Template files for AutoCAD "Flavors"

[tahdesign1]

We have several "flavors" of AutoCad and I have always put out templates files for each type.

However, I am leaning toward not doing that. I am thinking to point AutoCAD, Mechanical, Electrical, and P&ID to the same template files.

Truely the templates files are only carrying around a couple of layers, linetypes, a dimstyle, and a txt style.

Is there any reason not to point theses flavors at the same templates?

[dgorsman]

There's more to a DWG file than drawing content.  There's a host of extra non-graphic data which the different applications include in the file.

Plus, layes and other settings aren't necessarily suitable for all purposes.  From experience, the layers used in P&IDs and those used in 3D piping models are almost exclusive to each other.  Where there is a large amount of overlap you might get away with it but an all-in-one for disparate types of drawings will usually end up with a lot of wasted input or forcing users to work with the best of the worst choices.

[quentin.contreras]

On the Plant 3D and P&ID it is best practice to use the existing out of the box templates. Then you can addtional content but I recommend not to purge the drawing out. There are some items dependent in regards to P&ID and Plant 3D.

I would suggest to keep the current workflow you have in place.

I always liked the saying, "If it ain't broke don't fix it!".

[tahdesign1]

OK then in doing that lets see if I can present what I see.

I have the following flavors:

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Mechanical

AutoCAD Electrical

AutoCAD P&ID (Standalone, No 3D Plant product)

I will install each brand new and pull the natively installed templates files from each.

Then examine them to see what it obviously different (if it can be seen).

I will then just add my standard content to them (Dim Style, Txt Style, Units Setting, Page Setups, etc)