Template design

To create a new tab in the Advanced version of the New SolidWorks

Document dialog box, follow these steps:
1. In Windows Explorer, create a new folder.
For example, you can put a set of templates in a special folder named
<SolidWorks install directory>\SolidWorks\data\
templates\My Special Templates.
2. Choose Tools➪Options.
A dialog box appears, with tabs for Systems Options and Document
Properties.
3. Click the Systems Option tab.
4. Click File Locations.
The File Location options appear.
5. In Show Folders For, click the arrow and from the drop-down list,
click Document Templates.
Document Templates appears under Show Folders.
6. Next to the Folders box, click Add.
The Browse for Folder dialog box appears.
7. Browse for the folder you created in Step 1 and click to select it.
8. Click OK.
The Browse for Folder dialog box closes, and the new folder is added
under Folders.
9. Click OK again to close the Options dialog box.
After you save a template to the new folder, a new tab with the name of
the folder you created appears in the Advanced version of the New

SolidWorks Document dialog box. You can add any number of templates
to the folder or add more tabs to keep different template sets organized.
Keep in mind that empty folders don’t appear in the New SolidWorks
Document dialog box.
To create a template, follow these steps:
1. Choose File➪New.
The New SolidWorks Document dialog box appears.
2. In the dialog box, select Part, Assembly, or Drawing.
3. Click OK.
A new document opens.
4. Choose Tools➪Options.
A dialog box appears, with tabs for Systems Options and Document
Property.
5. On the Document Property tab, select the options you want to customize
in your new document template.
The most important options are described in this list:
• Dimensions: Set options for how you want dimensions handled in
documents. Options include Snap to Grid, Arrow Style, and Text
Alignment (horizontal or vertical).
• Notes: Select how you want drawing notes to appear. Options
include Text Alignment, Leader Anchor, Leader Style, and Border.
• Annotation Font: You can select the type and style of font to show
in drawing and model annotations.
• Units: Select the units for the document (IPS or MMGS, for example):
Length Units, Dual Units, Angular Units, or Density Units.
6. Click OK.
7. Choose File➪Save As.
The Save As dialog box appears.
8. In the Save As Type drop-down list, select a template type (.prtdot,
.asmdot, or .drwdot for part, assembly, or drawing).
You need to select the template type that matches the item you selected
in Step 2. Refer to “Working with SolidWorks Documents,” earlier in this
chapter, for an introduction to the different document types.
9. In the File Name box, type a name for your new template.
SolidWorks adds the extension automatically
10. In the Save In box, click the drop-down arrow to browse to the folder
where you want to save your template.
Save the template in the new template folder if you want the template to
appear under a different tab in the Advanced mode of the New SolidWorks
Document dialog box.
11. Click Save.
The new template appears in the New SolidWorks Document dialog box,
and you can use it the next time you create a new document.