Location-Specific Templates (for CADmins)

CAD admins have the ability to create and save templates that are available for use by their entire location. These are also referred to as Franchise or Dealer templates.

Who has access to this functionality is turned on in the “Users” table.

Table of Contents

1 Types of Templates
2 Template Best Practices
3 Create a Shared Component Template
4 Create a Shared Design Template

Types of Templates

There are two types of templates that can be created by CAD admins:

Component Templates	Design Templates

Component Templates

Design Templates

A pre-designed component with parts that can be added to a design zone from the Components section of the ELV ribbon toolbar.

This is useful as there are specific components used often, such as hanging sections and drawer layouts.

The benefit is that the user won’t have to create certain components from scratch every time.

Entire pre-designed “walls” of two or more components that are available in a variety of orientations and widths. They are meant to simplify and accelerate the design process (makes sense to create templates for more complicated “blocks” of design, such as offices or media centers).

They help deliver designs and pricing to the customer efficiently and accurately and can help designers in training understand efficient layouts.

Note that users can create a quick design by making use of either option, or a combination of both.

Template Best Practices

Consider folder/library organization
- Can set up ahead of time, they will not show until a template is saved into it
- Most common is to have based on room type
  - Can also save the same template in multiple folders
- Remember to delete old or replicated template files
Consider template naming conventions
- Concise but clear
- Alphabetical
Do not have to create in every width, mounting type or part orientation
- Too many options means more time finding templates
- Templates can be quickly edited once placed (width, number of shelves, size of drawers, etc)
- If component template is Wall Mount, can be placed as Floor Mount if cursor is towards the floor (red line in thumbnail indicates FM)
Can “lock” component depth
- Helpful for certain template times (garage components, media or office)
- Depth is represented by red number in thumbnail for component templates
Can “lock” bottom treatments, backing, and more
- Great for leveler legs, bottom caps, etc.
- Helpful for certain template times (garage components, media or office)

Create a Shared Component Template

Create a single component template. Save as a user template .

Add empty comp. Adjust the component width, height, etc. as desired. Add parts.
Right click on Comp > Save As Template.
- If prompted, select “Standard Template” > OK.
Click into a library subfolder > Save.
- If wanting to create a new library, select “New Folder” and name it while still in the “templates” main folder.
- If not saved into a subfolder, the template will NOT show in CAD.
Type in a “File Name” for the template. This is how it will appear when hovering over the thumbnail.

Click Save.

[Video] Click to Play. Double click to Maximize.

This saves the template to the “templates" folder on your local PC.

REMINDER: If wanting to save specific design elements, ensure they are checked on in Component Properties > Template BEFORE saving as a user template.

Upload the user template to be a company template.

Go to main menu > Upload Template > Franchise.
Select/fill in fields:
- Category: Desired CAD library folder. Can type in a new folder here (do not save into .design).
  - This is the folder it gets saved into in OneDrive and where it would be selected in CAD.
- Template: File path to user template to upload; File name will be template name.

Select “Upload” to save. Clicking “Cancel” will not complete the action.

For the template to show up in the program, close and reopen CAD.

Delete the local copy of the user template so you don't have duplicates.

Create a Shared Design Template

Create desired design with multiple components in your design zone. You can create from scratch or use any existing component templates.

Right click on Design Zone and select “Save Design Template”.

Fill in the following fields:

	File Name: How it will appear in the backend folder - Used for file management and is not user-facing. Make specific, can include room type, overall width, depth, main characteristic, version number, etc. Best to avoid spaces between characters. Ex. Closet14D90WHutch
	Display Name: What it shows when placing/scrolling in design. Can be similar to File Name or provide more detail such as part types, special features (lighting, moldings, drilling, etc). Ex. 14”D Closet Base Hutch w/ WM DH and LH
	Style: Leave blank
	Height/Width: Range in which the template will show up (width can be slightly smaller than min so they can always autofit or adjust individual components).
	Application: Use if wanting to add a new folder to place into (type new folder name, click “Add”).
	Available/Selected: Click on available template library folders they will show up in. Click “->” arrow button to move to Selected (or vice versa to remove). Templates can be placed in multiple library folders. Will also give option for any existing user-created folders if wanting to replicate the library to a dealer library.

Click “Upload” to save.

For the template to show up in the program, close and reopen CAD.

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