Topics covered in this Lesson:

Template files | Creating Templates

Whether you know it not, you have already used templates to begin a new drawing. AutoCAD uses a template every time it starts up. If you do not designate your own template, AutoCAD will use a default one.

A template is a drawing file that includes some of the following settings:

• Unit type and precision

• Drawing limits

• Snap, Grid, and Ortho settings

• Layer organization

• Title blocks, borders, and logos

• Dimension and text styles

• Linetypes

• Common blocks

In many cases, you do not want to set these things every time you begin a drawing. By having a template with all of these parameters pre-set, you can work more efficiently, faster and consistently. There is no difference between a template file (DWT) and regular DWG other than the extension.

Most CAD businesses use a company-wide template that is updated from time to time. Occasionally, you will use a client's template. When you start a project, you will be told which template you are to use.

Creating a Template

To create a template drawing, you first have to set up any parameters that you feel you would need (see the list above) in a regular drawing. Once you have this, you can save your drawing as a template. Do to this, go to the File Pull-Down Menu and choose the ‘Save As' option.

You will see this dialog box:

You have to change the ‘Files of type' setting from a DWG file to a DWT (template) file.

Once you've changed this, make sure you save it in the folder where you can load it later.

To use the template for a new drawing, choose the 'New' option to start a new file and select the template you want.

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