At the beginning of this lesson, you created new projects using different templates, and you noticed that each template had a unique set of predefined views. In this exercise, you create the views required for your template. In addition, you create and apply the underlying view templates that control the initial appearance of the views.
View templates help standardize the look of all views by providing the initial settings for a view. You can also apply a template to an existing view at any time using the Apply View Template command. The view inherits view properties such as View Scale, View Range, Discipline, Detail Level, and the visibility settings of categories and subcategories. In this exercise, you will first modify view templates, and then create new views that will automatically use those templates.
Create and modify view templates
1 Click Settings menu ➤ View Templates.
2 For Name, select Structural Framing Plan.
These settings are applied when you create a new plan view by adding a new level. At any time, you can apply a view template to any view. These values represent the starting point for each plan view.
By modifying the view templates according to your specific needs, you save time and increase consistency.
3 Specify each value as needed. Keep in mind that these settings are the default settings for this view type.
4 If necessary, rename or duplicate the view template, and make modifications.
5 Repeat the steps above for each of the view templates in the Name drop-down list.
6 Click OK.
Apply view templates
7 In the Project Browser, expand Views ➤ Structural Plans, and double-click Level 1.
8 Click View menu ➤ Apply View Template.
TIP To select the view template directly from the Project Browser, select the view, right-click, and select Apply View Template.
Applying a view template to a view is a one-time action. When the view template is applied the view properties of the target view are instantly reset to match those of the template. After the template is applied, the view is not linked to the template in any way. Subsequent modifications to the view template do not affect any current views unless you reapply the view template. There is no limit to the number of times you can apply a view template to a view, nor is there a limit to the number of view templates that you can apply.
TIP To apply the template to multiple views, select the view in the Project Browser, and press Ctrl while selecting additional views. Then right-click and select Apply View Template.
9 Select the Structural Framing Plan template.
10 Select Apply automatically to new views of same type.
This option means that every time a new plan view is created, this view template will be used to set the initial view properties.
11 Click Apply, and click OK.
12 In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click Level 2.
13 Click View menu ➤ Apply View Template.
14 Select the Structural Plan template, click Apply, and click OK.
15 If you modified any other view templates, open the view from the Project Browser, and apply the appropriate template.
Create and modify views
16 In the Project Browser, under Elevations, double-click Building Elevation.
Notice the level names have blue titles for the associated plan views. Black levels have no associated views.
17 In the Project Browser, under Structural Plans, review the existing floor plans.
18 In the Project Browser, under Structural Plans, right-click Level 1, and notice the context menu includes options to rename, duplicate, or delete this view.
You can rename this view, if desired. You can also duplicate or delete the view.
19 In the Project Browser, review the Structural plans and elevations. Rename, duplicate, or delete them as needed.
20 To add additional levels to the template, click Level on the Basics tab of the Design Bar.
Make sure you are still in the Level 2 view.
21 In the Options Bar, select Make Plan View.
22 Add the new level within the elevation view.
The associated floor plan will use the Structural Plan view template to set its initial view properties.
23 Rename and reposition the level as needed.
24 Create additional levels as needed.
Create 3D views
25 To add 3D views to the template, click on the View toolbar.
26 In the Project Browser, expand 3D Views.
27 In the Project Browser, under 3D Views, right-click {3D}, and select Rename.
28 Rename the 3D View.
29 To create additional 3D views, click on the View toolbar.
Dynamically Modify Views
30 On the View toolbar, click .
The Steering Wheel is displayed in the drawing area. This tool provides freeform navigation for exterior and interior viewing.
31 Click the arrow on the right side of the Dynamic View icon and select Options.
Using this dialog, you can modify the Steering Wheel visibility and appearance.
Save the view
32 To save the view, click , supply a view name, and click OK.
The view is listed in the Project Browser under Views ➤ 3D Views.
Create and modify schedules
33 On the View tab of the Design Bar, click Schedule/Quantities.
You may want to add schedules to a template. You may want to consider adding the schedules that you use most often, and modify their properties accordingly. This can save time and ensure office standards are maintained.
34 If you want to add schedules to your template, select the category type, and click OK.
35 In the Schedule Properties dialog, make the following modifications as needed:
■ On the Fields tab, select and order required fields.
■ On the Filter tab, assign filters.
■ On the Sorting/Grouping tab, modify settings.
■ On the Formatting tab, modify settings.
■ On the Appearance tab, modify settings.
36 Click OK.
37 Repeat the steps above for each schedule type you add to the template.
Add sheets to the template
38 On the View tab of the Design Bar, click Sheet.
You are prompted to select a titleblock. If you have already loaded your titleblocks into the template, select one, and click OK.
TIP You can add sheets to the template and delete the titleblock. To do so, select the default titleblock, and click OK. After the sheet is created, select the titleblock and delete it. You can still add views to the sheet. To later add a titleblock to a sheet, click View menu ➤ New ➤ Place Titleblock.
39 Add views to the sheet by selecting Add View from the View tab of the Design Bar.
TIP You can drag and drop views directly from the Project Browser onto the sheet.
40 To rename or renumber the sheet, right-click the sheet in the Project Browser, and click Rename, or on the sheet itself, double-click the sheet number.
41 Create new sheets as needed.
Subsequent sheets are numbered consecutively based on the previous sheet.
42 Proceed to the next exercise, Modifying Structural Settings on page 142.