Creating Templates

Save a drawing file as a template to use it as a foundation for new files. Templates save layers, classes, title blocks, drawing borders, resources, and the current settings for attributes and units. (See Creating a New File for details about using a template.)

When a template is opened, VectorWorks automatically opens a copy of the file. When the new drawing is saved the first time, VectorWorks prompts for a new file name. This makes it impossible to accidentally replace the master template with the new drawing file.

To create a template:

1.	Start with a new, empty file.

2.	Set up the file with all of the desired elements.

3.	Select File > Save As Template.

4.	Enter the name of the template (.sta) file and place it in an appropriate Templates folder. (See User Folders Preferences for details about how to specify the folder for your user data.)

To save the template for personal use, place it in the Templates subfolder in your user data folder (which is the default).

If VectorWorks Design Series is installed, you can share the template with other users in a workgroup. To do so, place it in the Templates subfolder of a workgroup folder on a network drive; other users can then specify that workgroup folder in their VectorWorks preferences.

The .sta extension is required for Windows. It is recommended for use on the Macintosh if the file will be shared with Windows users.

5.	Click Save.

VectorWorks launches with a blank drawing file, in 1:1 scale. To launch VectorWorks with a file containing different settings, name the template file Default.sta and save it in the Templates subfolder in your user data folder.