Display a list of customized templates to choose from

[gcameron]

Is there a way to create/add a dialogue box similar to the default template drop down selection (or modify the default) to display a list customized templates to choose?

[rkmcswain]

That list is showing you the templates in the path you have chosen/set in Options.

Options > Files > Template Settings > Drawing Template File Location.

Change this, restart AutoCAD.

[Ed Jobe]

Or you can copy your templates to AutoCAD's template folder. I prefix mine with an underscore so that they appear at the top.

[rkmcswain]

Or you can copy your templates to AutoCAD's template folder.

Technically that will work, but I prefer and always advise keeping your own custom files separate from Autodesk's files.
Then when you install a new version or move to a new PC, all of your custom files are in one place, and you simply have to re-map the pointers inside of AutoCAD (which can be automated).

[gcameron]

That list is showing you the templates in the path you have chosen/set in Options.

Options > Files > Template Settings > Drawing Template File Location.

Change this, restart AutoCAD.

Thanks for the feedback. That is what i was trying to achieve.

[Tom Beauford]

Is there a way to create/add a dialogue box similar to the default template drop down selection (or modify the default) to display a list customized templates to choose?

I added a drop-down list of customized templates to a custom panel in the Ribbon for them with macros like

^C^C^P(vla-activate (vla-Add (vla-get-Documents (vlax-get-acad-object)) (strcat (getvar "localrootprefix") "template" (chr 92) "AutoCAD Template" (chr 92) "FL83-NF.dwt")))

to create new drawings from custom templates for different workflows. I use (chr 92) for "\\" as it works in macros the same as if the code was pasted to the command line making it easy to test before adding to a macro.

[Ed Jobe]

Technically that will work, but I prefer and always advise keeping your own custom files separate from Autodesk's files.
Then when you install a new version or move to a new PC, all of your custom files are in one place, and you simply have to re-map the pointers inside of AutoCAD (which can be automated).

Yeah, I suppose that is good advice for users who need their own custom templates. I supply our users with standards templates and I have a system for keeping them updated, so I just copy them to the template folder.

An old trick for including custom templates in the default template folder is to put a shortcut in that folder which points to the custom folder. AutoCAD treats it like a subfolder. That way you can use stock templates and have quick access to custom templates.

[greg.battin]

I added a drop-down list of customized templates to a custom panel in the Ribbon for them with macros like

^C^C^P(vla-activate (vla-Add (vla-get-Documents (vlax-get-acad-object)) (strcat (getvar "localrootprefix") "template" (chr 92) "AutoCAD Template" (chr 92) "FL83-NF.dwt")))

to create new drawings from custom templates for different workflows. I use (chr 92) for "" as it works in macros the same as if the code was pasted to the command line making it easy to test before adding to a macro.

This is a great tip Tom (chr 92).
Got any other Macro tips to share?

~Greg

[BlackBox]

Technically that will work, but I prefer and always advise keeping your own custom files separate from Autodesk's files.
Then when you install a new version or move to a new PC, all of your custom files are in one place, and you simply have to re-map the pointers inside of AutoCAD (which can be automated).

I agree and do this for everything I can as well.

Do you happen to know if "Map - North Arrows.dwg" and "Map - Scale Bars.dwg" are no longer hard-coded into Civil 3D?

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 202X\Map\Sample\Symbols

We've always had to overwrite those with our own (make a .bak of original) to get them to show up in Layout Tools ribbon tab, no?

[Tom Beauford]

This is a great tip Tom (chr 92).
Got any other Macro tips to share?

~Greg

About Special Control Characters in Command Macros is a good reference for creating Macros. I've added way too many to custom Ribbon panels, tabs, and Shortcut Menus to list. I prefer to use Shortcut Menus for modifying objects since they're accessible with a right-click instead of looking for an icon to pick. To Customize a Shortcut Menu explains OBJECT_objectname or OBJECTS_objectname but refer to Shortcut Menu Aliases for blocks and external references (xrefs).