How do you customize and save your own CAD drafting and detailing templates?

1 Step 1: Create a new drawing

The first step is to create a new drawing from scratch or based on an existing template. You can use the New command or the QNEW command to open the Select Template dialog box, where you can choose a template that matches your desired units, standards, and styles. Alternatively, you can use the Open command or the QOPEN command to open an existing drawing that you want to modify and save as a template.

2 Step 2: Modify the drawing settings

The second step is to modify the drawing settings according to your requirements. You can use the Options command or the OP command to open the Options dialog box, where you can adjust the general, display, files, user preferences, and system settings. For example, you can change the background color, the cursor size, the file locations, the default save format, and the performance options. You can also use the Units command or the UN command to open the Drawing Units dialog box, where you can change the units, precision, and angle measurement of your drawing.

3 Step 3: Define the drawing properties

The third step is to define the drawing properties that describe your project and help you organize your drawings. You can use the Properties command or the PR command to open the Properties palette, where you can enter information such as the title, author, subject, keywords, and comments of your drawing. You can also use the Layer command or the LA command to open the Layer Properties Manager, where you can create, rename, delete, and modify the layers of your drawing. Layers are useful for grouping and controlling the visibility, color, linetype, and line weight of different elements in your drawing.

4 Step 4: Add the drawing content

The final step is to add the drawing content that you want to reuse in your future projects. You can use the various commands and tools in the ribbon, the command line, or the tool palettes to create and edit the objects, dimensions, annotations, blocks, and references in your drawing. You can also use the Layout command or the LO command to open the Layout tab, where you can create and modify the paper space layouts of your drawing. Layouts are useful for setting up the printing and plotting parameters, such as the page size, orientation, margins, scale, and viewport of your drawing.

5 Step 5: Save the drawing as a template

The last step is to save the drawing as a template that you can access and apply in your future projects. You can use the Save As command or the QSAVE command to open the Save Drawing As dialog box, where you can choose the file type as Drawing Template (*.dwt) and enter a name and a location for your template. You can also use the Template command or the T command to open the Template dialog box, where you can preview, modify, delete, and rename your existing templates.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?