Importing a template?

[draftingjenny]

Is there  a way to import a template into an existing drawing?

I created a template, AFTER the drawing was created, and would like the drawing to HAVE that template.

Any way to do this?

[wfberry]

Several ways.   The easiest is just insert the template drawing into your current one.  (You might want to  change the suffix from .dwt to dwg.)

Bill

[draftingjenny]

I did do this, however, will the layers and text style, dim style come with it?  I brought it into a drawing that has abunch of other layers and such and I  just can't tell.

I am only seeing the layers USED are the ones brought in.

[neilyj666]

Only layers etc that are referenced by a Style are brought in (I think..!!?!?!) - you can always use Design Center to bring in other content or in 2012 the import styles dialog should do it

[mathewkol]

A good idea is usually to start a new drawing with your template and insert the other one as a block and explode it.  Save this new file.

[nicolas.menu]

All the above is great. I would just add one more idea.
If using Civil 3D 2012, check the new "Import styles" feature. It can be very handy to bring in Civil 3D styles and Civil 3D settings from a template or any other drawing.

The command is  _ImportStylesAndSettings. You can also find it in the Manage ribbon tab

This feature was also partly implemented in Civil 3D 2011 Subscription Advantage pack under the command _AeccUiImportStylesAndSettings but to a less complete level.
You can also find it in the Toolbox under Subscription Extension Manager>Utilities

[draftingjenny]

If I explode the block, would it affect the points and contours?

[mathewkol]

It shouldn't.

[jmayo-EE]

The three methods provided all have pros/cons you can work to your advantage.

I use Matt's most. With this method you start with the correct styles, layers, blocks, fonts and dims. When you insert the work as a block, no styles or blocks are over written. Any layers, acad styles or blocks in the work that are not part of the template come along for the ride. This may mess up datashortcuts if object names and object handles change. You could also be inserting corrupt objects.

Neil took the opposite approach which will preserve any drawing specific style overrides made during the design process and datashortcuts. You could also be inserting corrupt objects.

ImportStylesAndSettings as Nicolas mentioned will over write Civil 3D styles. It will not over write blocks, text or dim styles. Datashortcuts are preserved.

[tom]

You need to right click on one of the layouts that are present when you open a new drawing.  When you right-click on one of the blank layouts, one of the options states " from template"  selecting this will take you to the template files that you create in the options|files menu.  The options menu is found by right-clicking and selecting options.

Tom

[C3D_TomR]

I use a combination of Design Center, the _ImportStylesAndSettings command, and drag/drop from other drawings. What I like about the _ImportStylesAndSettings command is that you can choose which styles get added, removed, updated, etc. Also you can import the command settings with this option.

I actually wrote a short blog about it a few years ago. You can find it here.:

http://crossing-the-line-with-c3d.blogspot.com/2011/12/quick-tip-about-importing-styles-and.html

If you just need to import the object layer settings, here's a blog about how to get this from your template into your current drawing.:

http://crossing-the-line-with-c3d.blogspot.com/2010/08/transfer-object-layer-settings-between.html

Regarding inserting a drawing with Civil 3D objects into a template then exploding: I find that when using this method the Civil 3d objects get renamed such as a surfaced named 56101-EG becomes 56101-EG (1). If you try to rename it the original name you get an error message: "The name you entered (56101-EG) is a duplicate. Please enter a new name."