How can I make text body the default

[Elandale]

I would be grateful if someone could tell be how to make my template the default for a new document without having to open it from templates. Or if that is not possible then tell me how to lobby the code gurus to change the settings to allow users to choose the default paragraph style for new documents.

The following explanation provides background to my problem that is not part of a concise question.

I’ve read a few related questions and answers regarding the proper way to create a document with a planned format and how that begins with proper titles or headings or what not styles such that following paragraphs will be created as style text body. I accept this as correct but in real life one does not always begin with the end document in sight. Sometimes documents evolve from simple text begun a notes. For me life would be so much easier if LO Writer would by default open a text document with the paragraph style being text body. I realize that I can create (and have) a template to accomplish this. But remembering to use a template when in a hurry is like remembering to check the forecast to know if I should take an umbrella when leaving for work in a hurry. I’d rather keep my umbrella in the car.

[anon87010807]

See [Tutorial] Creating a new default template.

Note that File - Templates - Organize has changed to File - Templates - Manage Templates.

[Elandale]

Spot on! Thanks. You have eliminated one of those annoying little bothers from my life. I never would have thought to look in the Apache OpenOffice Community Forum.

[ajlittoz]

If your goal is only to start the first paragraph of a new document in Text Body in case the factory default template is otherwise satisfactory (eventually after some customisation in Tools>Options, just press Ctrl+0 (zero).

Ctrl+0 is a shortcut to apply Text Body.

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[Elandale]

Interesting. I’ve browsed through the Options and seen nothing to do with the default style. I assume that this “shortcut” is not actually short for anything. Are there more of these? Where would they be documented? It’s interesting to know but I don’t feel comfortable using an undocumented function.

[ajlittoz]

These shortcuts are documented 1) in the built-in help, 2) in the Writer Guide and can be “discovered” and customised/augmented in Tools>Customize, Keyboard tab.

In the same “numerical” series, beyond Ctrl+0 for “non heading style”, you have Ctrl+1 to 5 for Heading 1 to Heading 5.

Paragraph Default Style can be customised to a limited extent (font face and size) without going to the complex style machinery in Tools>Options, LibreOffice Writer>Basic Fonts (Western) as can also “submaster” styles Heading for all Heading n, List for all list-intended styles List n and Numbering n (but here you must use the poorman’s method with the toolbar list button, Caption for all captions and Index for all TOC, indexes, tables (of figures, …, not the tables you create with Insert>Table).

[Elandale]

Once again I’ve learned something new and been exposed to a trove of more to learn. Downloaded the 453 page Writer Guide. I can recall a time when Unix was less complicated. I’m very favorably impress by the LO folks. This software is mind boggling.

Looking at this shortcut I can see that it is a quick way to get to the style I want but it’s only for the document being edited which means constantly remembering to use it for new ones. Creating a new default template is a more permanent solution. While exploring that I see the Save Template dialog has a check box to designate it to become the default. This is even easier than the solution given first.