AutoCAD Tips to Work Smarter - December 2002
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Creating AutoCAD Templates
Creating a Template is probably the single most productive act an AutoCAD user can perform. A template drawing is used to begin a new drawing with the layers, text styles, dimension styles, linetypes and layouts typically used in a particular type of drawing. Different templates can be developed for different types of drawings and applications.
Before creating a template, identify the layers typically used for that type of drawing. For instance, if you are creating a template for an architectural application, you might use layer names that conform to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) naming convention. A template for detail part drawings might use layer names such as, Contour, Hidden, Center, Text and Dimensions. For an assembly drawing, you could create a layer for each component in the assembly. If the types of parts in each assembly are similar, you can could create the template with the component names as the layer names. For example, Shaft, Bearing, Retaining Ring and Spring would be component names. On the other hand, if the component names change from assembly to assembly, a better approach would be to make a set of generic layer names: Component01, Component02, Component03 and Component04.
While making the layers for the template, give some consideration to the colors, linetypes and lineweights being assigned to the layers. Color Dependent Plot Style Tables rely on Color Numbers to determine plotting properties. If you use Color Dependent Plot Style Tables to override the drawing properties of objects, make sure to establish a guideline for the use of colors in drawings. Since there are 256 colors in the AutoCAD palette there are infinite configurations. Some users is to designate ranges of numbers for different plotting properties. One possibility is to designate colors 1-10 to plot using the assigned drawing properties, 11-20 to plot with a 10% screen, 21-30 with a 20% screen, 31-40 with a 30% screen, etc.
Text styles should also be included in a template drawing to standardize the appearance of text on drawing and improve productivity. It can be helpful to name styles based on their intended use in the drawing. For instance, text style names like Section Label, Dimension and General Notes might help users select the appropriate text styles. Note: Use a height of 0.0 when creating text styles. This allows the use of different text heights with the same text style. If you select a text style height other than 0.0, a fixed height text style is created. Other settings, like dimension settings, are unable to control text heights.
Dimension styles have been drastically overhauled in the last few releases of AutoCAD. It is possible to set dimension parameters based on the type of dimension being drawn (linear, diameter, ordinate, etc.) and to assign dimension scale automatically based on the current viewport scale. Dimension features, such as arrow size and text size should be specified based on the desired size on the actual print.
The Plot Device and Layout Settings can also be included in a template drawing, as well as Named Page Setups. This one item can simplify the plotting procedure for casual users. Click on the image below to download a sample drawing.
Layer Settings
The intended use of most of the layers is indicated by the layer name. The Detail Window layer is used for viewports containing enlarged views.
Text Style Settings
As with the layers, the text style name indicates its intended use. The Dimensions layer uses a unique AutoCAD font, GDT, in which the lower case letters display symbols instead of letters. Click here to see a reference chart for the GDT font file.
Dimension Styles
You can probably get a better idea of current dimension style settings by examining the dimensions in the sample drawing. However, here is a listing of the dimension variables that make up the dimension style.
Note: The DIMSCALE setting is 0.000. This causes dimensions created in a Model Space viewport to be sized according to the viewport scale. Dimensions drawn in Paper Space will be size at a scale factor of 1.0.
Plotting
The layouts in this sample drawing are all configured to use the PublishToDWF.PC3 plotter configuration, should be found on all AutoCAD 2002 workstations. The sheet sizes available in the Page Setup window are dependent on the plotter configuration be used. If you plan to plot the sample drawing, you will need to select a different plotter configuration and paper size.
Plot Style Table
Because lineweights are assigned to the layers in the drawing, the Monochrome.CTB plot style table is used to force the drawing colors to Black when plotted. Otherwise, the properties in the drawing control the plotted appearance of the objects.
Name Page Setups
Each layout in the sample drawing has a related, Named Page Setup. The assures that the original, intended plotting parameters can be restored. In addition, there is a Named Page Setup, Fit on A Size. This setup plots the drawing Extents with a Scale to Fit setting on an 8 ˝" x 11" sheet. You will need to redefine each Named Page Setup after you choose a different plotter configuration and paper size.
I hope you've found this overview of AutoCAD drawing templates useful. If you are still looking for more information on Page Setups, Plotting and Layouts, check out our SuperCharging AutoCAD Workshops.