📄 Template (.dwt) Builder

Use QNEW and select acadiso.dwt (metric) or acad.dwt (imperial). Starting clean avoids inheriting ghost layers, unused styles, and corrupt data from old drawings.

• Never base a new template on an existing project file
• Run AUDIT and PURGE on any imported content
• Delete all demo geometry — the template should be completely blank

Command: UNITS — sets the dialog. For imperial arch: Architectural, 1/16" precision. For civil/engineering: Decimal feet, 0.00 precision.

• INSUNITS = 1 (inches) or 4 (millimeters) or 2 (feet) — controls how blocks insert
• MEASUREMENT = 0 (imperial hatch/linetype) or 1 (metric)
• AUNITS = 0 (decimal degrees), AUPREC = 0 (whole degrees)
• Set Drag-and-drop scale to match INSUNITS

Formula: Paper Width × Scale = Model Limit X. For 24"×36" sheet at 1"=20': 36×240 = 8,640 wide.

• Lower left: 0,0 (always)
• Upper right: width×scale, height×scale
• After setting, run ZOOM ALL to update the display
• Set LIMCHECK = 0 so drawing outside limits is a warning, not an error

Use the Layer Manager (LAYER) or script layers via -LAYER for batch creation. Use the Layer Name Builder tab to generate command strings.

• Follow your firm or discipline standard (AIA, ISO, ASCE, NRECA for utility)
• Always have: 0 (block definition), DEFPOINTS (auto-created), at least one object layer, one text/annotation layer, one dimension layer
• Set linetypes for all dashed/hidden/phantom layers before saving the template
• Lock unused layers to prevent accidental edits

Best practice: set all style heights to 0" in the Style dialog — this forces height control at the command level (DTEXT, MTEXT) for flexibility.

• Standard (or ROMANS): basic notes, general use — height 0
• Title: title block text, bold font — height 0
• Dim: used only by dimension styles — height 0
• Annotative: for annotative text objects — check the Annotative box
• Avoid width factor ≠ 1.0 and oblique angle ≠ 0° unless required

Create one parent style, then sub-styles for Linear, Angular, Radius, Diameter. Use annotative dimension styles for multi-scale drawings.

• Text style: point to your Dim text style
• Text height: set to your plotted height (e.g., 3/32" = 0.09375")
• Arrow size: match text height (typically 3/32" to 1/8")
• Scale: use DIMSCALE = plot scale factor, or check Annotative
• Precision: Architectural = 0'-0 1/16", Engineering = 0'-0.00"

Load from acad.lin (imperial) or acadiso.lin (metric). Only load what you actually use — excess linetypes bloat the template.

• Common: HIDDEN, HIDDEN2, CENTER, CENTER2, PHANTOM, DASHED, DASHDOT
• Set LTSCALE to your base scale factor (e.g., 48 for 1/4"=1')
• Set PSLTSCALE = 1 so paper space viewports scale linetypes correctly
• Set CELTSCALE = 1 (default) so individual objects use LTSCALE

Right-click a layout tab → Page Setup. Assign a plotter configuration (.pc3) and plot style table (.ctb or .stb).

• Rename layouts meaningfully: "ANSI-D 24x36", "ARCH-E1 30x42"
• Set plot area to "Layout" so what you see is what plots
• Set plot scale to 1:1 in paper space (viewports control model scale)
• Turn off Model tab visibility if you want to hide it from end users

Title block best practice: draw in paper space on a locked layer. Use ATTDEF to create attribute definitions before making the block.

• Required attributes: PROJECT, DRAWING NUMBER, SCALE, DATE, DRAWN BY, CHECKED BY, REVISION
• Set attribute visibility to Normal (not invisible) during setup
• Lock the title block layer after insertion
• Leave viewport(s) for model space views — don't put geometry in paper space

File → Save As → change file type to AutoCAD Drawing Template (*.dwt). AutoCAD will ask for a description — fill it in.

• Before saving: AUDIT → PURGE ALL → PURGE ALL again
• Save to the AutoCAD template folder: C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\R24.3\enu\Template\
• For shared network deployment, save to a mapped network drive and set Options → Files → Drawing Template File Location
• Version-name your template: FirmName_Standard_v2024.dwt