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I like what they have in some Linux desktop mangers. You get a 'templates' folder in your home directory with default empty files which you can add, change & re
by tamrix 5y ago
I like what they have in some Linux desktop mangers. You get a 'templates' folder in your home directory with default empty files which you can add, change & remove line normal files. Then the new sub context menu lists those files copying them when selected.
It's actually useful.
- derefr 5y agoAnd macOS has the "Stationery Pad" file attribute, where a "Stationery Pad" file has the semantics that whenever you open it, you're actually duplicating it and then opening the duplicate. (I believe this results in "Stationery Pad"-derived documents acting much like new blank documents in most programs, in that upon attempting to close the document, the program will force you to choose between discarding or naming the new document.)
- user3939382 5y agoMicrosoft Office includes similar functionality with its template file types, such as (in Word, for example) .dot or .dotx, in case anyone saw that and wondered what it’s for. My strategy with those was to make the .dotx read-only and remove delete permissions so it was also in-tact on a network drive, and office workers can double click to start a company form letter.
- nsomaru 5y agoThanks, good tip. You can also make the template appear in the “new document” screen under the personal tab if you fiddle with some settings and put the template in the right place.
- tonyedgecombe 5y agoOn Big Sur it copies the file and starts editing that. None the less it's a nice feature that I completely missed.
- derefr 5y agomacOS post 10.7 also has the "Locked" file attribute; and optionally auto-applies "Locked" to documents after a set interval. "Locked" files behave similar to "Stationery Pad" files, though with slight differences in workflow. You can open a "Locked" document, but when you attempt to make any changes to it, the program will pop a modal informing you that the document is "Locked", and asking whether you want to 1. unlock the document (and then apply your attempted change to the original); 2. duplicate the document (and then apply your attempted change to the duplicate); or 3. cancel your attempted change. "Locked" documents entirely subsume/obsolete "Stationery Pad" documents, IMHO. Locking gives you all the benefits of edits triggering a duplication of the document; while also offering you the option to edit the original if you so desire (without needing to close out of the document and modify its attributes first); and without creating unnecessary duplicates when all you wanted to do was view the document.
- vitro 5y agoWow. Didn't know of this feature until now. Thank you!
- ByThyGrace 5y agoSo THAT's what the Templates folder is for... and I never actually bothered to look it up. The worse part is that it is indeed incredibly useful.
- actuallyalys 5y agoI didn't either. To its credit, the Gnome Files program has an explanatory header: "Put files in this folder to use them as templates for new files."
- tijsvd 5y agoIIRC (many years since I used windows), the New context menu on windows is fed from a directory with templates, and you can add to it.
- forgotmypw17 5y agoI think you are confusing it with "Send To", which indeed works how you describe. New File is populated from the registry.
- Farow 5y agoYou can also specify a template file through the registry. There are a few default directories where windows looks into: https://windowsforum.com/threads/add-file-templates-to-the-new-menu-in-the-context-menu.241901/ https://windowsforum.com/threads/add-file-templates-to-the-n...