How to Create Multi-Sheet Drawings With Different Formats
Jon S. answers a common question how to handle drawings where the first sheet should be formatted differently than subsequent ones in SolidWorks.
One of the fun questions we encounter in Tech Support concerns multi-sheet drawings. If drawing template 1 has Sheet 1 set to come up with Sheet Format 1, how can we make Sheet 2 come up with Sheet Format 2 without having to browse to it?
Normally, when you create a second sheet, you are prompted to choose a sheet format size for this sheet. This can be difficult in large companies that have sheet formats stored in various locations or that must follow a certain protocol as to what the second sheet contains or follows. Originally, I looked online for a solution. I had noticed there was a posting on a blog about switching sheet format file names and trying to trick the program into accomplishing this task. But the steps were difficult to follow and no clear explanation was given.
In this post, I will show the quick way to accomplish sheet 1 with sheet format 1 and sheet 2 with sheet format 2. I will also show you a back door way.
Quick, Painless, Easy
Step 1) Create a drawing with your preferred sheet format for sheet 1. This example uses an A size Landscape.
Step 2) Add a second sheet with your preferred sheet format. This example uses an A1 (ANSI) Landscape.
Step 3) Go to Options> System Options> Drawings. Clear the check-box for “Show sheet format dialog on add new sheet.”
Step 4) Save your drawing as a template.
Now when you create a drawing using this template, sheet 1 will have the main title block data, revision blocks, tables, etc. . . Sheet 2 will have the second sheet format and any other sheet after that will follow Sheet 2’s format.
Back Door Way
Step 1) Create a drawing. On this drawing, edit the sheet format to contain only the information needed on your second sheet of your template. Use File> Save Sheet Format to save this sheet format out.
Step 2) Edit the sheet. Add any revision blocks, title blocks, tables, etc. that you require on 
your first sheet.
Step 3) Right Mouse click on the sheet and choose Properties. Set the sheet format to your custom format.
Step 4) Use File> Save As> .DRWDOT to save out your template.
Now create a drawing using this new template. Sheet one will have all the title blocks and tables on it. When you add a new sheet, it will use the exact same sheet format but without the extra blocks. This is because both sheets use the same format. The title block and tables are stored in the template data and not the sheet data.