When you create a new list, the Create New List dialog allows you to enter a list name and choose the type of list from a list of Templates. Each template is configured with appropriate columns, category values, settings and fonts for a certain type of list. The Basic Checklist template contains just Checkbox and Item columns. The names of the other templates describe the type of list they can be used to create.
The list of templates is a hierarchical list, so if you see a “+” in front of a name in the list, it is really a folder of templates and you can click on the “+” to open the folder and see the templates inside. Folders organize the templates into groups so you don’t have to scroll through a large list to find the template you want.
One of the best things about templates is that they are just ListPro lists, so you can add new ones and change the existing ones if you want to. The templates are stored in a file called “Templates.clf” in the directory in which you installed ListPro (C:\Program Files\Ilium Software\ListPro, by default). You can open this file with ListPro to add new templates and edit the current ones. Each folder in the Templates file shows up as a folder in the templates list, so you can rearrange the lists and folders in the Templates file to change how the templates appear when you create a new list.
Here are some things you can change about the templates to personalize your list-making:
If you prefer a different list font from the default used by ListPro, set the default list font in all the templates to your favorite font.
If you always want your new lists to start with a certain set of columns, change one of the lists (or add a new list) in the Templates.clf file to have those columns.
You can edit the Category Values list for a category column so the lists will always start out with those category values in the drop down list.
You can fill the template with an initial set of items and these items will always be present in the new lists when they are created. If you constantly have to go through the same checklist but want to keep your old checklists rather than resetting them, this would allow you to do that easily.
You can set up an initial sort order so items will show up in that order.
You can order the lists in the Templates file and put them in folders.
If you invent any particularly useful templates, we encourage you to send them to the ListPro List Exchange on our website so we can share them with other ListPro users. You can find the List Exchange at http://www.iliumsoft.com/lists.htm.