Create And Edit Document Templates

All documents that originate in a Meridian vault are created from templates, even if the template is only an empty file with a file extension that determines the application that will be used to add data to the file. However, you should configure document templates that provide users with as much data as possible already in the file. Document templates improve productivity by relieving users from having to create standard information such as headers, footers, title blocks, logos, standard text, and so on. Document templates improve quality by ensuring that all users begin documents from the same set of preconfigured and pre-approved templates. Because the document templates are themselves stored in the vault, they don't have to be maintained on a shared network location.

Each document type can have multiple templates in multiple file formats. For example, a Drawing document type may have AutoCAD templates for several sheet sizes, various Autodesk Inventor model templates, and Microsoft Office Visio templates. Because all of the file types are treated as the same document type, users can select any of the templates depending on their needs.

When a user creates a new document from a template, Meridian makes a copy of the template file as the new document and then applies the document type's other options to the new document, such as its file name, revision number, and so on.

To create or edit document templates:

1. Using the native application of the template that you want to make, create a new file that contains all of the text, graphics, and other data that you want the template to include.

   Also consider setting options such as page size, printing options, and so on. Save the file with a descriptive name to a temporary location.

   Note:

   Meridian supports templates in a very basic way (file copies) in order to support the largest variety of applications. Therefore, most file formats that are specific to templates, for example, Microsoft Office Word template (.dotx) or that provide automatic execution, for example, AutoCAD templates (.dwt), are not supported by Meridian. In such cases, save the template file as a normal file before importing it as a Meridian document template.

2. In Configurator, expand Document Types in the configuration tree to display the document types.

3. Select the document type that you want to configure.

   The document type's property pages appear in the right pane.

4. Click the New Document tab.

   The new document options appear.

5. Click Edit.

6. Choose one of the following options:

   • To remove a template from the document type, select it and click Remove.

   • To show a template in a new Meridian viewer window, select it and click View.

   • To edit an existing template, select it and click Edit.

     The Edit Document Template dialog box appears, showing the template's configuration options.

   • To create a new document template, click the Add button.

     The New Document Template dialog box appears.

7. Click options or type values using the descriptions in the following table.

8. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for each template that you want to configure.

9. To export a copy of the selected template's file to a location outside the vault, click Export and select a location.

10. Click OK.

Document template options

Option	Description
File name	This option only appears when creating new templates. Click the Browse button to select the file that you created in step 1 to use as the template.
Display name	Type the name of the template as you want it to appear to users. The name does not have to be the same as the template file name and does not need a file extension.
Name	A default internal name is calculated. Accept the default in most cases.
Description	Type an optional description of this template.
Default extension	Select a file extension from the list for documents created from this template. The file extension does not have to be the same as the file extension of the template file.
To replace file	This option only appears when editing existing templates. Click the Browse button to select a file to replace the current template.