5 years ago I wrote a “how to” for a training class. I had hoped BricsCAD had addressed some issues. Sadly, they have not. Angered and disappointed I put my thoughts into this post.

Specifying the default template.

The workflow to specifying the default template is awkward and needs improvement. Currently you have to be very familiar with how and why templates are used.

Why use templates?

Here is a brief explanation of the how and why templates are used.

Drawing templates are pre-configured drawing files. Drawing templates help you avoid repeated tasks of altering settings in a new drawing to match the way you want to work. The QNEW command is used to create new drawings from a default template specified in the Settings dialog. Other methods for creating new drawings involve much more effort than using the QNEW command. Any of these methods are intended to produce the same end result, a new drawing setup to how you want to work.

A “How to” Example

Below is an example of how to set the default template in BricsCAD.

Start by opening the Settings dialog. The easiest way is to right-click on the command line and choose Options from the shortcut menu.

#HeyBCAD Complete mental disconnect right there. The shortcut menu should have Settings not Options. Show some spine when competing against AutoCAD. This is your world. Own it. (To my kind hearted readers my sincere apologies for these outbursts of negative emotions. I’ll take a deep breath and continue.)

Referring to the numbers in the screen shot below.

1 Scroll down to find Template. The value is set to Default-imperial. (#HeyBCAD The user still has no idea that this value represents an actual file.)

2 When you click the browse button the Choose a file dialog box opens.

3 The folder in the address bar is Documents. #HeyBCAD You won’t find a template in this folder. Why not have this button open the template folder?

4 The filter implies you are looking for a file with either a .dwg or .dwt file extension.

Stop right there. We are starting over. Click Cancel.

The Template path is directly below Template field in the Settings dialog and it also has a browse button. Pick it and the Choose a directory dialog opens. This time you are browsing for a folder, not a file.

#HeyBCAD I think we have moved beyond the use of the term “Directory”. “Folder” is the term most used now.

Tip. Copy the template path to the clipboard (Ctrl+C) and then pick the browse button to specify the Template file. Paste (Ctrl+V) the path in the address bar of the Choose a file dialog. (Screen shot below). Once you learn this trick of copying paths to the clipboard you find it useful in just about every instance where you need to browse to a file. Not just in BricsCAD but every Windows app you use. This is so important I will probably make a post dedicated to this micro-workflow.

In the Choose a file dialog then pick the Open button to finish specifying the default template (a file with a .dwt file extension).

Please close the Settings dialog and verify this change by typing BASEFILE on the command line. The full path and file name with extension displays on the command line if you have selected a template file in a different path.

Tip. Update your template file as you discover new settings that you want to use…. Now you can use what you have learned here to actually find your template file.

For my lovely readers, mission accomplished. My sincere thanks to you for following me on this journey.

For me, one more rant and I can depart this process with a cleansed soul.

#HeyBCAD BricsCAD Help > Creating a Drawing states that the system variable used to store the name of the default template is BASEFILE. This value sometimes does not show a file extension of .dwt nor the path where this file can be found. A new user is left wondering if a template is a file or an internal configuration setting. Not everyone who is a new user has an AutoCAD background of knowledge to compare with BricsCAD. Template and BASEFILE are two separate words that do not imply that they are one in the same.