QNew & Drawing Template File Location

Topics Covered in This AutoCAD Tutorial:

QNew command optimization, Drawing Template File Location configuration, and workflow efficiency enhancement

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

This exercise focuses on streamlining your drawing creation workflow by configuring the QNew button with a custom template and establishing an optimized Drawing Template file location. The QNew command represents one of AutoCAD's most powerful time-saving features, automatically generating new drawings based on your specified template without navigating through multiple dialog boxes. You can access this command by typing QNew and pressing Enter, or by clicking the QNew button on either the Quick Access or Standard Toolbar (shown above on the Quick Access Toolbar). Mastering this configuration will eliminate repetitive navigation tasks and ensure consistent drawing standards across your projects.

Configuring QNew for Maximum Efficiency

1. Begin by clicking the Start Drawing button in the Start Tab. An active drawing session is required to access the configuration commands we'll be using. This ensures all interface elements are properly loaded and accessible.

2. Launch the Options command by typing OP and pressing Enter. The Options Dialog box will appear, serving as your central hub for AutoCAD customization. Navigate to the Files tab and locate Template Settings. Click the plus sign to expand this critical section where you'll configure your template preferences.

   

3. Expand Default Template File Name for QNEW by clicking its plus sign. You'll see the current setting displays None, which explains why QNew currently opens the template selection dialog. Double-click beside the arrow next to None, or select None and click the Browse button. Navigate to your student folder and select Mechanical-Inches.dwt, then press Enter or click Open. This configuration transforms QNew into a one-click solution that instantly creates drawings with your preferred settings, layers, and standards. Keep the Files Tab open—we're not finished optimizing yet.

   

4. Now we'll establish a custom Drawing Template File Location to eliminate the frustration of navigating through AutoCAD's default template folders every time you use the New command. Click the plus sign next to the Drawing Template File Location folder icon to reveal the current default path. Double-click on the gray arrow or select the displayed path and press Browse. Navigate to and select your student folder—remember, you're selecting the entire folder, not an individual file. This folder will become your template library's home base. Click OK to confirm your selection, then click OK again to close the Options dialog and save your configuration changes.

5. Test your new configuration immediately by pressing Ctrl+N to launch the New command. Notice how the Select Template dialog box now opens directly to your student folder instead of forcing you to navigate through AutoCAD's default directories. This seemingly small change will save significant time over the course of your projects, especially when working with multiple custom templates. Leave this dialog box open for the final step.

6. Here's a professional tip that many AutoCAD users overlook: while you've customized your template location, you shouldn't lose access to AutoCAD's default templates entirely. The acad.dwt template—AutoCAD's blank template introduced in chapter one—remains valuable for quick sketches and non-standardized work, but it's not available in your student folder. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Open button to reveal two powerful options: Open with no Template - Imperial and Open with no Template - Metric. Both options create new drawings based on AutoCAD's default templates (Imperial uses acad.dwt, Metric uses acadiso.dwt). Select Imperial to create a blank drawing with standard US units and settings. Close this file without saving to complete the exercise.