Problem changing the Templates folder in v25.2.0.3

[Bijou-666]

I’m trying to change the Templates folder to something other than the default. I’ve changed the Path setting via the menu Tools>Options>Paths>Templates. Then, added the new path and set it as the default. I then shutdown LibreOffice and restart. But none of the templates in the new path show up when I do File>New>Templates…

However, if I “import” the new templates, they appear. But the ‘imported’ templates show up over in the default template directory. Is there some way I can get LibreOffice to use the new templates folder and not the default?

PS: I have read the topic of “How would I update the template directory” but is doesn’t seem to apply to my version of LibreOffice.

[sokol92]

The only way to work with templates (not counting macros) is to use the Templates submenu in the Files menu. LibreOffice “knows” only those templates that you have saved or edited through the items in this submenu. Simply adding a template to a folder does not change the list of templates that LibreOffice “deals with”.
As for the list of folders for storing user templates, you can define one or more folders in the Options in the path you specified above.

[Bijou-666]

@sokol92:
Yes, I’m saying that the Tools>Options>Paths>Templates (Path) setting doesn’t work. (It certainly appears that way.) I can ‘import’ templates no problem using the ‘Manage’ function in the File>Templates>Manage Templates dialog. But that copies the templates into the default templates folder. I’d rather not do that because that folder is buried way down in the …\AppData tree.

[sokol92]

@Bijou-666

Yes, I’m saying that the Tools>Options>Paths>Templates (Path) setting doesn’t work.

Let’s check together.
Action Plan: Redefine the folder for templates as C:\temp\Template and create a Report.ots template.

1. Create folder C:\temp\Template.
2. Menu / Tools / Options / LibreOffice / Paths / Templates / Edit… . Add C:\temp\Template, then delete another line. Now default path is C:\temp\Template.
3. Create or open Calc document. Menu / File / Templates / Save as Template.
   Enter Template Name: Report
   Select Template Category: My Templates
   Save .
   Now we can see file C:\Temp\Template\Report.ots.

[Bijou-666]

First, I don’t see that there’s a place on the ‘Save As’ dialog that allows picking a category. As you suggest.

I did proceed just as you suggest, including using the suggested paths, file types and names.
Just in case, I shut down LO completely and restarted.
Then did menu>File>New…>Templates… The new template is not listed. Furthermore, all templates in the default folder: “C:\Users<user>\AppData\Roaming\LibreOffice\4\user\template” are still listed even though that path is no longer in the menu>Tools>Options>Paths>Templates setting (only the “C:\temp\Templates” folder is listed there.

Finally, the only place I can see a template category selection is in the Manage Templates dialog, and then only when I go through the ‘import’ process. Importing our test ‘Report.ots’ from the C:\temp\Templates folder simply copies it over to the
“C:\Users<user>\AppData\Roaming\LibreOffice\4\user\template” folder, even though that path is not on the Templates Path setting. Only then can I see the new template when creating a new calc spreadsheet via template. It seems clear that LO is using the templates folder from the ‘AppData’ path regardless of the Path setting in the Options dialog.

[sokol92]

@Bijou-666

First, I don’t see that there’s a place on the ‘Save As’ dialog that allows picking a category. As you suggest.

Create or open any Calc document.

Don’t have the Menu / File / Templates / Save as Template... item?

[Bijou-666]

Oh, I see. I did it via the File>Save As… method. Your workflow does put the new template (Report 2.ots in this case) in the c:\temp\templates folder, that’s handy. But new template does not show up in the choose template dialog when creating a new calc spreadsheet. It’s only after I go through the import process that the new template is available for use. But, once again, that just copies the template over to the AppData branch.

[sokol92]

When I select the menu item File / Templates / Manage Templates I see the following dialog, which can be used to create a new file based on a template:

[Hrbrgr]

@sokol92

which can be used to create a new file based on a template:

In addition to @sokol92 :

Chapter 10,Working with Templates

[Bijou-666]

Nope, sorry that’s not what I get. The ‘new’ template does not show unless I click ‘Manage’, then import it. Once again, I’m using v25.2.0.3 (x86). Sorry about the 32-bit version, I need EndNote integration.

Thanks @Hrbrgr for the reminder to RTFM. I did learn a few things. I can see how doing a File>Save As… workflow is slightly different internally than File>Save as Template…

Even so, the new template, created by the File>Save as Template workflow, does not show up in the choose template dialog, even when the Path>Templates setting is pointing to the C:\temp\Templates folder only …

Are we all using the same version?

[sokol92]

Version: 24.8.5.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: fddf2685c70b461e7832239a0162a77216259f22
CPU threads: 6; OS: Windows 10 X86_64 (10.0 build 19045); UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
Locale: ru-RU (ru_RU); UI: en-US
Calc: CL threaded

[Bijou-666]

OK, let me give the full version:

Version: 25.2.0.3 (x86) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: e1cf4a87eb02d755bce1a01209907ea5ddc8f069
CPU threads: 20; OS: Windows 11 X86_64 (10.0 build 26100); UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: CL threaded

I do try to keep it up to date. But, as I say, I’m stuck with the 32-bit version since I need EndNote integration. Do you think I should roll back to v24 to see if I get the proper behavior?

[Bijou-666]

Oh BTW, I’m very happy with LO so far. I’ve totally tossed MS Office (and I used to do telephone support for MS (back when they did that kind of thing).

[Bijou-666]

OK so @sokol92 & @Hrbrgr, I think I’ve got the problem resolved. First, I tried all this out on a second PC with the 64-bit version and it worked. I then uninstalled the 64-bit version and then installed the 32-bit version on that second PC. It all worked again! … So I returned to my laptop and uninstalled, then re-installed the 32-bit version and now it works! Yay!? Thanks folks, for all your help.