Word templates

What is a template?
When we customise Microsoft Word we are doing two principal things:
> setting up the page layout and text styles
> adding easy access to functionality such as inserting landscape
page. This achieved by developing a series of macros written in
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

However people often think of templates as a layout in which you
highlight and overtype text. There are hundreds of these types of
templates available free on the internet and whilst they give access to
a defined layout they are not specific to any business and are slow
and cumbersome to use.

Our templates not only improve the presentation they make it very
easy for users to access the relevant capability of Microsoft Word.

Opening a new template
Selecting File / New gives you access to the templates on your
machine. Here the Brochet letter template has been selected. Having
initially formatted the document a data entry screen is displayed.


Data entry screen
In the data entry screen you are prompted to enter the standard elements
of a letter.

In this case there is the option to choose between two offices (1) which
will then print different addresses onto the letter allowing us to use a
single pre-printed letterhead (it just has the Brochet logo on it).

By checking the box *Save as Default (2) the user's, or sender's, details
are remembered and do not have to be re-entered each time the
template is used.


Ready to type
Clicking OK enters all the information into the letter and places the
cursor ready to start typing the main body of the letter (1).

At the base of the letter is the list of associates (2). The data for this is
held centrally in a simple file. This is accessible from all the computers
on the network. In the same way the London address has been used (3)


Toolbar
Each template has its own dedicated toolbar (1) with a series of buttons
to access regularly used functions. By choosing PrintOnHeadedPaper
the logo, and any details that are pre-printed on the letterhead, are
temporarily removed before displaying the print dialog box. The
remaining buttons are short cuts to the agreed paragraph styles.


We hope this example gives you a feel for how a user experiences the
templates. The basic template would have all these features except the
option to choose offices and to have an easily updatable list of
associates or partners.




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