Creating Effective Templates for iA Writer

When it comes to creating high-quality documents with iA Writer, using effective templates can make all the difference. But what exactly is an iA Writer template, and how do you create one? In this article, we'll explore the basics of creating templates for iA Writer, including the different file formats and properties that are essential for a well-designed template.

The Basics of HTML Templates

To get started with creating templates for iA Writer, it's essential to understand that the actual files themselves must have an HTML extension. This means that you'll need to create separate HTML files for laying out the title page, document text, headers, and footers.

For example, if your company's domain is 'example.com,' you could assign the string 'com.example' as the bundle identifier. The string should be in reverse-DNS format, and it must contain only alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9), hyphens (-), and periods (.).

Properties of iA Writer Templates

Each template must have a unique identifier, which is used by iA Writer to associate templates with documents. You can also use the bundle identifier to set various properties for your template, such as whether to process TeX math expressions into MathML.

Additionally, you can define key phrases or keywords at the top and bottom of each document page on export. These key phrases are essential for organizing your documents and making them easy to find.

XML Property List Files

XML property list files (plist) can be edited in any text editor, including iA Writer itself. If you've never dealt with plist files before, it's recommended that you start with our example bundle.

In a plist file, you'll define various properties for your template, such as the title page layout, document text formatting, and header and footer styles. You can also use JavaScript to add dynamic elements to your template.

Installing Templates in iA Writer

Once you've created your template, you can install it in iA Writer by following these steps:

1. Download the template file.

2. Go to File > Install Template > Select 'Template' file.

3. Choose the template bundle or ZIP archive that contains your template files.

Managing Installed Templates

To find an installed bundle, right-click on it in Preferences and select 'Show in Finder.' Any changes made to the original bundle will not be visible in iA Writer, as the template is copied when installed.

Creating effective templates for iA Writer requires a good understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. By following these guidelines, you can create high-quality templates that make it easy to lay out your documents and export them in various formats.

In this article, we've covered the basics of creating templates for iA Writer, including the different file formats and properties that are essential for a well-designed template. With practice and patience, you can create custom templates that meet your specific needs and help you work more efficiently with iA Writer.

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