Page 44 - Mastering SolidWorks

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12 CHAPTER 1 IntroduCIng SolIdWorkS

Using Templates
I have included some of my part and assembly templates with the download materials for this
book. After you have downloaded the zip files for each chapter, extract and copy them to the
folder specified at Tools ➢ Options ➢ File Locations ➢ Document Templates.

On the Website
Wiley has established a website for the material in this book. You can download files for each chapter
from www.wiley.com/go/mastersolid

When you begin to create a new document, and the New SolidWorks Document dialog box
gives you the option to select one of several files to start from, those files are templates. Think of
templates as “start parts” that contain all the document-specific settings for a part (Tools ➢
Options ➢ Document Properties). The same concept applies to assemblies and drawings.
Templates generally do not have any geometry in them (although it is possible).
As shown in Figure 1.6, several tabs can be displayed on the Advanced interface. Each of
these tabs results from creating a folder in the template directory specified in the Options dialog
box (Tool ➢ Options ➢ File Locations ➢ Document Templates). To switch from the Novice
interface to the Advanced interface, click the Advanced button. To switch from Advanced to
Novice, click the Novice button shown in Figure 1.9.

Multiple Document Templates
When starting a new document, you will be given many options if you have multiple templates
available. This offers an advantage in many situations, including the following:
◆ Standardization for a large number of users

◆ Work produced in various units
◆ Preset materials
◆ Preset custom properties
◆ Parts with special requirements, such as sheet metal or weldments
◆ Parts and assemblies with standardized background colors
◆ Drawings of various sizes with formats (borders) already applied
◆ Drawings with special notes already on the sheet
Drawing templates and formats are so complex that I devote an entire chapter to them.
Chapter 24, “Automating Drawings: The Basics,” discusses the differences between drawing
templates and formats, and how to use them to your advantage. This chapter addresses part and
assembly templates.
Depending on your needs, it might be reasonable to have templates for metric parts and
assemblies and Imperial parts and assemblies, templates for steel and aluminum, and templates
for sheet metal parts and weldments, if you design these types of parts. If your firm has different