by brian on Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:54 pm
General
What types of templates should I be aware of?
There are two different types of templates: Document Templates are used to save an entire document for use with the “New from Template…” command; and Page Templates are used to quickly save a single page that can be inserted into any document at any time.
How many stock document templates are included in 2009?
Document3D Suite 2009 SP1 includes more than 50 templates divided into categories: 3D viewers, Brochures, Catalogs, Creative, Engineering, Instructions and Presentations.
Document Templates
What are Document Templates?
Document templates capture an entire document including the all pages, page layout, interactive functionality, viewpoints of each 3D view and other 3D properties. A document template is selected when you create a new document from template.
How do I create a new document using a template?
From the application menu, or the quick start dialog you can choose “New from Template…” to bring up the Document Template Wizard. This wizard will present you with thumbnails of each page in each template and will provide a short description. Once the template is selected, you will be asked to select a 3D model.
How can I tell if a selected template is good for my desired use?
After you click on a Document Template in the wizard, the bottom right area will display the suggested types of documents for the template: Print, PDF or QuadriSpace Reader3D. Each template can be used for any document but this suggestion indicates that it has been tested for compatibility with PDF or that it does not include interactive buttons making it a good option for printed and so on.
How do I create a custom template?
Creating a custom template is the same as creating a custom document. Simply use the tools in Pages3D to layout the document, set up viewpoints, add interactive buttons, etc.
How do I save a custom template?
Form the Application Menu, you can choose “Save As…” > QuadriSpace Template to export the file as a QST file. This template will be available from the Document Template Wizard the next time you execute “New Document from Template…”. The template must be saved to a subdirectory of C:\Program Files\QuadriSpace 2009\User\Templates\ to be visible from the New Document Template Wizard.
It is good practice to save the QSD file as well so that you can easily modify the template at a later time.
How do I modify an existing template?
You cannot modify a template directly. However, you can choose the template you want to modify from the Document Template Wizard and then select a model. This will bring up the template you desire to edit with a model of your choosing. You can then edit the document as desired and then save a custom template.
How do I edit the template information before saving it?
Templates include a name, a description and a selection of suggested document types. These can be modified from Application Menu > Prepare > Document Settings and then selecting the “Template” tab.
Where are Document Templates saved?
Custom Document Templates are saved to your installed QuadriSpace Directory typically C:\Program Files\QuadriSpace 2009\User\Templates\MY_DIRECTORY\MY_TEMPLATE.QST. The MY_DIRECTORY name determines the group that the template will be found under in the Document Template Wizard.
How do I open a custom Document Template?
Custom templates are found in the Document Template Wizard by clicking the “Custom” folder under the left hand column labeled “Category”.
How do I share custom templates with a colleague?
You can share custom templates with others by sending them the QST files found in your C:\Program Files\QuadriSpace 2009\User\Templates\ directory. Once they receive the QST file, the colleague can install the template as follows:
• Save the QST files to a local directory
• Select “New from Template…” from the Application Menu
• Select Custom and the “Import…”
• Browse and select the QST file
• Repeat for each template
To manually install templates users need to close QuadriSpace and then copy the QST file to a directory in C:\Program Files\QuadriSpace 2009\User\Templates\MY DIRECTORY\MY TEMPLATE.QST. The MY_DIRECTORY will indicate the group that will be displayed in the Document Template Wizard.
How do I organize Custom Document Templates into groups?
To organize custom templates into groups, you will need to use Window File Explorer and create the groups as file folders in the C:\Program Files\QuadriSpace 2009\User\Templates\ directory. Then cut and paste QST files into desired folders.
Page Templates
What are Page Templates?
Page Templates are single-page templates that can be inserted into an active document at any time from Pages3D. These are inserted from the Home Ribbon
How do I save a Page Template?
At any time, you can save off a single page of your document to the Template pull-down for use in the current document or any other document that you may author on the current computer. To save a Page Template: turn to the desire page, select the Home Ribbon and then choose the pull-down “New Page” and pick “Save Page Template…”.
How do I insert a Page Template?
To insert a Page Template, turn to the page that you want to be immediately before the page you intend to insert, and then select the Home Ribbon. From the “New Page” pull-down, select a page template thumbnail, this will activate the “insert a Page from Template” wizard.
• Choose Quick insert and then press Finish to quickly insert a new page.
• Choose another option to use Smart Template Technology (see below).
Where are Page Templates saved?
Page Templates are saved to your installed QuadriSpace Directory typically C:\Program Files\QuadriSpace 2009\User\Templates\MY_TEMPLATE.XML. Unlike Document Templates, Page Templates are not sorted based on different directories.
Smart Template Technology™
What is Smart Template Technology™?
This is a new technology that first appeared in Document3D 2009 SP1. This technology allows users to pick a template page and then automatically insert and populate pages based on a user selected list of parts, a list of steps, or a list of illustrations.
How do I insert multiple pages based on a parts list?
Templates can be used to combine a page template with a list of parts. When this command is used, pages are inserted until all parts in the user-selected list are used to populate either a single view or an entire page.
To do this, insert a Page Template and then choose either: “Insert a page for each part” or “Insert a view for each part”. After clicking next, fill in the options as desired and then press Finish.
How do I insert multiple pages based on an exploded view?
See instruction for parts lists, but choose “Insert a page for each explode step” or “Insert a view for each explode step” instead.
How do I insert multiple pages based on a topic (set of illustrations)?
See instruction for parts lists, but choose “Insert a page for each illustration” or “Insert a view for each illustration” instead.
How do I insert a page based on a user selected configuration?
Smart Template Technology will also allow users to insert a new page but automatically fill the pages 3D views, tables and meta-data with information from a user defined Configuration. In order to leverage this feature, the user must create a suitable Configuration prior to inserting the page.
To do this, insert a Page Template and then choose either: “Insert a Single Page / Customize this Page” then click next. On the next page, you can choose what user created information to insert into the page template.
How do I create template pages that are useful with Smart Template Technology?
Any template can be used with Smart Template technology to create repeated pages of information. However, it often makes the most sense to set up page template with a specific purpose. This is especially important if you are create template pages that make use of meta-data, such as a parts lists quantity or a procedures step number, or an illustrations description.
Themes
Do Themes work with Templates?
Yes, each stock template is created using a pre-selected theme. This means that if you do not like the colors using in a template, you can simple change the them and the entire template will be modified. To change the theme, select the Layout Ribbon and use the “Select Theme” pull-down to choose a different color scheme.
