How Do I Change the Default Opening for AutoCAD?

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Are you tired of AutoCAD always opening with the same template? Do you wish to change the default opening for AutoCAD?

Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we will discuss how you can easily change the default opening for AutoCAD to suit your preferences.

Why Change the Default Opening?

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand why changing the default opening for AutoCAD can be beneficial. By personalizing your default template, you can save time and effort by starting each new project with your preferred settings already in place. This allows for a more efficient workflow, as you won’t have to make repetitive changes every time you begin a new drawing.

Step 1: Locate Your Template File

The first step is to locate the template file that AutoCAD uses as its default opening. This file is usually named “acad.dwt” and is typically found in the installation directory of AutoCAD.

To find this file, follow these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer on your computer.
  2. Navigate to the installation directory of AutoCAD. The exact location may vary depending on your operating system and version of AutoCAD.
  3. In the installation directory, locate the “Template” folder.
  4. Open the “Template” folder and look for a file named “acad.dwt”.

Step 2: Make a Backup

Before making any changes to the default opening for AutoCAD, it’s always a good idea to create a backup of the original template file. This ensures that if anything goes wrong during the process, you can easily revert back to the original settings without any hassle.

To make a backup of the “acad.dwt” file, simply copy and paste it to a different location on your computer, such as a separate folder specifically for AutoCAD templates.

Step 3: Customize Your Template

Now that you have a backup of the original template file, it’s time to customize it according to your preferences. This involves setting up the desired units, layers, text styles, dimension styles, and any other settings that you want to be applied automatically when you create a new drawing.

To customize your template:

  1. Open AutoCAD.
  2. Go to the “File” menu and select “New”.
  3. In the “Create New Drawing” dialog box, select “Use a Template”.
  4. Browse for the location where you saved the backup of the “acad.dwt” file in Step 2.
  5. Select the customized template file and click “Open”.

This will open a new drawing based on your customized template. Now you can make any necessary changes to suit your preferences.

Step 4: Set Your Customized Template as Default

Once you have customized your template to your satisfaction, it’s time to set it as the default opening for AutoCAD. This ensures that every time you start AutoCAD or create a new drawing, your customized settings will be automatically applied.

To set your customized template as default:

  1. Go to the “File” menu in AutoCAD.
  2. Select “Save As”.
  3. In the “Save Drawing As” dialog box, navigate to the location of the original “acad.dwt” file from Step 1.
  4. Select the original “acad.dwt” file and click “Save”.
  5. When prompted to replace the existing file, confirm the replacement.

That’s it! You have successfully changed the default opening for AutoCAD to your customized template. From now on, every time you start AutoCAD or create a new drawing, your preferred settings will be automatically applied.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed how you can change the default opening for AutoCAD by customizing the template file. By following these steps, you can save time and effort by starting each new project with your preferred settings already in place.

Remember to always make a backup of the original template file before making any changes. Happy designing!