creating an architecural detail

[KT277]

I would like to create a detail of a stair railing for a deck. If I show the deck at 1/4" scale, what is the best way to show a railing section, say at 3/4" scale in the same drawing?
Should I copy the stair/railing section into a new drawing, and then change the text size (and maybe create a block)? And then insert the block back into the original drawing?
Also, I normally use an 'overall scale factor' of 1, in the 'Fit' tab in the dimension style. In the book I have, the author uses a factor of 96, with a text height of 3/32". There is no other info on the 'scale factor' in the book.

[VERYCIVILDRAFTER]

Well the answer is a little more involved than I have time to explain...

But maybe this thread will help
http://www.autocadeverything.com/phpBB/ftopic832.php&highlight=layout+dimensions+scales

short simplified answer (this should at least get you started);
draw detail in model space at actual size(new drawing is up to you),
create a view port in a Layout,
set view port scale to desired detail scale,
create a text style with '0' as height,
create a dimension style that uses new font and the 'FIT' scale same as view port,
dimension the detail,
pan in the view port so the detail is viewable in it,

wash, rinse, repeat.

Somebody else should jump in here any minute and fill in what ever i forgot.

[csiarch]

VCD: You touched the high points very well.

One thing that confuses a lot of less experienced folks about text and dimensions. Remember that viewports reduce the size of objects from full size to one selected that will fit on a "real size" page.

In that regard, sizing text so it will plot at a specific text height works the same way. If the plotted text height is to be 3/32" high and the viewport scale factor is 96 (for 1/8"=1'-0"), then the "original" text height for this viewport should be 9 inches (3/32" x 96 = 9). Do the same math, plugging in other viewport scale factors as needed. And PLEASE, PLEASE use the viewport scale factor as part of the text style name. :)