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Generate Sheets from Frames

One master set of sheet frames per project , shared by every discipline drawing through a project frame file: so sheet N covers the same ground on the grading plan, utility plan, and E&S plan. VDCFRAMEDEF computes the fewest sheets ( north-up preferred , bounded rotation); VDCSHEETGEN generates each drawing's layouts by aiming the template's existing viewports, never touching their per-sheet-type layer overrides.

Command VDCFRAMEDEF VDCSHEETGEN · VDC Sheets tab › Sheets panel

VDCSHEETGEN is part of Define Sheet Frames; the full section follows.

One master set of sheet frames per project, shared by every discipline drawing through a project frame file: so sheet N covers the same ground on the grading plan, utility plan, and E&S plan. VDCFRAMEDEF computes the fewest sheets (north-up preferred, bounded rotation); VDCSHEETGEN generates each drawing's layouts by aiming the template's existing viewports, never touching their per-sheet-type layer overrides.
One frame file, every set matches. North stays up unless rotating saves sheets; viewports are aimed, never rebuilt. SHT-01 SHT-02 SHT-03 SHT-04 N frame file one layout per frame, viewport aimed (center / twist / scale only)

What it does

  • VDCFRAMEDEF (once, master drawing): frame size = viewport width/height × plan scale, the dialog's size fields are the authority (auto-read fills them from the template layout's largest on-sheet viewport, oversized strays rejected; default 31.5"×23"). Tiles a picked boundary polyline (or extents), drops frames that miss the boundary. Rotation source: Optimize (searches the discipline window for the fewest sheets, north straight up wins every tie; Design ±30°, Survey ±2°, or Custom), align to a picked object (the segment you pick: a polyline segment's direction, an alignment element's tangent bearing or curve chord), or align point to point (two rubber-band picks). Boundary and align-object picks see through xrefs and blocks, the project limits and road geometry usually live in the base xref. Transient preview, then frames + name text land on V-SHEET-FRAME (re-runs replace) and VDC-SheetFrames.json is written beside the drawing.
  • VDCSHEETGEN (each discipline drawing): clones the drawing's own template layout per frame and sets ONLY the viewport's view, the ALIGNSPACE math, automated. Viewport layer overrides (frozen / no-plot / color per sheet type) are never touched.
  • Layer state (optional): restores a saved layer state into each aimed viewport, on top of the template's own overrides; unrecorded layers are left alone.
  • Alternates: frames-only output, bare-viewport creation, or Map 3D Map Book, the frames feed Map Book as custom (manual) tiles for its key map + adjacent-arrow navigation.
  • Re-runs re-aim; a hand-tweaked sheet is protected by the VDC_SHEETGEN skip flag in the layout's extension dictionary.

Workflow

  1. Master drawing: VDCFRAMEDEF, template layout, scale, overlap, discipline. Pick the boundary; choose Rotated vs North-up if rotation saves sheets; Keep.
  2. Each plan drawing: VDCSHEETGEN, point at the frame file, pick that drawing's template layout, prefix + start number, optional layer state. OK, Generate.
  3. Read the summary: layouts created, viewports aimed, skips with reasons.
  4. Project limits change? Re-run VDCFRAMEDEF, then VDCSHEETGEN per drawing, every set moves together.

Settings

  • %APPDATA%\VDC\SheetGen\settings.json (env VDC_SHEETGEN_SETTINGS). The frame set itself lives in the project frame file, beside the master drawing.

Dialog

Define Sheet Frames dialog
Define Sheet Frames, VDCFRAMEDEF
Generate Sheets from Frames dialog
Generate Sheets from Frames, VDCSHEETGEN

When to use it

  • Starting sheet production on a project whose plan sets must match sheet-for-sheet.
  • The native Create View Frames wizard can't share frames across drawings or trade rotation against sheet count.
  • The project limits changed and every set's sheeting needs to move together.

How to run it

  1. Open the master drawing (the one that owns the project limits) and run VDCFRAMEDEF.
  2. Pick the template layout, scale, overlap, rotation source, and discipline preset. OK - Compute Frames.
  3. Pick the boundary polyline (or extents ran automatically if you chose that).
  4. Align modes: pick the object segment (or the two points) that sets the angle. Optimize mode: if rotating saves sheets, choose Rotated vs North-up in the dialog.
  5. Review the cyan preview - Keep draws the frames and writes the frame file.

Options

  • Rotation source: Optimize (north-up preferred, fewest sheets), Align to a picked object (line / polyline / alignment, host or xref - the SEGMENT you pick sets the angle; an alignment element gives its tangent bearing or curve chord), or Align point to point (draw the direction with two picks).
  • Discipline preset: Optimize mode only - Design +/-30 deg (normal for civil plans), Survey +/-2 deg (plats hold north tight), or Custom.
  • Overlap %: match-line lap built into the tiling (default 10%).
  • Viewport size: the dialog's width/height fields are the AUTHORITY - verify them. Auto-read fills them from the template layout's largest on-sheet viewport (oversized strays and the paper-space pseudo viewport are rejected); untick auto-read to type the size. Default 31.5 x 23 (a common standard civil viewport).
  • Frame layer: default V-SHEET-FRAME; re-runs REPLACE the tagged frames instead of stacking.

Watch out for

  • If frames come out the wrong size, look at the viewport width/height numbers in the dialog FIRST - they are what tiles, and a wrong auto-read is visible right there.
  • Drawing-extents boundaries inherit stale extents - a forgotten object a mile out inflates the sheet count. Pick a boundary polyline when in doubt.
  • The frame file lands beside the DRAWING - keep the master drawing in the project folder so every discipline drawing resolves the same file.
  • The frames are tagged polylines + the JSON file, NOT Civil View Frame Group objects - they will not appear under Data Shortcuts > View Frame Groups. The frame file IS the share; point VDCSHEETGEN at it in each drawing.
  • Changing scale or template viewport later means re-running VDCFRAMEDEF and re-generating every set.

Related: Sheet Gen (Layouts from Frames) · Sheet Index QC · Label QC