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Document Templates
In ConceptDraw you can use document templates to make your work more efficient. Templates are convenient when you need to create many similar documents that have the same settings.
Template in ConceptDraw is a file that contains a document with its settings (units of measure, grid size, scale and other properties) and a list of libraries to open. The document in its turn may contain scripts in ConceptDraw Basic. Such scripts can connect to external data sources, such as database, spreadsheet and other. Thus, templates can help to generate documents automatically, saving your time.
Template files have .cdt extension.
Using Templates
When you open a template, you open a copy of the sample document stored in the template, and all the libraries according to the list. The document appears in a new window, and the libraries are added to those already open in the library window.
Templates are particularly helpful in several cases:
- When you need to create multiple documents of similar look (for instance, a weekly report form, or a product presentation template) and include common basic elements (company logo, standard header, etc.). In this case, simply save the sample as a template once, and use this template for creating new similar documents.
- When your documents require specifically customized settings (related to your country specifics or to your purposes). This may involve page size, units of measure, font styles, text formatting, grid properties, etc. To eliminate the need of reconfiguring your documents each time, set all the parameters once and save them in one or more template files.
Note that the settings for each new document are taken from the Blank Drawing.cdt template stored in the Libraries folder.
- When you have to create a document related to a specific field (for instance, draw an office layout or a company structure), it is usually a good idea to use task-related object libraries supplied with the program. ConceptDraw includes ready-made templates with lists of the necessary libraries you may use for each specific task. These templates are stored in the same folders as the corresponding libraries. You can create similar templates which include the libraries you need for your custom purposes, and they will be opened each time you use the template
The Default Template
By default, settings for each new document are taken from the Blank Drawing.cdt template which is stored in the Libraries folder inside the ConceptDraw folder.
To create a document from another template, use the Template Gallery which can be called from the File menu.
If you need to change the default template for all new documents, call the Preferences dialog from the Edit menu. On the Default tab, specify the location of the needed template file, and click OK to save the new setting. Then every new document will be created from the template you specified.
Location of Templates
All templates supplied with ConceptDraw are located in the Libraries folder of the program's root directory. Normally, the Libraries folder contains task-related subfolders. The template files themselves are located in these folders. They have .cdt extension.
The path to the Libraries folder is stored in the Preferences dialog (menu Edit / Preferences) on the Paths tab. The same path indicates which folder will be shown in the Template Gallery dialog.
So if you move the Libraries folder to another location, specify it on the Paths tab: it will be easier to find the templates every time you need them.
As you create your own templates, you may store them in any location. But it is better to store all the templates in one location: they will be easier to access to.
Transporting Templates
When moving a template file from one computer to another, keep in mind that a template file only stores references to its libraries rather than the actual libraries. So, you should move the required libraries along with the template. Make sure that the template and the libraries keep their relative positions with respect to one another. Alternatively, you can place the libraries in the same folder with the template.
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