• Civil 3D

Understanding the importance of templates

Modify an existing template to add a new layout and understand why it is important to use templates when generating plan and profile sheets.


00:03

When creating plan and profile sheets for your Civil 3D project,

00:08

it is important to use a template that has the title block and layout viewports properly set up in advance.

00:14

This includes making sure that the plan and profile views, as well as the view frames,

00:19

are correctly constructed to meet your project requirements.

00:23

Properly setting up a template beforehand ensures that the scale, visibility, and positioning of your model content are accurate.

00:32

If you need to edit or create a new layout, it is best practice to modify an existing template whenever possible.

00:39

This helps to maintain the consistency and accuracy of layouts within your template.

00:45

To edit an existing template, in the Application menu, select Open.

00:52

In the Select File dialog, ensure that Files of type is set to Drawing Template (*.dwt).

01:01

This allows you to select from all available templates.

01:05

In this example, open the Plan Production folder.

01:10

Next, select the template that contains most of the information that you want to include in your template.

01:17

Here, select Civil 3D (Imperial) Plan and Profile, and then click Open.

01:25

Notice that there are multiple tabs for this template, each with a specific layout.

01:31

Layouts allow you to organize and present different views of your design.

01:36

In this case, each layout includes a different scale,

01:41

and each scale is set up so that the title block includes a viewport for both a plan and a profile view.

01:48

For example, in the ARCH D Plan and Profile 20 Scale layout,

01:53

if you select the plan viewport, you see that the scale is set up at 1" = 20'.

01:59

Select the ARCH D Plan and Profile 40 Scale layout,

02:03

and the plan viewport scale is set up at 1" = 40'.

02:07

To create a new scale layout, such as 1" = 100',

02:11

the easiest method is to modify an existing layout.

02:15

Right-click the 20 Scale layout and select Move or Copy.

02:20

In the Move or Copy dialog, select Create a copy, and then click OK.

02:28

To locate the copy, click More Layouts and select the layout with the 2 in parentheses to display its tab.

02:36

Then, right-click the tab and Rename it accordingly.

02:41

Next, after confirming that the title block is the correct size, set the viewports to the correct scale.

02:50

With the Plan Viewport selected, click the down arrow and select 1" = 100'.

02:56

Then, adjust the size of the opening to match the available space.

03:02

To verify the viewport type, right-click and select Properties.

03:08

In the Properties dialog, scroll down to the Viewport Type,

03:13

and you see that it is set to Plan.

03:16

Press ESC to deselect the plan viewport.

03:19

Similarly, select the Profile Viewport to confirm in Properties that its Viewport Type is set to Profile.

03:28

And once again, use the arrow to adjust the scale to 1" = 100',

03:33

then resize the opening.

03:36

Once you are finished creating the layout, make sure to Save it as a template file in the same location as your title blocks.

03:45

Now, the next time you use that template to cut your plan and profile sheets,

03:50

your new layout will be included, and the view frames will be set to the correct size and scale.

Video transcript

00:03

When creating plan and profile sheets for your Civil 3D project,

00:08

it is important to use a template that has the title block and layout viewports properly set up in advance.

00:14

This includes making sure that the plan and profile views, as well as the view frames,

00:19

are correctly constructed to meet your project requirements.

00:23

Properly setting up a template beforehand ensures that the scale, visibility, and positioning of your model content are accurate.

00:32

If you need to edit or create a new layout, it is best practice to modify an existing template whenever possible.

00:39

This helps to maintain the consistency and accuracy of layouts within your template.

00:45

To edit an existing template, in the Application menu, select Open.

00:52

In the Select File dialog, ensure that Files of type is set to Drawing Template (*.dwt).

01:01

This allows you to select from all available templates.

01:05

In this example, open the Plan Production folder.

01:10

Next, select the template that contains most of the information that you want to include in your template.

01:17

Here, select Civil 3D (Imperial) Plan and Profile, and then click Open.

01:25

Notice that there are multiple tabs for this template, each with a specific layout.

01:31

Layouts allow you to organize and present different views of your design.

01:36

In this case, each layout includes a different scale,

01:41

and each scale is set up so that the title block includes a viewport for both a plan and a profile view.

01:48

For example, in the ARCH D Plan and Profile 20 Scale layout,

01:53

if you select the plan viewport, you see that the scale is set up at 1" = 20'.

01:59

Select the ARCH D Plan and Profile 40 Scale layout,

02:03

and the plan viewport scale is set up at 1" = 40'.

02:07

To create a new scale layout, such as 1" = 100',

02:11

the easiest method is to modify an existing layout.

02:15

Right-click the 20 Scale layout and select Move or Copy.

02:20

In the Move or Copy dialog, select Create a copy, and then click OK.

02:28

To locate the copy, click More Layouts and select the layout with the 2 in parentheses to display its tab.

02:36

Then, right-click the tab and Rename it accordingly.

02:41

Next, after confirming that the title block is the correct size, set the viewports to the correct scale.

02:50

With the Plan Viewport selected, click the down arrow and select 1" = 100'.

02:56

Then, adjust the size of the opening to match the available space.

03:02

To verify the viewport type, right-click and select Properties.

03:08

In the Properties dialog, scroll down to the Viewport Type,

03:13

and you see that it is set to Plan.

03:16

Press ESC to deselect the plan viewport.

03:19

Similarly, select the Profile Viewport to confirm in Properties that its Viewport Type is set to Profile.

03:28

And once again, use the arrow to adjust the scale to 1" = 100',

03:33

then resize the opening.

03:36

Once you are finished creating the layout, make sure to Save it as a template file in the same location as your title blocks.

03:45

Now, the next time you use that template to cut your plan and profile sheets,

03:50

your new layout will be included, and the view frames will be set to the correct size and scale.

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