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This is an excellent example of process automation. One of the ways that you can take advantage of this feature is by putting default custom properties in your templates. In many cases, simply having a default value for something is better than no value, and a default value may even prompt you to put a value with real significance in the property. For example, the Description of a document is extremely important, especially if you are using sequential part numbers for your filenames. A custom property named Description can be added to your template, and the default value is used unless it is changed when the template is used in a document.

You have already seen how custom properties used in parts can be instrumental in filling out a title block on a drawing. Custom properties in part and assembly documents work exactly the same as they do in drawings. The custom properties interface is shown in Figure 14.26.

FIGURE 14.26

The custom properties Interface

Saving a template

To save drawing templates, choose Save As⇒Files of Type and then select Drawing Templates from the drop-down list. This automatically takes you to the folder for the templates, as specified in Tools⇒Options⇒File Locations⇒Templates.

In the case where a template and format have been saved together and are being saved together, but the format also needs to be saved to its own file, saving the template with the changed format only changes the format for documents that are made from that point forward with that template.

You may also save out the format to its own file from the edited template. Formats are needed in their own file (in addition to existing within a template) for situations when you have an existing drawing and want to change the size of the sheet and then need a format to put on the sheet. Another situation is when a drawing may come in to your organization from an outside contractor, and they have not used your format; in this case, you can simply replace their format with yours, or you can send them your format (and template, for that matter), from which the contractor can create all drawings for you.

Separate formats are important for when you have multi-sheet drawings. When adding a sheet, you also need to add a format. You can save multi-sheet drawing templates in which the first and second sheets have different formats on them.

Creating Blocks

Blocks are an important aspect of automating drawing creation. They enable you to combine text and sketch geometry and to annotate common features on drawings. Blocks are discussed in Chapter 4 and also in Chapter 16 (creation, editing, and placement). Blocks can be used for many purposes, including the following:

• Tolerance blocks on drawings that might change with the process (if you do not have separate formats that already contain this information)

• Electrical or pneumatic schematic symbols that can be snapped together

• Flowchart type symbols

• Fluid flow-direction arrows

• Special markers calling attention to a specific detail

• Sheet formats that can be created as a block, enabling you to move it around as a single entity much more easily

You can create blocks by selecting a group of sketch entities, annotations, or symbols and then choosing Tools⇒Block⇒Make.

Cross-Reference

For more information on creating, editing, managing, and placing blocks, see Chapter 22. For more information on general CAD Administration and specific recommendations for templates and formats, please refer to the SolidWorks Administration Bible (Wiley, 2009).

Summary

Getting your templates and formats correct creates an excellent opportunity to save some time with drawings by automating many of the common tasks using templates, Pre-defined Views, multiple formats, blocks, favorites, and linked custom properties. Setup becomes more important when you are administering a larger installation, but is also important if it is just for yourself. One of the most important things that you can do is to establish a file library and direct your Tools⇒Options⇒File Locations paths to the