Using templates

A template is a file set up just right to be a starting point for a new project. For example, there might be certain resources you use for every project, a common task structure, certain named styles you like to use, and a standard set of working hours for your company. You can configure all of these things once, then create new documents from that template.

Creating a template

Create a new document normally by choosing New from the File menu.

Set up the document however you like. Everything about a document, including its contents, the state of the Project inspector, the view options, and so on, can be saved to a template.

Once the document is ready, choose Save As Template from the File menu.

Enter a name for the template and save it to the ~/Library/Application Support/OmniPlan/Templates/ folder, which is the default location. Note that you can also save to the same location in the Library of the computer you are using, or the Library of the network you are on, to make the template available to others.

Starting a new document from a template

When you create a document using the File ▸ New command, your new document follows the default template. To use a different template, use the File ▸ New From Template submenu instead.

Managing templates with the Templates preferences

Choose Preferences from the OmniPlan menu, then click the Templates icon at the top of the preferences window.

A list of available templates and their locations appears. The default template is listed in bold type; this is the template that is used when you choose New from the File menu. Unless you choose a different one, the Empty Plan document included inside the OmniPlan application is the default template.

Templates in any of the Library/Application Support/Templates/ folders appear in the list; these can be in the Library of your user folder, the Library of the computer you are using, or the Library of the network you are on.

From the action menu below the list, you can:

Edit: Change the selected template. You can also just double-click the template's name in the list. When you save your changes, the template is updated.

Edit a Copy: Make a different version of the selected template. Select this command, type a title for the new template, then change the document and save it as usual.

Make Default: Use the selected template from now on when making new documents with the File ▸ New command. The template's entry in the list changes to bold type.

Rename: Change the title of the selected template.

Move to Trash: Get rid of the selected template by putting it in the trash. From there, you can still recover it if you need it. Otherwise, it will be deleted the next time you empty the trash.

You can also use the Project ▸ Set As Default For New Tasks menu item to create new tasks that match the default.