Document Templates in Writer
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Foreword
This video shows how to create and use ″Document Templates″ in Writer under LibreOffice and links to this page here, which provides further information and details.
It is based on the "Writer Manual - Chapter 10 - Using Document Templates"
( English documentation | ( Onlinehelp: Manage Templates ).
Link to the Video
Link to the Video (in German [DE]):
Dokumentvorlagen in Writer - LibrOffice
What is a Document Template?
A Document Template is a sample file that is used to create new documents with.
The great advantage of Document Templates is that once they are saved as OTT files, they cannot be easily overwritten.
When a Document Template (OTT) is opened in Writer via ▸ ▸ , a copy of it automatically becomes the document (ODT).
In the simplest case, when you open Writer, the Default Template (usually as a white sheet) is always automatically added to the document and displayed as "Untitled 1".
Thus the Default Template cannot be overwritten when saving, but the new document is saved as an ODT file by default when saving.
Use a Document Template to create a document
To use Document Templates, it must be stored as such in a LibreOffice Categorie (a Template folder).
To use a Document Template to create a document, do the following:
Open Writer.
Choose ▸ ▸ from the menu ( Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + N ).
In the "Templates" dialog that opens, you will see a selection for "Filter" at the top.
Here you can select:
- All Applications
- Text Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Presentations
- Drawings
Select the "Text Documents" Filter.
In addition to the selection for Filters, you can still narrow down by Category.
The Templates available in each case are displayed.
At the bottom left of the dialog you can choose between "Thumbnail view" or "List view".
Select the "My Templates" Category.
The included Document Templates will be displayed.
Click the Template and then the button.
The "Templates" dialog closes and a new document based on the selected Document Template opens.
You can now edit the new document and save it with a desired name, just as you are used to doing with any other document.
The Document Template remains unchanged.
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Note:
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Create a Document Template from a document
Custom Document Templates can be created from an existing document.
Open an existing document 
that you want to set up as a Document Template.
Add content and formatting as needed.
Choose ▸ ▸ from the Menu.
The "Save as Template" dialog opens.
Enter a Template name, in the case of "Enter Template name:" "Vorlage_Betriebsferien".
And choose the Category where you want to save the new Document Template.
Click the button.
Writer saves the new Document Template and the dialog closes.
Creating a Document Template with the wizard
Document templates can also be created using wizards.
A wizard creates a document template that you can use to create multiple documents with the same layout and settings.
You can use LibreOffice wizards to create different types of document templates in Writer
- letter, fax or agenda.
For the exercise, select the ▸ ▸ menu.
Follow the instructions of the wizard in the dialog.
Set the "Page Design".
Select the "General Information".
Select the "Headings to Include".
Specify the desired "Names".
Set the agenda items "Agenda Items".
Select the file path and enter a template name "Name and Location".
Klick on the button.
The "Save as" dialog appears.
Select the path where you want to save your new Document Template.
Click on the button.
The new Template is opened and can be edited as desired.
If necessary, save it under a different name.
Afterwards you have the possibility to immediately create a new document based on the Document Template you have just saved or to derive as many documents as you like from it.
The document that is now open can also be edited as desired and then saved.
Edit a Document Template
Select ▸ ▸ from the Menu.
The "Templates" dialog is displayed.
As an example, set the filter "Text Documents" and the category "My Templates".
However, you can set any filter and the desired Category and select a Document Template.
Select the Category "My Templates" and then click on "Brief Max Mustermann", for example.
The selected Template is opened as a document in Writer.
You can now edit the document as you wish and then save it again as a Template.
Set a Default Document Template
As soon as you open Writer normally, the Default Template is opened as a document, this is usually a blank white page.
Alternatively, use the menu ▸ ▸ .
However, one can set another Document Template as default as long as it is saved in the "Document Templates" dialog.
If necessary, you can also switch back to the old Default Template.
If you want to use a Document Template that is not yet included in the "Templates" dialog, it must first be saved there.
It often happens that someone does not like the font of the previous Default Template, for example.
To create a new Default Template, open Writer with the existing empty document.
This sounds a bit strange, but select the empty document with menu ▸ .
Double-click on the Paragraph Style "Text Body" to assign it to the document (double-click on the Paragraph Style "Text Body").
Right-click on the "Text Body" Paragraph Style and choose .
For the new Document Template, change the font to "Noto Sans", for example, and click .
You will now set this document as the default.
Choose ▸ ▸ from the menu.
In the "Save as Template" dialog, enter a name, e.g. "Default Noto Sans" and select a "Category".
Check and then click the button.
The next time you open Writer or choose ▸ ▸ from the menu, a document will be created based on the Document Template you just set as the default.
Manage Document Templates
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Note:
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Create a new category
Categories are folders in the file system.
Choose ▸ ▸ from the menu.
The "Document Templates" dialog will open.
In the dialog click on the button.
Select .
The "New Category" dialog will open, there you can enter the category name in the "Enter of new category name:", e.g. "Letter Templates".
Click on .
This will save the Category.
Click .
Default Document Template Path
Normally this directory is provided for the user-defined Document Templates when LibreOffice is delivered:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\LibreOffice\4\user\template (Window)
The directory is by default a hidden directory and must first be made visible.
To do this, enter the following in the path bar of your file explorer: %APPDATA%.
In LibreOffice you can also define the file path for your Document Templates yourself.
Choose ▸ from the menu and click on ▸ and then on "Templates" in the "Options - LibreOffice - Paths" dialog and then on the button.
Specify the desired File path where you want to manage your Document Templates.
Delete a Category
Choose ▸ ▸ from the menu.
The "Templates" dialog will open.
In the dialog, select the Category to delete.
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Note:
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Click on the button and select .
In the "Do you want to delete the selected category?" dialog you can confirm with to delete or to cancel.
Click .
The previously selected Category will be deleted.
Click .
Move a Document Template
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Choose ▸ ▸ from the menu.
The "Templates" dialog will open.
In the "Templates" dialog, select the Category that contains the Document Template to be moved.
The Document Templates available there will be displayed.
Right-click the Document Template you want to move.
Click from the context menu.
In the "Select Category" dialog that opens, you can select any Categories to move to.
Alternatively, you can by entering a name in this field.
The moved Document Template is now in the Category you selected or created.
Import a Document template
Choose ▸ ▸ from the menu ( Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + N ).
The "Templates" dialog opens.
Select a category to import to.
Click the button.
Choose .
The "Open" dialog will open.
Select the desired Document template from your directory.
Click on the button.
Click the button.
Further Informations
Letter Max Mustermann
All Files in German [DE]:
Letter Max Mustermann - Border visible using tables.
Letter Max Mustermann - Border not visible using tables.
According to DIN 5008
Recommended for use
Sample letter according to DIN 5008; second side different.
Work files
Lieferschein.odt
Betriebsferien - unformatiert.odt
Betriebsferien - formatiert.odt
Related topics
Professional text composition with Writer
Inheritance in paragraph styles in Writer
Business letter according to DIN 5008
Document template Letter in Writer 52
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