Creating templates
ESchomberg wrote:Also, is he correct, in that my erasing my last drawing and starting a new one(saving as) the new drawing going to lead me to problems???
Yes that's correct, create a clean master.dwt file (only real difference between a dwt & dwg is the extension).
Then in OPTIONS on the files tab, specify your master dwt as the QNEW template.
I'd also suggest reading the help for drawing templates and the QNEW variable.
Once the above is complete, simply launching cad creates the DRAWING1.dwg file.
By saving Drawing1.dwg Autocad is using the master.dwt as the template to create new drawing.
No need to copy or saveas.
Clicking on the NEW icon on the ribbon also automatically uses the master.dwt to create Drawing2.dwg,
Drawing3.dwg, or as many as you wish to create.
Using the Application Menu (blue A icon) > New > Drawing, allows you to browse to various dwt's if you wish
to create a new dwg from a dwt other than the master.dwt.
Hope that helps.
see "causes" line 4
Joe Bouza
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@ESchomberg wrote:
Hey Jay...under Joe's knowledge network post on resolving a damaged drawing I read one of the options was to open a blank drawing and insert the problem drawing then explode the block...
That reminded me of my friend saying that it seemed like they had templates created...they would open a new drawing each time and insert the template they needed.... I am wondering if that is an option to what you recommended.... I have not had time to look into what you recommended it may be simpler.
But, at any rate, either way I will have to start from scratch with a new template creating all my layers, linetypes and widths, text fonts etc....settings and styles???? Am I correct?????
And if I do not finish the template in one session I would have to save it....which could corrupt my new template???? I'm sorry this is a bit confusing to me because I have been doing it the wrong way for the last year.
Hopefully we can clear up the rabbit holeHopefully we can clear up the rabbit hole.
I'll put this out first : Why do you need to start from scratch?
back to @Jay_B 's post: ACAD by default starts with some template (a dwt file) depending on what you told the installation wizard. Like Jay said a dwt file is only s dwg file saved to a different extension. We can get caught in some crazy web of confusion debating weather a dwt file used over and over is the same as using a dwg file over and over, and I don't have a clear answer but lets take a leap of faith and accept that a clean dwt is far superior and less prone to corruption. It is somewhat obvious to me that if I pull information from the same sector on the media to use over and over is less apt to cause issues if information is cobbled from various sectors ( that would be harvesting). so, enough about that - we are going to blindly accept that dwt is the correct way to go.
What Jays image is showing is that you can set acad to point to a specific location where you want to store your templates, and at the same time which one will be the default when your start acad or press the new file icon. When you have several templates for various uses you can handle that in a couple of ways.
1. like we spoke before : various profiles that would change the option settings to use the files and locations specific to that templates use
2. instead of the file new icon use pull down file new and the acad dialog box will show you list of dwt files to choose from
back the any rate concern. No. You can take any dwg file and turn into a useful dwt, BUT take the measures in the link I posted to CLEAN the file. That is get rid of any extraneous goop.
Joe Bouza
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@ESchomberg wrote:
I just have one small question left......I just opened a new drawing and it automatically opened up as Drawing1.......Does that mean that the default template is working/ or do I need to go to the folder where I saved my template .dwt and open it from there each time???? I have the feeling that the default template that I inserted into the options box must be automatically working since it recognized all of my layers etc......
Glad to hear you got it working, I was about to post a video & saw you beat me to it.
That's exactly how it's supposed to work, Drawing1.dwg etc. are just "temporary" drawings Autocad creates using the dwt specified under QNEW in template settings of OPTIONS. Simply save the dwg to your project folder.
One thing you may want to do is set you're "Drawing Template File location" file path which is also found under Template Settings in OPTIONS.
If your a one man shop & only use one custom dwt for every project, how you have it will likely work just fine.
Just want to point out that this setting controls the file path location Autocad reverts to when changing the drawing filter in file open dialog etc. when the ".dwt" file type filter is selected.
It' also displays the available dwt's when the Application Menu > New Drawing is used.
