MODIFY (edit)- not reassign default template?

[JustSentient]

How do I modify the default Template? I know how to assign a new default, but surely there must be a way to change the existing one.

When I File | New a writer document, the Styles and Formatting dialog pops up in a bad spot, and I always have to move it before doing anything else, so I’d like to modify and save the default template. I don’t want to create a new one. Does LO allow that functionality? How?

[PYS]

Hi

As already said LibreOffice does not use a default template file (like a normal.dot for word).

However, to be complete, there is one used by the system (e.g. Windows). It makes a copy of a template document when doing from the explorer (or desktop) Right-click New Text OpenDocument (spreadsheet, drawing…).

LibreOffice do not use them on creating a document with File New.

The location of these templates (documents actually) depends on the version of LibreOffice, the system, the installation choices (installation for himself alone or for all users).

For Windows the path to these documents can be:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\LibreOffice 4\share\template\ShellNew (Windows 7)
• C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates (Windows 7)
• C:\Documents and Settings \All Users\Templates (XP)
• C:\Documents and Settings\ username\Templates (XP)

Note:

• It will have administrator rights to modify the document (Windows 7)
• If you can not edit a document, you can usually paste and rename, so ​​just create the template elsewhere and paste it.
• Relevant documents will be documents (.odt for example) and not templates.

Regards

[peterwt]

Very interesting @PYS - it produces a different doc to the one created by the built in template in that the font is set to Times New roman 12 wheras the built in template sets the font to Liberation Serif 12.

[AlexKemp]

Correct; LO does not use `normal.dot’. It uses ‘normal.ott’ (or, if no file is set as default, it uses the built-in defaults).

[Sean777]

This successfully answered another question I posted. I can confirm that the path quoted for Windows 7 …

•C:\Program Files (x86)\LibreOffice 4\share\template\ShellNew

… is also correct for Windows 8.1

[AlexKemp]

The file that you get when you open a new file is actually a copy of the default template (added later: that template is either the built-in default template, or a template file set by the user as the default). Therefore:-

1. Create a new file
   (Menu:-File New) (Ctrl+N)
2. modify the settings to meet your desire
3. Save-as template
   (Menu:-File Templates Save as Templates...)
4. Set that Template as the default
   (Menu:-File Templates Manage) (Ctrl+Shift+N)

Simple!

(added later)

my version is v4.4.4.3. I notice that the official Help doesn’t actually match the menu options. For the sake of completeness, here is that help:

To Create a Default Template

1. Create a document and the content and formatting styles that you want.
   
2. Choose File - Save As Template.
   
3. In the New Template box, type a name for the new template.
   
4. In the Categories list, select “My Templates”, and then click OK.
   
5. Choose File - New - Templates.
   
6. Double-click the “My Templates” folder.
   
7. Click on the template that you created, and click Set as Default.
   
8. Close the dialog.

Final Note:

This is the OpenOffice Wiki on Templates:

(OpenOffice) Writer_Guide/Setting_a_default_template

Please note that, unlike OpenOffice (see the wiki link above), LO does not seem to provide any means to revert the default template from a file back to the built-in template.

If this helps then please tick the answer ().

[peterwt]

If you have not set a default template then when you create a new document the document is created based on a template built into the LO program so it can not be modified. If you want something different then as @AlexKemp states modify it to your needs and set as the default template. When a default template is set this will then be used for all new documents instead of the built in template.