How to reference NBS specifications in a CAD drawing

Applies to: NBS Building, NBS Landscape, NBS Engineering Services, NBS Scheduler

Summary

It is possible to reference a project specification in a CAD drawing with the specification CAWS reference. This means you can link an element of a CAD drawing, such as a window, with the clauses in the NBS specification about the same window type.

NBS Annotator is part of a suite of collaborative programs called NBS Tools which allows you to do this. NBS Annotator is installed with the 2010 versions of NBS Building, NBS Engineering Services, NBS Landscape, and NBS Scheduler. However it can also be downloaded for free by non-NBS subscribers to allow them to collaborate with you. For more information please visit NBS Tools.

How does it work?

Three options are available depending upon on your CAD program. They are:

• Use NBS Annotator's copy and paste feature to copy clause titles and paste them into your CAD drawing (any CAD software)
• Use NBS Annotator to export clause titles and import them into your CAD drawing (Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Architectural Desktop, Vectorworks and Microstation)
• Install a plug-in linking your specification to your CAD drawing (ArchiCAD).

NBS Annotator is compatible with a number of CAD products:

Autodesk Revit/AutoCAD Architecture
Annotator allows you to associate your NBS specification with Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. By exporting your NBS specification you can use the keynote functionality in Autodesk to label elements and materials in your drawing with the clause references in your specification.

Watch a software tutorial movie on NBS Specification Software - NBS Building and Autodesk Revit (opens in pop-up window).

Graphisoft ArchiCAD
A plug-in sold and supported by the third-party ArchiCAD developer Encina. The plug-in extends the functionality of the Annotator from NBS.

This plug-in directly links ArchiCAD with your NBS specification file and does not require an export. The NBS guidance (subject to licence) and NBS Plus information can be launched directly from ArchiCAD. There is error reporting functionality and users jump directly from ArchiCAD to an NBS clause.

To view their software tutorial movie go to youtube.com/watch?v=-r7Z8iOSRsA.

The plug-in can be obtained from encina.co.uk/sw-download.html.

Nemetcheck Vectorworks
For a tutorial walkthrough, go to http://constructioncode.blogspot.com/2010/07/exporting-nbs-annotations-to.html.

Bentley Architecture
This works in a similar way to Revit and Vectorworks – watch a software tutorial movie on NBS Specification Software - NBS Building and Bentley Architecture (opens in pop-up window).

Other CAD packages
Copy and paste annotations can be made from NBS Annotator. For more information please go to NBS Tools.

Frequently asked questions

Q: If I don't subscribe to NBS or haven't got it installed on my PC can I still use NBS Annotator to reference my specifications or schedules in my CAD drawings?
A: Yes, NBS Annotator is a free program designed for NBS subscribers and their collaborators. It can be downloaded from NBS Tools.

Q: Can I use NBS Tools on a Mac?
A: NBS Tools is a Windows program but can run on the Mac under Windows emulation software or Apple Boot Camp. Please click here for the NBS system requirements.

Q: What support does NBS provide with using this functionality?
A: NBS will provide support with respect to exporting the information from the NBS specification. However, once in a third party application any support should be requested from this third party.

Q: What are the NBS plans for BIM?
A: Please see our NBS BIM topic area.

Q: For developers, can NBS be integrated further into a particular CAD package?
A: A software development kit and full documentation for how to integrate NBS into CAD is available at the NBS Annotator developer page.

This is what Graphisoft ArchiCAD have done. We expect this integration across a number of CAD packages will improve over the coming months and years.

KB number: 10168
Keywords: CAD, annotator, annotate, NBS Tools, reference, drawing, Revit, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, Microstation, BIM, Building Information Modelling, plug-in, plugin
Issue revision no.: 1.0
Issue Date: 10 December 2010

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