“What are the top benefits of using custom templates vs. out-of-the-box templates?” 

• Uniform, company-wide standards
• Time saved not creating templates yourself 
• Added efficiency with more options 
• Better collaboration between teams

“In what ways could ECAD’s custom templates better serve us than those we’ve been using for years?”
Our custom templates are organized and tailored to your company and jurisdictional needs. Our technical specialists will work closely with your team to ensure your templates are fully customized to your desired business outcome. 

“What is the process like if ECAD customizes templates for us?”

Our dedicated, specialized team with over 35 years of experience with Civil template creation has a tested and seamless process for creating custom templates for customers. Here is a high-level look at the main steps:

1. Gather your existing data, such as DWG examples and PDF examples of final deliverables. 

2. From there, we reverse engineer based on your desired outcome.

3. Conduct an in-depth review of current CAD standards (Civil 3D styles).

4. Understand if you Print with Styles Table (STB) and Color Table (CTB).

5. Review the need for existing and proposed styles.

6. Determine layer names and colors. 

7. Assess filed, point, and line codes.

“How long does it take for ECAD to customize templates?”

The length of the customization process depends on the template complexity and availability of technical resources. Two to five weeks of lead time is typical. This is not guaranteed but based on extensive experience. Every customer is different, and the customization length varies. Once we conduct a discovery with you to understand your needs, we can provide an exact timeline.

“How much does it cost?”

It’s more cost-effective than you think. Compared to the downtime you could face by creating styles as needed, you could be looking at an added cost of 30% more time than when using custom templates. Let’s talk!