Re: Best way to create templates

[Bill Briggs <web@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 7:23 AM -0700 7/12/98, Patrick Fortino wrote:
>Hi Framers,
>
>I would like to know the best way to create templates that are easy for
>many people of varying Frame skills to use. Currently, I am
>experimenting with two different methods to create templates,
>specifically, master pages in templates (both methods include all
>paragraph tags, variables, x-refs, etc. These templates are for 8.5 x
>11, double-sided black and white printing on a laser printer.
>
>The following is a list of the types of master pages I use in a typical
>book (Note: All first pages are right side):
>*Cover first page, Cover right, Cover left
>*TOC/LOF/LOT first, right, left
>*Chapter first, right, left
>*Appendix first, right, left
>*Glossary first, right, left
>*Index first, right, left
>
>Method A: I have one template file that contains all master pages and
>reference pages. The user can create a complete book from just one
>template file. There is no need to start with a specific template
>because the one template file contains all the necessary formatting for
>a complete book. Users must apply the appropriate first, right, and left
>master pages. The Chapter uses the default and automatic right and left
>master pages. All other file types must manually apply right and left,
>but these files generally have only a few pages. This methods seems the
>easiest for me maintain.
>
>Method B: I create a template for each type of chapter file--Cover,
>TOC/LOF/LOT, Chapter, Appendix, Glossary, and Index. User must use the
>appropriate template to create the file. For example, use the TOC/LOF,
>LOT to create a table of contents, use the Glossary to create a
>Glossary, etc. This methods seems difficult to maintain, but easier for
>users to apply.
>
>Any thoughts on which method would be better? Or perhaps another method?
>
>Thanks
>
>--
>Pat Fortino
>U S WEST

I'd recommend method B (which is my preferred method).  Using method A you
only have one pair of default Left/Right master pages, and so in any file
that uses a different L/R pair, you have to apply manually, which is
something you shouldn't have to think about as your document grows new
pages.  You also increase file size overhead by having to carry around the
expanded paragraph catalogue and the plethora of extra master page layouts
in every file.  If you think of your template as a book, then it really
isn't, IMO, any harder to maintain.  And updates to your template may not
always affect all components, so you don't have to update all files.  If,
for example, the company logo changes, do you want to have to update all
files with a new template for the sake of something that may only be on the
front and or back pages of your document?  Lots of other cases exist where
the amount of work to do in a template update would be increased if the
template is not done as individual book components.

Just my 2¢
- web



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