45

In This Chapter

4

Working with Templates

In this tutorial, you learn about the predefined

templates and how to create your own user-defined

templates in AutoCAD

®

Mechanical 6.

■

Setting up the starting layer

■

Setting the mechanical options

■

Specifying the drawing limits

■

Saving a template

■

Using a template

■

Setting a default template

46

|

Chapter 4

Working with Templates

Key Terms

Term

Definition

base layer

A layer made up of working layers and standard parts layers. Base layers are
repeated in every layer group.

layer group

A group of associated or related items in a drawing. A major advantage of
working with layer groups is that you can deactivate a specific layer group and a
complete component. The drawing and its overview are enhanced with a
reduction in regeneration time.

part layers

A layer where the standard parts are put. All standard parts layers have the suffix
AM_*N.

template

A file with predefined settings to use for new drawings; however, any drawing can
be used as a template.

working layer

The layer where you are currently working.

Working with Templates

|

47

Working with Templates

In AutoCAD Mechanical, you can use templates (*.dwt files) to create
drawings.

You can use the predefined templates, which contain settings for various
drawings, such as am_iso.dwt or am_ansi.dwt, and are supplied with
AutoCAD Mechanical or you can create your own templates. Any drawing
can serve as a template. When you use a drawing as a template, the settings
in that drawing are used in the new drawing.

Although you can save any drawing as a template, you should prepare tem-
plates to include settings and drawing elements that are consistent with your
office or project standards such as the following

■

unit type and precision

■

drawing limits

■

snap, grid, and ortho settings

■

layer organization

■

title blocks, borders, and logos

■

dimension and text styles

■

linetypes and lineweights

If you start a drawing from scratch, AutoCAD Mechanical reads the system
defaults, which have a predefined standard, from the registry.

If you create a new drawing, based on an existing template, and make
changes to the drawing, those changes do not affect the template.

To begin working with templates immediately, you can use the predefined
template files stored in the acadm\template folder.

However, for this tutorial you will create your own template.

The new AutoCAD Today dialog is also covered in this tutorial. For more
information about the AutoCAD Today dialog, please see the AutoCAD man-
ual.

Setting up the Starting Layer

Each time you start AutoCAD Mechanical, layer 0 is active. Since layer 0 does
not belong to the Mechanical layers, it is not displayed in the Layer Control
dialog box of AutoCAD Mechanical, if you select Mechanical Layer in the
Show field.

Therefore, you need to specify the mechanical layer AM_0 as the default
starting layer.

48

|

Chapter 4

Working with Templates

To specify a starting layer

1

Start the Layer Control command.

Menu

Assist ➤ Layer / Layergroup ➤ Layer/Layer Group Control

Command

AMLAYER

2

In the Layer Control dialog box, choose the Layer Control tab, select the
layer AM_0 and choose Current.

3

Choose OK.

Now, the layer AM_0 is active as you can see in the toolbar:

Setting the Mechanical Options

In the Mechanical Options dialog box, you can specify general settings for
AutoCAD Mechanical.

Working with Templates

|

49

To set the mechanical options

1

Start the Mechanical Options command.

Menu

Assist ➤ Mechanical Options

Command

AMOPTIONS

2

In the Mechanical Options dialog box, choose the Standards tab, and specify:

Standard:

ISO

Measurement:

Metric

Scale:

1:1

3

Choose OK.

NOTE

All settings in this dialog, which are stored in the drawing (template)

are marked with this icon:
All standard related settings are listed in the right section.

Specifying the Drawing Limits

Now, specify the drawing limits according to size A0 (840 x 1188 mm). This
limits your drawing space to the specified size.

50

|

Chapter 4

Working with Templates

To specify the drawing limits

1

Start the Drawing Limits command.

Menu

Assist ➤ Format ➤ Drawing Limits

Command

LIMITS

2

Respond to the prompts as follows:

Specify lower left corner or [ON/OFF] <0.00,0.00>:

Press

ENTER

Specify upper right corner <420.00,297.00>:

Enter 840,1188

Now, the limits are expanded to A0 format.

Saving a Template

Save the previously changed drawing as a template.

To save a template

1

Start the Save As command.

Menu

File ➤ Save As

Command

SAVEAS

2

In the Save Drawing As dialog box, specify:

Files of type:

AutoCAD Mechanical 6 Drawing Template File (*.dwt)

File name:

my_own_template

Choose Save.

Working with Templates

|

51

3

In the Template Description dialog box, specify:

Description:

Tutorial Template

Measurement:

Metric

Choose OK.

4

Close the drawing.

Menu

File ➤ Close

Command

CLOSE

Using a Template

Now, start a new drawing and use the previously created template.

To open a template

1

Start the New command.

Menu

File ➤ New

Command

NEW

2

In the AutoCAD Today dialog box, in the section My Drawings, select the
Create Drawings tab.

From the Select how to begin list, select Template and choose Browse.

52

|

Chapter 4

Working with Templates

3

In the Open dialog box, select my_own_template.dwt, and choose Open.

Now, you start the new drawing, using the settings of the previously saved
template.

Setting a Default Template

Now, you specify your template as the default template.

To set a default template

1

Start the Mechanical Options command.

Menu

Assist ➤ Mechanical Options

Command

AMOPTIONS

Working with Templates

|

53

2

In the Mechanical Options dialog box, choose the Standards tab, and choose
Browse.

3

In the Open dialog box, select my_own_template.dwt, and choose Open.

4

In the Mechanical Options dialog box, choose OK.

The template my_own_template will be used as default template from now on.

NOTE

The default template is used, if a drawing does not contain any

AutoCAD Mechanical configuration. If a drawing already contains AutoCAD
Mechanical configuration data or a new drawing has been created using an
AutoCAD Mechanical template, the default template does not effect these set-
tings.

Now, you are at the end of this tutorial chapter.

54