Document! X 2022
Design the Content / Introduction to Templates
In This Topic
    Introduction to Templates
    In This Topic

    What are Templates

    A Document! X template is a set of configuration information that collectively defines the style of the relevant type of content in your project. Templates are saved and edited independently of any project. This is useful as you can create a custom template that can be used in multiple projects.

    Template Types

    Document! X contains several different types of templates that can used for the relevant type of output in your project e.g. Topics, .NET, Web etc. Templates can be chosen for the different output types on the Templates page in the Build Profile editor.

    Template Type Description
    Topic This template is applied to any conceptual topic page  that is generated by Document! X.
    Web Help This template is used to define the layout and style of the web frame and navigation bar in the plain HTML web output.
    Reference Documentation
    (.NET, COM, Xsd, Database, Web Service, Java, Javascript)
    These templates will be applied to the reference documentation sections of the output generated by Document! X

    Anatomy of a Template

    Each template consists of several different aspects which collectively define the content and style of the template.

    Page Types

    Page Types are HTML documents that define the structure and style of each type of a generated page.

    Scraps Scraps are re-usable snippets of HTML that are inserted into Page Types.
    Phrases

    Phrases are static pieces of localizable text that are defined in a template and can be used in both

    template and project content e.g. "Table of Contents", "See Also". Phrases can be referenced by

    using the <!--DXMETADATA start type="Phrase" name="PhraseName"--><!--DXMETADATA end-->

    element in template content, and PhraseName in project content.

    Properties

    The template editor contains a Property List that allows you to define template level property that can

    then be overriden at the Project or Build Profile level.

    Metadata Elements

    Metadata elements are dynamic pieces of content generated by Document! X

    and can be inserted into Page Types and Scraps. More information on metadata elements can be found here: Metadata Elements

    Other Files A template may contain one or more additional files that are used throughout the template e.g. images, javascript, stylesheets.
    Widgets Globally defined Widgets can be overriden at the template level.
    Table of Contents Reference documentation templates only. The Table of Contents layout defines how the Table of Contents for a specific reference documentation type will be structured. You can create new layouts or edit existing ones.
    Diagram Style .NET, COM, Javascript and Xsd documentation templates only. The default style for object model diagrams generated for reference documentation can be edited here.
    See Also