--- title: "Importing or Creating DWGs" slug: "importingorcreatingdwgs" updated: 2024-11-04T22:51:19Z published: 2024-11-04T22:51:19Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.12dsynergy.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Importing or Creating DWGs ## 1.1. How to Import CAD Drawings You can add drawing files from your system or drive into the **12d Synergy Client** application just like you [add any other file](https://help.12dsynergy.com/docs/v5fileoperations#17-how-to-add-a-file). You also have the option to either move a drawing file or copy a drawing file when adding it. - Please be aware that DWGs can be a memory intensive format. - 12d Synergy recommends that you keep your DWGs in smaller, manageable sizes and use Xrefs where possible. - Larger DWGs may have performance impacts when being checked in or checked out. 12d Synergy recommends that you keep their size to under 50 megabytes where possible. Civil 3D may generate MMS files when working with large surfaces. Currently, these files are not automatically detected by the 12d Synergy application. You need to manually add them to the server, download them to the workspace and keep them updated. Associating any new MMS file to a relevant DWG may help with this process. ### 1.2. How to Import CAD Drawings with Xrefs Attached When you are importing drawing with Xrefs, it is recommended that you import the entire folder of drawings and Xrefs together. 1. Select the folder on your system or storage drive that has the drawings with their Xrefs that you want to import into 12d Synergy. 2. Open an instance of the **12d Synergy Client** application. 3. Drag and drop the folder into the job or folder under which you want to save the imported files. The **Upload Preview** window is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/importingorcreatingdwgs.doc-image-jlrx7ghv.png) 4. Select the **Resolve references after files are uploaded** check box to correct the pathing of the Xrefs as they are being uploaded. 5. Click the **Upload**button. The drawings with the attached Xrefs are uploaded. If you add the drawing files independently without their Xrefs, then you will need to re-path the Xrefs using the **Window > Find references** option. 1. Select the **Window > Find** **References** option in the **12d Synergy Client** application. The **Manage unresolved references** window is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/importingorcreatingdwgs.doc-image-x0hjih4w.png) 2. Select the checkboxes against the required file types from the **File types:** box. 3. Select the applicable options from the **Search within** and **Look for reference files in** lists. 4. Click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/importingorcreatingdwgs.doc-image-0ocnlyod.png) button. All the Xrefs of the selected file types will be found and re-pathed. ### 1.3. How to Create a Drawing file You can create a CAD drawing file in one of the following two ways: #### 1.3.1. From a Drawing template 1. Access the folder in which you want to create a new file. 2. From the quick access toolbar in the **12d Synergy Client** application, click the **New File** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/importingorcreatingdwgs.doc-image-58v1hl7a.png) icon. The create a new file window is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/copyofv5copyoffilemanagementfilemanagement.doc-image-0a2530tn.png) 3. Select the **Create from other file** option from the **Type**list. The **Browse for a file** window is displayed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/cad1.bmp) Navigate and browse to the job and folder that holds your CAD templates and select the required drawing template file(**.dwt**). 4. Click the **Select** button. A drawing file (**.dwg)** is created from the template file(**.dwt**) and is displayed in the folder you selected in Step 1. #### 1.3.2. Creating a Drawing from an Existing file 1. Open any drawing file (**.dwg**) file using your CAD application. This can only be a file saved on your network/local drive. 2. On the **12d Synergy**plugin, click the **Save As** option and create a copy of that file in the required location. You can then check out and update the new file as required. The **Save As** icon will differ from application to application. For instance, it is ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/importingorcreatingdwgs.doc-image-m0vvc063.png)for BricsCAD. Alternatively, you can copy an existing file from within the **12d Synergy Client** application and use it. 1. Select any drawing file in the **12d Synergy Client** application. 2. Right-click the file and select the **Operations > Copy** option. The **Select a folder** window is displayed. 3. Select the folder where you want to save the new drawing file. You can change jobs using the **Change job** button if you want to select a folder from a different job. 4. Click the **Open** button. The file is copied to the selected location. You can then update the new file as required.