Structures drawing templates

Last updated: 2024-04-29

WisDOT drawing (DWG) files are created from drawing templates (*.dwt). There are two primary types of WisDOT drawing template files.

  1. Start templates: Used to create a new DWG file.
  2. Sheet templates: Used to import a sheet layout into an existing DWG file.

For more information about start and sheet templates, see WisDOT Civil 3D start and sheet templates and how to use them.

WisDOT start templates are stored in C:\WisDOT\Stnd\C3D20xx\Templates\Begin-dwg.

Template Base Units Usage
struct-decimal-start.dwt Decimals of a foot Used for coordinate correct drawings like the General Plans and Subsurface Exploration sheets.
struct-inch-start.dwt Fractions of an inch Used for all other "details" drawings where it is not important for the drawing to be coordinate correct.

Tip: Check which WisDOT Structures template a drawing was started with using the Check drawing type.

Structures template content

Start templates contain the following standardized styles and layers:

  1. There are four primary methods to create a basic WisDOT Structures Civil 3D file.

    1. WisDOT Structures tool palettes

      1. Toggle tool palettes on: Ribbon > WisDOT Sheets tab > Manage panel > Palettes

      2. From the Templates palette, click one of the options under Start-up Template.

        Name on Palette Template
        LAYOUT & GEO (decimal-ft) struct-decimal-start.dwt
        DETAILS (architectural-in) struct-inch-start.dwt

    2. Start Tab "New" menu

      1. Select the Start tab. (The tab farthest to the left of any open drawing tabs.)

      2. On the left side of the page, click the dropdown arrow on the "New" button and select a drawing template from the menu.

        Info:
        • The WisDOT structures templates will only be visible here if you are using the Structures Profile.
        • You may select Browse templates… from the menu to choose a structures drawing template from the Begin-dwg folder. Roadway Design start templates are in this folder too. Make sure you select a template that starts with struct-… to use structures templates.

    3. Quick Access Toolbar

      1. Quick Access Toolbar > New

        Info: Using the Quick Access Toolbar button, a new drawing will be created from the default drawing template setting for QNEW. The default WisDOT Structures drawing template is struct-inch-start.dwt.

    4. C3D Application menu

      1. C3D Application menu > New > Drawing

      2. Browse to C:\WisDOT\Stnd\C3D20xx\Templates\Begin-dwg and select a drawing "start" template.

        Info: Roadway Design start templates are in this folder too. Make sure you select a template that starts with struct-… to use structures templates.

      3. Open

  2. A new drawing tab will open with the name Drawing[#].dwg.

  3. SAVE file with correct name and location.

    Info: For more information about file naming see the Structures file naming conventions page.

WisDOT sheet templates are stored in C:\WisDOT\Stnd\C3D20xx\Templates\Sheets. There is one template file for structures drawings: 08-STRUCT.dwt.

There are 6 sheet templates stored within the template file:

Sheet Name Usage Name on Palette Description
SHT1 BOS SHEET 1 Used for the first sheet in a plan set (general plans sheet)
SHT2 BOS SHEET 2 Used for all sheets except the first sheet and the subsurface exploration sheet
SHT4 BOS SHEET 4 (GEOTECH) Used for the subsurface exploration sheet
SHT1C Consultant SHEET 1 Used for the first sheet in a plan set (general plans sheet)
SHT2C Consultant SHEET 2 Used for all sheets except the first sheet and the subsurface exploration sheet
SHT4C Consultant SHEET 4 (GEOTECH) Used for the subsurface exploration sheet
Info:
  • Each sheet template contains a sheet border block and a viewport. The sheet border contains the WisDOT Bureau of Structures logo in sheets that are intended for use by WisDOT BOS, or leaves a space for consultant logos on sheets for consultants. The provided viewport contains viewport overrides for B_ANNO_MASK and B_REV_ANNO_MASK layers so they display and plot properly. If these layers are used, it's recommended to copy the existing viewport instead of creating new viewports. In addition, these settings are applied by using the Structures Palette buttons as explained above. They will not be applied if a template is manually created from a template. Once copied, the new viewport may not appear correctly until the drawing regenerated with REA.
  • Sheet border attributes contain fields that are set up to work with the Structures sheet sets template. See the sheet set page for more information.
  1. Toggle tool palettes on: Ribbon > WisDOT Sheets tab > Manage panel > Palettes
  2. From the Templates palette, click one of the options under Sheet Layouts - BOS or Sheet Layouts - Consultant.
    Alternatively: BOSLAYOUTTEMPLATE[SHT#] where [SHT#] is replaced with the sheet name as shown in the table above.
  3. A new sheet tab will open with the name SHT[#].
  4. Rename the sheet as needed.