Is it better to create a template or have a CAD drawing with all the necessary l

[MatTheDrafter]

I’ve been assigned the task of creating a functional Civil Template for my organization.

There are two methods that I considered for this project. Creating a template that will contain all standard layers, line types, line weights and block already in place. To make the layers easier to navigate the template will already have most layers grouped to together based on the major descriptor and phase. Though this could still result in a drawing containing many layers that will never be used.

The second options are to create a source drawing where one can click and drop the required layer and blocks. The drawings will only have the basic text and dimension styles in place. Most likely I will also have the necessary annotative scales also already generated.

Has anyone else experienced in creating template standards for their organization and which route did you take when creating your standard?

[Anonymous]

Hi @MatTheDrafter,

Good Day ...!

As far as my concern going on with creating a standard template is highly recommended ... Our Customers will look for the drawings which had to be in our own standard template ... Some Customers request us to prepare the drawing in their own templates (Templates will be provided by them). The reason behind this is in least case you will be the third party vendors (You won't be having the direct discussions with End users), In this case you will be asked to provide the drawing through the mediating parties (lets say ABB is the End User and JGC is the Mediator and you the one manufacturer) ... you won't be knowing with whom JGC doing Business ... (U will be guided by JGC from the Quotation stage to the Items get Manufactured) ... Important thing is ( It is good/recommended to have your own standard drawing) ... No idea how far my opinion reaches you (But this is the practice as far as my knowledge) ... In least cases by depending on the customer requirements u can be flexible in doing changes. 

[Ron_113]

I'd go with the template, it's too easy for someone to overwrite a dwg file thus the dwg file is now changed.  The template file opens as drawing1, 2, 3... and you're forced to save as a file name.

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> ... and which route did you take when creating your standard? <<

we're talking here about two right ways BUT i prefer to use the way that we have a drawing with all necessary editable items that needed. in this way we have blocks,dimension styles,text styles,layers..etc that we can use it directly.also i guarantee that when i Purge my drawing that i still have my elements and without loosing any needed elements that usually gone with purge command. at the end ... we have the option to choose any way to start a drawing since it's finished fast and without mistakes.

Regards and all respect ...

[MatTheDrafter]

@Anonymous 

Luckily for me, the end client is the organization itself. It will most likely be a template that we provide to the consultant that will be responsible for the Civil base work we will be requesting done.

Before my arrival, the Civil related drawings did not follow any standards and had become somewhat unmanageable over the course of years. Presently I am conducting a mass drawings audit on all our Civil base map in an attempt to clean them up as well as create a standard to be followed. The idea of a template is something to provide consultants with as well as when we developed additional site maps as our land titles expand we have something to follow.

[Anonymous]

Hi @MatTheDrafter,

In that case it's ok ...

[pendean]

In AutoCAD, a "template" is a dwg file with an OS lock to prevent overwriting it. That's all. It's not different from a "source drawing".

So, do you need to constantly edit this file and allow everyone else to do so?
Or do you prefer to lock it down and only allow editing with some effort?

[MatTheDrafter]

@pendean I believe it would be wiser to lock down the template drawing file. That way we can be sure that it is correctly updated when the standards are updated. 

Some of the issues I am currently running into is that a standard was never followed for the Civil related drawings. I am hoping to correct that be creating a standard that will be the basis of future Map creation, source template for consultants so when they do submit 'As-Builts' they have a guild line to follow. 

Once we have a basis of a Civil/Civil 3D Templates, I will have to update the other templates for Mechanica, electrical and Artitechual related work. 

[pendean]

>>>...hoping to correct that be creating a standard...<<<
Sounds like you are ready to create a DWS file too, not just a DWT Template file https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoC...

[MatTheDrafter]

@pendean I will soon be creating a DWS system for receiving consultant drawings and confirming if they are following the provided standards. The issue some of the departments are facing is when the consultants export floor layout from Revit to standard 2D CAD since we use a plug in to calculate floor space and sync that to our internal databases. 

It would also be useful for achieving drawing and confirming if they have the correct data/standard applied.