying sheet numbers or adding revision data into a title block.

Title Block Manager creates a database file (Excel spreadsheet) from data extracted from your title blocks. From this database, users can edit and manage the data and have it automatically updated in the appropriate title blocks. For example, if a user adds a sheet, he can then re-sequence all the other sheets in a project and update the information in all the necessary title blocks.

Axiom's Title Block Manager:

  • Helps ensure company-wide consistency of title blocks appearance and information.
  • Places file name, full file path or other data from configuration variables automatically into title blocks.
  • Allows for bi-directional synchronization of title block information between title blocks and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
  • Automatically updates and populates information in multiple title blocks.
  • Processes batch changes on the information placed in title blocks in seconds.
  • Reports on all title block information (such as file path, file name, name of title block cell and any other user-defined information) in MicroStation files.
  • Supports the placing and managing of multiple title blocks in one design file.
  • Can place title blocks as either a regular cell, shared cell or regular elements.
  • Has improved cell library selection for administrator functions.
  • Has ProjectWise support.

Do I need Title Block Manager?

Are you frustrated by the lack of consistency in the look of your title blocks? Do you need to quickly re-sequence sheet numbers in a batch of MicroStation files? Do you need reports on the information in your title blocks? Would you like your drafters to be able to easily place pre-existing title blocks, by using a simple wizard screen?

If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, then you need Title Block Manager.

Components of Title Block Manager

Title Block Manager is composed of two applications:

  • Title Block Client: For placing and modifying title blocks.
  • Title Block Administrator: For performing administrative tasks, like exporting and updating title block data, as well as, creating new title block cells.

Using Title Block Manager — a user's perspective

After the title blocks are created and stored as cells in a cell library (all done from within Title Block Manager), they are ready for placement in MicroStation files. Using Title Block Manager's wizard-like interface to place a title block in a design file, users simply need to 1) start Title Block Manager, 2) select the appropriate title block cell from a list, 3) place the title block cell in the MicroStation file, 4) populate the title block text areas that need to be filled in with the appropriate information (Title Block Manager prompts the user for this information according to how the project or CAD manager set up the title block cell), 5) and click on <Finish>. The title block will be immediately placed in the MicroStation file with all its pertinent information.

Automatically update information in all title blocks.

Ease of implementation is a keynote of Title Block Manager. Once created, title blocks are easy to place and modify, but difficult to corrupt. Title blocks are saved as cells in a cell library, either 2D or 3D. An administrator can select design files with title blocks placed in them and create or update an Excel spreadsheet at the click of a button, populating it with the information found in the title blocks; this information can include creation date, sheet numbers, project number, etc. Conversely, users can easily modify the newly created Excel spreadsheet (for example, they can easily re-sequence the spreadsheet column holding the sheet number information if a sheet needs to be inserted in the middle of the project), and then use Title Block Manager to automatically re-populate the title blocks in the design files with the new information.

Manage pre-existing title blocks.

Title Block Manager can intelligently read a batch of design files and distinguish between elements in the design and those in the title block. Once the title block elements are found, Title Block Manager finds the values within the title block and attaches a Title Block Manager-specific linkage to them. This feature dramatically cuts down the time it takes to perform mundane tasks like modifying sheet numbers or adding revision data into a title block

Consistency across title blocks

Per a market research survey done by Axiom, consistency of title blocks was one of the biggest benefits MicroStation users would expect from a title block management utility. Catering to the needs and wants of the MicroStation community, Title Block Manager boasts a system administrator interface wherein only project or CAD managers can create the title block templates that will be placed by users of the application. Title Block Manager saves these title block templates as cells in a cell library ensuring that these are the only title blocks available to their MicroStation team. The result is a consistent look and format throughout the title blocks placed in a project's design files.

Automatic insertion of file path, file names and more

Another feature requested by MicroStation users was the ability to automatically insert MicroStation file path, file name and other information into title blocks. Using Title Block Manager, administrators can define title block cell fields that will be automatically populated with the file name, the full file path or any other data collected from any configuration variable at the time the title block cell is placed in the design file.

Features at a Glance

Feature Supported
Fully compatible with MicroStation V7, V8, XM and V8i

YES
Update title block information from Excel or Access

YES
Title blocks can be edited with standard MicroStation tools or Title Block Client tools

YES
Update multiple design files and multiple models in batch

YES
Bi-directional synchronization

YES
Administrative interface

YES

Place title blocks as regular cells, shared cells or simple elements

YES
Can place file name, full file path or other data from MicroStation configuration variables into title blocks

YES

One-click access to Excel or Access database

YES
In-depth log file which shows how and what information was modified

YES

Update existing title block cells with a new title block cell

YES
Configurable database using MicroStation workspaces

YES
Abe Arollo of Aztec Engineering in Arizona, talks about how he was able to reduce costs and improve productivity with Title Block Manager.
 
Title Block Client (a component of Title Block Manager) makes adding title blocks and modifying title block information fast and easy for the user.
 
To update title block information with Title Block Client, just select the field you want to update, enter the new value and click the button.

MicroStation V8i support and more

Title Block Manager works with the following:

  • MicroStation V8i
  • MicroStation V8/XM
  • MicroStation V7
  • ProjectWise

  

For more information or a free trial version, click here or call 727-442-7774 extension 9071 in the U.S. or e-mail us.