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Set up a template for a document library

Set up a template for a document library

When you first create a document library, you can set up a blank template that runs the appropriate program when a user clicks New Document on the document library page. Later, if you have a file in your site that you want to use as a template for new documents, you can modify the document library to use that file as the template.

Do one of the following:

Set up a template when you create a document library

  1. Create a document library and specify a default document type.

    How?

    1. On the top link bar, click Create.
    2. On the Create Page page, click Document Library.
    3. In the Name box, type a name for the list. The document library name is required.
    4. In the Description box, type a description of the purpose of the library. The description is optional.
    5. In the Navigation section, click Yes if you want a link to this list to appear on the Quick Launch bar.
    6. In the Document Versions section, click Yes if you want a backup copy of a file to be created each time a file is checked into the library.
    7. In the Document Template section, specify the type of file to be used as a template for new files in this document library.
    8. Click Create.
  2. Create a customized template.

    How?

    1. On the top link bartop link bar, click Documents and Lists.
    2. Click the name of the document library that you want to open.
    3. On the page that displays the document library, click Modify settings and columns.
    4. In the General Settings section, to the right of Document Template: and the path to the template, click Edit template.
    5. Edit the template file as desired, and then save it.

    Note  If you customize the template after documents have been added to the document library, changes to the template will not be reflected in the existing documents.

Modify a document library to use an existing file as a template

  1. On the top link bar, click Documents and Lists.
  2. Click the name of the document library that you want to open.
  3. Click Modify settings and columns.
  4. In the General Settings section, click Change general settings.
  5. In the Document Template section, in the Template URL box, type the Web address of the file that you want to use as a template. The file must be saved to the current Windows SharePoint Web site.
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