Microsoft

Templates

Creating documents shouldn’t be difficult!
Get custom templates designed to save you time and avoid frustration.

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Lost the original file? Send across what you have and get it rebuilt.

Branded Microsoft Office templates

Get easy to use templates that reflect your guidelines

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel templates will be matched as closely as possible into fully functional and user-friendly templates.

Brand colours, paragraph styles and carefully considered layouts created to save you time and keep documents looking consistent.

Looking for information about PowerPoint templates?

What are templates?

What is a template?

A template is a clean starting point for a new document. It has approved styles and pre-formatted content ready to use.

Templates can store more information and formatting tools than normal documents.

Macro-Enabled templates allow custom ribbons and automated VBA macros to run.

What are 'Macro Templates'?

Macros are written programmed sequences that run to perform automated tasks. Macros can display pop-up boxes, apply routine formatting, automate repetative tasks and provide tools for custom ribbon buttons. 

A macro-enabled template has the file extension ‘.dotm’ or ‘.dot’ and require Microsoft Office to have macros enabled.

Normal 'No-Macro' templates

Even without macros there are in-built tools and functions that are hidden away in Word that are rarely known and utilised.

With clever use of the ‘Auto-text’ functions’ they can be tailored to your specific template and made accessible via a drop-down gallery in a custom ribbon.

What to consider

While macros can be incredibly useful, there are some limitations that need to be considered. 

Strict Networking Policies

Some organisations may have strict server security policies that could lock down macro permissions therefore macro-enabled templates and addins may not be suitable.

Outside of network use

The master template stores all code and functions. New documents have a background reference link which allows access to display and use these tools.

However, when taking the document out of the network, the document can’t reach the master therefore the ribbon will break. Functionality can be restored by re-linking the document back to the master template.

Online browser editing

If you intend to use Office Online, macros will not work as this is a stripped-down basic browser editor. The document could still be edited however you may encounter layout issues.

Customised Ribbons

A custom ribbon typically sits in front of the Home tab. Its purpose is to be a central location for the more commonly used buttons and tools.

Basic ‘No Macro’ ribbon with easy access to an organised Quick Styles panel and basic tools. Suitable for small documents such as Letterheads.

Advanced ‘No Macro’ ribbon setup to allow flexibility with cover pages and pre-saved content.

Macro driven custom Word Ribbons can enhance productivity with one-click tools that automate repetative or complex formatting tasks.

Most of Powerpoints useful buttons are scattered across multiple ribbon tabs. Improve efficiency by combining them into one easy to find location.

‘Static’ Word ribbon

Standard ‘static’ Word templates cannot have VBA ‘macro’ driven buttons, however its possible to integrate built-in Word features and maximise functionality by tapping in to Word’s Quick Part ‘Building Blocks’ function.

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Embed Headers & Footers

Have a multi-office template? Switch out the headers and footers as needed. Embed different address blocks in one template.

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No Macros

Does not require macro-enabled security permissions therefore your IT team does not need to worry about their server security policies. Templates can be placed on the server and are immediately ready to be used.

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Quick pre-formatted 'drop-ins' using Microsofts Quick Parts

Insert pre-formatted and pre-saved Text, Tables or pictures directly at your cursor position. Easily store content within the template, or on your computer and insert it on demand.

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Table of Contents

Getting the ‘ToC’ working correctly can be tricky. Not only do you need the headings setup properly, the ToC needs special field code ‘switches’ to determine what headings to include. Using Microsofts Quick Parts

By adding pre-set field codes into a special gallery, you can easily swap out a different selection of headings to be used so you don’t need to waste time tweaking it manually only to have your edits overwritten once you update it.

Dynamic ‘VBA’ Word Ribbon

Advanced ribbons open up the possibilities for alot of time-saving automation. Buttons can be coded to perform layout changes, complex formatting, or even call custom dialog boxes to quickly fill-in key document details.

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Quickly apply formatting

Have access to all formatting in a structured, organised ribbon menu.

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Insert Divider or Back Pages

Buttons can be added to easily insert a divider or back page. Combine this button with a dialog box and give options of what type of design to insert.

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Insert Sections with ease

Section breaks can be tricky to work with no matter the skill level. Implement One-Click solutions for inserting landscape and portrait pages. 

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Easily change page orientation

Macros can help you flip between Portrait and Landscape page layouts. Automatically correct margins and adjust headers & footers.

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Fix 'broken' pages

It’s easy to accidentally break the document when deleting pages. Tools to assist with replacing and re-aligning your page can save you countless hours and headaches.

Word Pop-up ‘macro’ Dialog boxes

Coded dialog boxes can be great time savers. All coding is written specifically for your template to incoporate your design. By linking key information to special field codes you can be assured that you never miss an update in your document.

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Build your document

You can include options to automatically ‘build’ your document essentially creating many variations in one template.

Adding multi-selection coding such as checkboxes and dropdown boxes can build and add content to your document from scratch. 

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Pre-fill user info

Save multiple user information such as Name, Title and contact information. Retrieve it later to quickly fill dialog box fields.

Great if you are writing letters on behalf of other staff members.

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Multi-office templates

Using dropdown boxes, you can specify which state, office, or division to insert a different address block, disclaimer or legal information.

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Dynamic lists for data population

Add dropdown boxes to auto-fill information based on your selection. For example a global company could choose Australia in a letterhead, and then be presented with a list of State offices to insert, and so on.

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Recolour your entire document

Templates can be set up to completely re-order and recolour your document based on the new scheme chosen.

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Outlook Address Integration

Link your Letterheads to access your Outlook address book to auto-fill contact information. 

What next?

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Briefing & Quoting

Email your files and we can discuss your ideas and&nbsprequirements.

If you are only in the design
stage, send any current files (old or new). It’s great to get in touch early. If there are any concerns with the designs, I can provide practical solutions so you don’t give your client a design that isn’t possible.

I will then provide a quote outlining what I need and expected timelines. If you have a deadline in mind, please let me know.

Development & Testing

Once recieving all files, I’ll get started pulling apart the finer details and putting it back together in Microsoft Office in a way thats easy to use and reflects the approved designs as closely as possible.

Depending on the type of files being developed, work in progress files may be sent across for testing and approvals before finalising the templates layouts, pop-up  dialog boxes and customised ribbons. 

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Final Delivery

The final files will be supplied ready for you to use immediately. If there are any design tricks to be aware of, I will supply a PDF instruction so you are not left to figure it out, or try and explain it to your client.

If you need further support, we can discuss creating short training snippet videos which you can download and keep on your intranet  for future reference.