7.3 Creating Templates

There are two ways to create new templates:

  • Create a new template and build the drawing from scratch.

    The disadvantage to working directly from the Templates directory is that there will only be one node available to work with.

  • Save an existing custom drawing as a template.

    This method is best if you are working with containers. It is also easiest to visualize as you can work with in an environment where there are element children.

The following sections describe how to create templates:

7.3.1 Creating a New Template

While it is easy to create new templates working with the Templates node, the disadvantage is that there is only one node visible while creating the drawing.

For more information about creating templates working with containers or child elements present, see Section 7.3.2, Creating a Template from a Custom Drawing.

To create a new template:

  1. In the Explorer pane, click to expand Administration > Graphics > Templates.

  2. Right-click Templates, then select Create Template. The Create Template dialog box opens.

  3. Specify a template name.

  4. Click OK.

    The new template displays in the Explorer pane and Layout view updates to display the drawing for the new template.

  5. Verify the Editing Channel is set to Drawing.

  6. Use the Layout view drawing tools to define a drawing that will become a new template.

    You can also drag and drop clip art, node styles, and other templates to define the new template.

    For information about editing the drawing and creating custom drawings, see Section 2.2, Creating and Editing Custom Drawings.

    For information on using the drawing tools, see Section 3.0, Using Basic Drawing Tools and Concepts.

    For information on creating custom node styles and adding graphics, see Section 6.0, Working with Node Styles and Custom Graphics.

    For information on testing the template by setting a preview element, see Section 6.4.2, Testing the Node Style Using Preview Elements.

  7. Save the drawing for the new template by pressing Ctrl+S.

7.3.2 Creating a Template from a Custom Drawing

The advantage of creating a template from a custom drawing is that you can more easily work with containers and see how the template would be applied on a larger scale, where a hierarchy exists under an element.

While working with a custom drawing, you can also make it a template to apply to other elements or a class of elements.

To create a template from a custom drawing:

  1. Open the Layout view containing the custom drawing you wish to save as a template.

    If you do not already have the custom drawing created, click Switch to Edit Mode and create a custom drawing that you wish to use as a template from any element.

    For information about editing the drawing and creating custom drawings, see Section 2.2, Creating and Editing Custom Drawings.

    For information on using the drawing tools, see Section 3.0, Using Basic Drawing Tools and Concepts.

    For information on creating custom node styles and adding graphics, see Section 6.0, Working with Node Styles and Custom Graphics.

  2. Right-click in the background of the Layout view and select Save as Custom. A Custom Save dialog box opens.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • If you’ve just made changes to the current drawing and wish to save them for that element, select the Save drawing on the current element radio button.

      IMPORTANT:Selecting this option cancels the link between the element and a template if one was previously applied.

    • To save the drawing as a template for elements of the same class, select the Save drawing as template for all elements of class: className radio button.

      The template is applied to any elements of the class and is saved as a template under Administration > Graphics > Templates > _class and named using the class name. Note that the template is not applied to the drawing you are saving from.

      IMPORTANT:Saving a template for a class overwrites any existing template for that class.

    • To save the drawing as a template for another class of elements, select the Save drawing as template for specified class radio button then specify the class name.

      The template is applied to any elements of the selected class and is saved as a template under Administration > Graphics > Templates > _class and named using the class name. Note that the template is not applied to the drawing you are saving from.

      IMPORTANT:Saving a template for a class overwrites any existing template for that class.

    • To save the drawing as a template, select the Save drawing to a specific template radio button.

      Specify a new template name in the field or browse to select an existing template to overwrite.

      The drawing is saved as a template under Administration > Graphics > Templates.

  4. To test the new template, locate the new template under Administration > Graphics > Templates and set a preview element.

    For instructions, see Section 6.4.2, Testing the Node Style Using Preview Elements.

  5. Click Save.

7.3.3 Editing Templates

Templates can be edited and saved from Administration > Graphics > Templates or from the Layout view of an element where the template is actively applied.

To edit a template:

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Open the Layout view of an element where the template is applied.

      To verify the template applied, hover the mouse over the icon displayed under the lower right corner of the element’s Layout view drawing. The tool tip displays the name of the linked template.

    • In the Explorer pane, click to expand Administration > Graphics > Templates and open the desired template’s Layout view.

  2. Click Switch to Edit Mode and update the drawing as desired.

    For information about editing the drawing and creating custom drawings, see Section 2.2, Creating and Editing Custom Drawings.

    For information on using the drawing tools, see Section 3.0, Using Basic Drawing Tools and Concepts.

    For information on creating custom node styles and adding graphics, see Section 6.0, Working with Node Styles and Custom Graphics.

    For information on testing the template by setting a preview element, see Section 6.4.2, Testing the Node Style Using Preview Elements.

  3. Save the changes by pressing by pressing Ctrl+S.

    Changes are saved to the template and the drawings for all linked elements update.