How to Create an AutoCAD Plotting DWT Template
Starter assets for the DWT workflow
Use the title-block DXF sources from Phase 10D1 plus the Phase 10D2 Page Setup builder. Save a DWT only after the resulting Layouts, plot styles, PDF output and known dimensions have been validated.
Create a reusable DWT containing approved Layouts, named Page Setups and plotting standards. The reliable approach is to work from a named Page Setup, change only the setting that controls this task, then Preview one representative Layout before applying the change more widely.
Start here — what you are going to do
Your goal: Create a reusable DWT containing approved Layouts, named Page Setups and plotting standards.
Where to start: Open the drawing and one Layout that clearly shows the task or problem.
Beginner rule: Change one Page Setup control at a time and keep a known-good Layout available for comparison.
Step by step — follow this in AutoCAD
Step 1 — Open the correct Layout
Where: Bottom drawing tabs > choose the sheet you want to work on.
Do this: Use a real production Layout so paper and output settings have context.
Check: The intended sheet is active.
Step 2 — Open Page Setup Manager
Where: Ribbon > Output > Plot > Page Setup Manager, or type PAGESETUP.
Do this: Select the named setup used by the Layout and click Modify.
Check: The stored output configuration is visible.
Step 3 — Find the control for this task
Where: Save As > Drawing Template (*.dwt), after building standard Layouts/Page Setups.
Do this: Clean the source drawing, create paper-specific named setups, verify CTB/STB/PC3 dependencies, test on a second workstation, then save to the controlled template path.
Check: The relevant setting now reflects the intended standard.
Step 4 — Check the dependent settings
Where: Page Setup > Printer/Plotter, Paper Size, Plot Style, Plot Area and Plot Scale.
Do this: Confirm the change did not accidentally alter paper, device, CTB/STB or the normal Layout 1:1 workflow.
Check: Unrelated output controls are still correct.
Step 5 — Save deliberately
Where: Page Setup dialog > OK > Close.
Do this: Store the change in the named setup only when it is the intended project/office standard.
Check: The setting is reusable rather than temporary.
Step 6 — Preview one sheet
Where: Ctrl+P > Preview.
Do this: Check border, orientation, scale and plotted appearance before batch use.
Check: New drawings created from the DWT start with working A1/A3 Page Setups and Layouts.
Beginner example
Build Office-Plotting.dwt from a clean known-good drawing instead of copying settings from whichever project happens to be open.
Understand what AutoCAD is doing
Named Page Setups reduce repeated Plot-dialog choices
They keep device, paper, plot-style and other output settings together so users are not rebuilding them for every sheet.
A Page Setup can still depend on external files
PC3/PMP and CTB/STB files may live outside the DWG. A setup name can therefore behave differently if a workstation is missing a dependency.
Preview is the first approval checkpoint
If Preview is already wrong, fix the CAD/Page Setup side before creating PDFs or sending paper to a plotter.
Useful next guides: Import a Page Setup from a DWT Template · Import an Layout from a Template · CTB Plot Styles · PC3 Files · Page Setup & Sheet Sets
Common problems and what to check first
| What you see | What may be causing it | Check this first |
|---|---|---|
| The change has no effect | A one-off Plot setting was changed instead of the named Page Setup | Return to PAGESETUP and Modify the named setup. |
| Another Layout behaves differently | It uses another Page Setup or has a legitimate exception | Compare the Layout associations before changing global standards. |
| Works on another computer | Device/PC3/plot-style deployment differs | Compare Page Setup dependencies and STYLESMANAGER/Plotter Manager. |
| Batch output differs | PUBLISH or Sheet Set override uses another setup | Check the batch publishing configuration. |
When you need a more repeatable workflow
Keep approved Page Setups in a controlled DWT or standards DWG. Use clear names such as A1-PDF-MONO, test changes on one representative sheet, and deploy the required PC3/CTB/STB dependencies with the standard.
Official Autodesk references
Interface labels can vary slightly by AutoCAD release, workspace and installed output devices. These Autodesk resources are the primary references for the workflow above.
Frequently asked questions
Should I edit the Plot dialog instead?
For repeatable production output, store the approved settings in a named Page Setup.
Can one Page Setup serve several Layouts?
Yes, when those Layouts share the same paper, device and plot-style requirements.
What should I test after changing a setup?
Preview first, then one PDF or physical plot before a large batch.
Explore more in AutoCAD Page Setup & Sheet Sets Guide.