Videos/Document templates Letter template in Writer

Foreword


The video shows how a letter can be created as "Document template" under LibreOffice and links to this page here, which contains further information.

This description refers to the version LibreOffice 6.3 under Windows 10.

Link to the Video
Link to the Video (in German [DE]):

Dokumentvorlagen in Writer - LibreOffice 6.3

What are document templates good for?
All documents in LibreOffice are based on document templates.

In the simplest case, this is in Writer a blank white sheet.

However, it can also be a letter template, a form to be filled out or a report template.

A document template is a model or pattern that is used to create new documents.

For example, you may want to write letters frequently.

It would be very labor-intensive if you had to write the sender each time, and determine the place for the address.

Then with every letter questions arise, such as:


 * Which edge had I set where?
 * Which font and font size did I use?
 * And so on.

What is the advantage of a document template?
The great advantage of the document templates is that the recurring settings and specifications only have to be made once.

You should take enough time to do this and do everything according to your ideas.

Create a document ″Letter″ for a template
So you first create a letter for a template in which everything recurring is specified.


 * Address field
 * Sender field
 * Margins
 * possibly a graphic
 * Format templates / paragraph templates for text markups
 * Format templates / page templates for different page margins

Note The sample letter already has a second page with a different page template.

Save the "Letter" as document template
When the letter is finished, it can now be saved as a document template.

Choose from the menu.

The "Save as document template" dialog displays the "Document template category" (the templates folder).

Note Category is here a synonym for folder.

Select the folder where the new document template should be saved.

For example, use the folder "My document templates".

At the top of the dialog enter the name "Letter Max Mustermann" for the new document template.

You can now decide whether the letter should be saved as the default template.

If you set a check mark at "Set document template as default", this letter template will always be opened when you open Writer.

Then click on.

Writer will save the new document template (as an OTT file) and the dialog box will close.

You can now close "Letter".

A document template becomes a new document
Document templates are stored in template folders.

To use a document template to create a document, proceed as follows:

Open Writer.

Choose from the menu.

In the "Manage templates" dialog that opens, "Textdokumente" is already preselected as the filter, since we are in Writer.

Some templates are displayed here, depending on the template.

Select the "My Document Templates" folder here.

The document templates contained in the folder will be displayed.

Click on the document template "Letter Max Mustermann" and click.

The "Template Management" dialog closes.

The previously selected document template now automatically became a new document.

You can now edit the new document (i.e. write a letter) and then save it with a meaningful name, just as you are used to any other document.

Reusing the document template
The document template "Letter Max Mustermann" remains unchanged and can therefore be used again and again.

Set a default document template
You can make any document the default document template.

If necessary, you can also switch back to the old standard template.

If you have selected or created the document you want to make the default document template, choose via the menu.

In the dialog ″Save as Document template″ select the template folder and enter a meaningful name.

Click on "Save document template as default" below.

Now click.

The next time you open Writer or choose, a document will be created based on the document template just set as default.

Manage document templates
Note Writer can only manage document templates that were previously saved in template folders.

Create a template folder
Choose  from the menu.

The "Manage Templates" dialog opens.

In the dialog you can click the Settings icon and then select "New Category" (Folder).

A dialog opens in which you can specify the category name.

Here you enter a folder name, e.g. "Letter templates".

Click on.

The folder is saved.

Click.

Delete a template folder
Choose.

The dialog "Manage Document template" opens.

In the dialog you can click the Settings icon and then select Delete Category (Folder).

A dialog opens in which you can select the category you want to delete.

Click on.

A "Should the selected folders be deleted?" dialog can be opened using to delete or confirmed with  to cancel.

Clicking will delete the highlighted folder.

Click.

Move a document template
Choose.

The dialog "Manage templates" opens.

Find the template to be moved (possibly set the filter).

The folder will display the document templates it contains.

Click on the Document template you want to move.

And click in the dialog.

Any category (folder) can be selected in the opening dialog.

Alternatively, a new folder can be created using.

Click.

According Video
[[Media:Brief Max Mustermann - Umrandung sichtbar.ott|Letter Max Mustermann - Border visible]] using tables (in German).

[[Media:Brief Max Mustermann - Umrandung nicht sichtbar.ott|Letter Max Mustermann - Border not visible]] using tables (in German).

According to DIN 5008
Recommended for use

[[Media:Brief Max Mustermann_mR.ott|Sample letter according to DIN 5008; second side different]] (in German [DE]).

Note Writer can only manage and access (open) document templates that were previously saved in template folders.

DIN 5008 in Wikipedia
[[Media:DIN_5008,_Form_A.svg|Definition Shape A]] ( Source: Von Flamon - Eigenes Werk, CC0 )

[[Media:DIN_5008_Form_B.svg|Definition Shape B]] ( Source: Von Flamon - Eigenes Werk, CC0 )

Related topics
Professional text composition with Writer

Styles in Writer

Inheritance in paragraph styles in Writer

Character Styles in Writer

Dokumentenvorlagen_einsetzen (in German)

Business letter according to DIN 5008

Document template Letter in Writer 52

Documentation / Manuals
Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:

Documentation / Manuals

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