A project template is a collection of files that serve as a pattern for creating new projects. They enable you to work more efficiently. You can use existing templates and design your own to create a variety of projects, based on your needs.
Templates are a great way to design numerous projects that maintain a consistent look. They can store everything you need to save time. Instead of going through the process of designing new projects that are similar to the ones you have already created, you can use a template that automatically provides the design and layouts for you.
For example, in a template for application Help, you can:
Design a standard table of contents to use with all of your projects. You create the standard books that you need to use in each project and you assign the titles, arrange the order of books in the table of contents, and select the book icons.
Author the common topics that you need to use in each project. You create the standard topics such as Welcome, Using this Help System, and so on. You can add these topics to the table of contents and create keywords for them in the index.
Design the style sheets that you want to consistently use with each project. Attach these style sheets to your common topics so they are available with each new project.
Add images, sound and video files that you plan to include with each project. If your projects use a company logo, the template can include the .GIF or .JPEG file for quick and easy access. You can even have pages already designed that include these logos and company slogans.
Design custom colors and font sets.
Design custom windows or modify the Help viewer to suit your standards.
Import map files (for context-sensitive Help topics).
When you create a new project based on this template, the design, layouts, and files are already available. Your projects will have a consistent look and feel when everything is automatically arranged.