Hi Howard, I agree with you. I've been working with companies that do a different drawing for each system (audio. video. control, etc) which is very inefficient as you end up cutting and pasting, and redrawing all the common elements.

I've also worked with people who do just as you describe, one large drawing with everything on different layers, just display and print the layers you want. SD7 seems to be aimed at this type of method, except that working with layers is so cumbersome.

I haven't developed any good method yet, as I'm a brand new SD7 user, but I'm trying a combination. I've been working on each system in it's own drawing in the project, and when I'm happy with it, I combine it into the one "real" drawing.

There is some repetition, but it helps me figure out a good clean layout, without having to redraw connector lines all the time. Unless I missed it, once the cable line is drawn, you can't add any more segments. This limits how much you can rearrange gear and have the 'rubberbanding' work.

I think a good looking, graphically clean drawing is vital for easily conveying the information. I'm finding it a little difficult to get the 'look' I want with SD7. Square corners, RED lines for the gear, no choices for how lines cross, only one arrow type, etc.

And the title block...based on the threads here about changing it, I'm not the only one who thinks it's not great. It's astonishing how much of the page the title block takes up! I know it's editable, and I know it's just an example, but I'd think in a mature product there might be a few more choices than ONE.

Well, back to work...

zuk

Just rightclick on a cable and choose Add Node if you need to add segments. Similarly there is Delete Node command in the Quickmenu.

Kind regards,
Rob Robinson
Stardraw.com

Thanks Rob, that helps enormously.

z