Creating Templates

Command

Path

Save as Template

File

To set up new files easily and quickly, you can create custom templates, or use any of the standard templates provided with the Vectorworks program. Templates can contain layers, classes, title block borders, resources, and the current settings for attributes and units.

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

Vectorworks ships with several templates, depending on the products installed, including both a Blank.sta and a Default.sta file. The Default template determines the settings for the file that opens when Vectorworks is launched for a new session. It can be customized with attributes, object styles, title block borders, and so on, so that the file that opens on start up has the desired settings. The Blank.sta file can be opened when selecting File > New, and is meant to be a truly empty file. Users may choose to set the preferred scale and units, but should otherwise leave this template empty, as it is the only way to open a blank file.

To create a template:

  1. Start with a new, empty file.

  2. The Blank.sta (Metric and Imperial) templates open as empty files. Alternatively, you could begin with an existing template or other file that already has some of the desired settings, and edit it. Delete all elements should not be in the template.

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

  4. Select the command.

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

  6.         To save the template for personal use, place it in the Templates subfolder in your user folder: [User]\Libraries\Defaults\Templates.

            If Vectorworks Design Series products are 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: [Workgroup]\Libraries\Defaults\Templates. To make the template available only for users with a specific Design Series product licensed, place the template in that product’s folder.

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

  7. Click Save.

  8. To use the template, select File > New to open the Create Document dialog box. Select Use document template, and then select the new template from the list.

Opening a Template Automatically

To open a specific template automatically when launching Vectorworks:

  1. Set up a template file with your desired settings, and name it Default.sta. Place the file in your user or workgroup templates folder, as described in Creating Templates.

  2. Save a copy of your company standard template named Default.sta to open the standard automatically on startup.

  3. In the Vectorworks preferences, click the Session tab, and select Create a new document on startup.

Whenever you launch the Vectorworks program, the Default.sta template opens automatically.

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Creating a New File

User Data and Preferences Folder

 

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