51
Drawings and Templates
2 2
Learning Objectives
After r completing co mp t g this h chapter, p you will i l l b be able bl t to :
✓ ✓ Begin Be gi n a a new ne w w w d dr awi in g.
✓ Save your work. w
✓ ✓ Close files. Close fi les fi fi
✓ Open saved files. fi
✓ Work with multiple open documents. d
✓ View and adjust drawing properties. p
✓ Determine and specify drawing a units and limits.
✓ g p Create drawi ng template files. fi fi fi
In this chapter, you will learn how to start new drawings, save drawings, open
existing drawings, and begin the process of preparing drawing template files. This fi
chapter also explains commands and options that assist in organizing and setting up a
drawing session, including basic drawing settings. You will find the drawing settings fi
described in this chapter very useful as you begin working with drawing and drawing
template files. fi
Beginning a New Drawing Beginning a New Dr a wing
AutoCAD uses several different types of files for specific fi functions. The primary fi
fi le types are fi drawing files, fi which have a
.dwg
extension, and drawing template files, fi
also known as templates, which have a
.dwt
extension. You typically begin a new
drawing by referencing a template. A new drawing based on a template includes all
of the template settings and content. To help avoid confusion as you learn AutoCAD,
remember that a new drawing fi le references a drawing template file, fi but the drawing fi
fi le is where you draw. fi
A new drawing fi le appears by default when you launch AutoCAD. This drawing fi
references the
acad.dwt
template installed with AutoCAD by default. The drawing is
appropriate for initial drawing applications and uses decimal unit settings with a US
Customary (inch) unit preference. You are ready to draw, then save and close the file. fi
To start another new drawing, use a template or start from scratch.
drawing files: Files
you use to create
and store drawings.
drawing template
files (templates):
Files you reference
to develop new
drawings; contain
standard drawing
settings and objects.