Customizing Format Templates

Overview

The 6 system format templates built into SpecLink Cloud can be duplicated and customized to more closely match your needs. Please review the article Predefined System Format Templates before beginning to create new, or duplicating the system templates for editing.

This article covers the following topics:

• Creating a User Defined Format Template
• Editing a User Defined Format Template
• Deleting a User Defined Format Template

Creating a User Defined Format Template

User defined format templates can be created from scratch (clicking New) or by duplicating an existing system format template (select the template and click Duplicate).

Follow the steps below to create a new user defined format template.

1. Click on CSI Format (in blue below) from the SpecLink Cloud Toolbar to access the format template menu.
   
   
   
   
2. Click Edit... from the templates menu.
   
   
   
   
3. The Templates window will open. The list on the left side of the window will display all System Templates and any User Defined Templates. Below the list of Templates, click the New  button.
   
   
4. The Create New Template window will open. Enter the name of your new template where instructed.
   
   
   
   
5. Click Save  here to save the new format and continue with the steps for editing a user defined format template below.

Follow the steps below to duplicate a system format template.

1. From the Templates list in step #3 above, instead of clicking New button, select the system template that most closely matches your desired template. In the image below, I've selected the CSI Format.
   
   
   
   
2. Click Duplicate  button to make a virtual copy of the selected system template.
   
   
3. The Edit Template window will open. The name of the new template will be "Copy of...(the name of the system template)". Rename the template to your needs.
   
   
   
   
4. Click Save  here to save the new format and continue with the steps for editing a user defined format template below.

Editing a User Defined Format Template

Follow the steps below to edit to a user defined format template.

1. Once you've created and saved a user defined format template, it will appear in the User Defined Templates list of the Templates window. Select the newly created template from the list. In the image below I've selected the new user defined template "Basic Format Template".
   
   
   
   Review the preview window to the right of the Template window to preview the template.
   
   
2. Once you've selected the template from the list, click the Edit  button located below the template list. The Edit Template window will open.
   
   
3. Below the TEMPLATE NAME is the APPLY STYLE TO menu.
   
   
   
   Use this menu to select the Level you want to edit. The preview window at the bottom of the Edit Template window to see your changes.
   
   
4. The STYLE NAME field displays name for each style per level. Edit this field to match your needs. You'll see the default naming convention in the image below.
   
   
   
   Note: When Level 0 is selected, the option to APPLY TO END OF SECTION will appear:
   
    
   
   Selecting this option will apply the same settings (font, alignment, etc.) to the last sequence of every section.
   
   
5. Edit the attributes of each level to match your needs. The tools of editing each level are listed in the table below. Remember to review any edits you make real-time in the preview window located at the bottom of the Edit Template window.

	AUTO NUMBER STYLE Select from the menu the auto number style you want applied to the selected level.
	AUTO NUMBER CHARACTER Select from the menu the auto number character you want applied to the selected level.
	AUTO NUMBER POSITION Use the arrows to increase or decrease the number position.
	TEXT POSITION Use the arrows to increase or decrease the number position.
	SHOW NUMBER FORMAT Toggling this option will display or hide the numbering for the level.
	INCLUDE NUMBER FROM PREVIOUS LEVELS Toggling this option will include the numbering from the level above the level being edited.
	PRINT TEXT IN UPPER CASE Selecting this option will display the selected level in all UPPER CASE letters.

6. The attribute tool bar displayed below allows for the editing of the font, point size, bold, italicize, underline, spacing, and alignment. 
   
   
   
   Note: Custom line spacing changes may not be visually represented in the Edit Template window, but will be applied to the printed/exported document.
   
   
7. As you complete the editing for each level, click the Save  button in the lower right corner of the Edit Template window.
8. When you've completed editing for all levels, click the OK   button in the lower right corner of the Templates window.

Deleting a User Defined Format Template

By default, the System Manager role can delete user defined format templates. System format templates cannot be deleted.

Follow the steps below to delete a user defined format template.

1. Select the user defined format template to be deleted from the Templates list.
   In the image below I've selected the user defined format template "Basic Format Template".
   
   
2. Once you've selected the template from the list, click the Delete  button located below the template list.
   
   
3. An alert message will appear informing you that deleting the template will remove the styles from all of the sections where this template has been applied. It's important to confirm that this action is appropriate.
   
   
   
   
4. Click Yes if you are ready to delete the template. 

 Watch the video below to see the steps of customizing format templates in action: