Multiple Sheet Drawings vs. Single Sheet Drawings

I'm planning on switching to SolidWorks soon, and I'm putting some thought
into how I'll set up my drawings.

In my current system, all drawings are together in one file (Mechanical
Desktop). This was by default--it's the way it works in MDT.

I think that the easiest thing to do in SW would be to use multiple sheet
drawings, simply because it keeps all drawings in one neat package, and
printing/page numbering is effortless.

I do however realize the benefits of single sheet drawing files (each part
gets its own drawing file)... file size, performance, no corruption issues,
and a better tie in to PDM/ERP programs. There's probably others. But, how
then do you manage something as simple as page numbering? Or printing...
how do you print a drawing set in the correct page order?

My drawings usually range from three to sixty pages, with twenty being about
average. Some have been as large as one hundred pages. Typically they're
one part per page.

So, I'm hoping that some (many) of you will have some input into this...
experience with this sort of thing & how you handle it. If I could simplify
page numbering & printing, I think I'd be good to go with the single sheets.

Thanks in advance for your help....

Brian

 

Split them up. The file size in SW would be ridiculously big and
horrible to work with. Chances are your computer would probably lock
up well before you got to 60 sheets anyway.

Just my $0.02,
Ken

 

I certainly believe in the one part (number) - one drawing philosophy.
It is just the most flexible and most future proof...period. (not to
mention performance savy)

One thing I have seen done is create a custom batch file for each
drawing. That batch file prints the drawing, then calls the batch file
for each component of that drawing. Thus, everything gets printed in a
recursive manner. This usually works best with simple files like *.pdf
or *.prn or *.hp2 or *.ps.

As for the numbering, that is dictated by the part numbers themselves
and can thus be quite random. As long as you know your top level assy #
AND have good, accurate BOMS, you should have not trouble finding the
print you need.