How To Add A Template To A Drawing Cad

Today we will continue our word. Have you decided what to put in your AutoCAD template files?

The start and mutual thing we add to template is layer. Today your job is to create a new template and add layer information.

Why nosotros would use layers?

If you still put all of your drawings on layer 0 then you lot take a big problem.

What are the benefits?

In that location are many advantages of using layers, some of them are:

We can apace turn on/off objects in a layer.
We can quickly select all objects in a layer.
We can ready mutual properties like line weight to plot, line types, etc. for each layer and change them quickly.
We can lock layers to preclude some objects from editing.
And so on.

Adding layers to new documents is a very tedious job. You will non want to do information technology every time you create a new AutoCAD drawing.

Do y'all have standard layers?

There are many CAD layer standards out there. However, if y'all already comfortable with your standard, y'all can only utilize your ain standard.

If you haven't use whatsoever standards, and so this is a good time to commencement using it. You may attempt this AIA layer standard. I constitute it in New York University website.

Start a blank document

Now let's create a new certificate.

I strongly propose you to create a new blank document to create your template. A bare document from AutoCAD default installation is free from error, and clean.

DO Non pick i of your finished drawing, relieve it as other drawing… and so delete everything you don't need. I've seen how people can suffer by doing this. Their files are decumbent to many bug.

Cull a correct template

Make sure you are create new file past choosing the right template. Click new. Ignore the automated new file created by AutoCAD. Choose a default template.

There are several empty templates. They have similar names, which one you should choose?

What you need to consider here are:

Units. If you use metric, and then start with metric template. ISO template is fine.
Plot manner. If you want to utilise named plot mode (style based – stb), then choose template that has it in its name. If you want to use color based plot style, then yous tin cull the other one.

For example, I want to piece of work with metric units, and I want to work with ctb plot style. So I choose acadiso.dwt as my bare template.

Add layers information

Now we need to add layers to our template. Add layers that you want to this drawing.

Tip: If you desire to import layers from existing file to this file, you can utilise design center. Find your file, aggrandize the tree. Cull layers from the binder tree.

Select which layers yous desire to import, then elevate them to drawing infinite. Or, right click so choose add layer(south) from context menu.

Layer filters

After doing the step above, you may take many layers in your drawing. They may be overwhelmed your layer list. Now nosotros demand to simplify it.

You can add layer filters and/or layer groups to show only specific layers when you do a task. For example, when you work on elevation view, then you lot can choose to bear witness only layers related to that task. It filters both layer manager list and layer drib down list.

If you already familiar with layer filter, then create them now.

If you're not familiar with it yet, read this layer filter tutorial.

Layer states

Some other setup you might desire to practise is layer states. Layer country save how are your layer status.

How does it help?

When we describe, we need to turn on/off some layers. You tin plough off dozens of layers only by one click.
Sometimes we need to plot the same drawing with different line weight, because you lot apply it in different plot scale.
You lot demand to hibernate some details when you plot in big scales.
Other reasons that crave you to change many layer properties chop-chop.

At present create some layer states.

If y'all're not familiar with layer states, you can read layer states tutorial here.

After you terminate, save your file. Do not loose information technology, we will continue using it on the next task

Discussion

Now let'due south hash out what you practise in this job.

Did you take problem because you didn't start with correct template?
What plot fashion do you use? Do you adopt stb or ctb?
Have many layer filters do yous have? How did you make up one's mind to group your layers? Based on objects filters or task based?
How many layer states do you have? What are you using them for?

I piece of work as a Solution Consultant in Datech Solutions, Tech Data Indonesia. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Edifice 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and as well active in Autodesk discussion forum.
I'm an Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) for Revit Compages and AutoCAD. I'thousand also a fellow member of Autodesk Expert Elite, appreciation for individuals who give contribution to Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn