Saving a template... but more...


JJRamCHS
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I understand how to save a file with commonly used defaults as a 'plan' file to use as a template for future plans.  What I want to do is to include that file in the list of templates that are shown in the Create New Plan dialog.  The need to use File/Open plan/ then navigate to the folder, subfolder and filename is cumbersome and, frankly, a waste of time. Isn't there some way to add my templates to the New Plan list?

I would also very much like my new template to behave like the templates that are included in HDPro so that they cannot be overwritten and automatically open the Save As dialog when attempting a save it for the first time after drawing a new plan using that template (similar to template files in MS Office and other programs)

I could find no reference to anything beyond the basic use of templates in the help files.

I am comfortable with editing .dat, .html or program files to achieve this end if instructed as to how.

ANY help would be appreciated.

How about adding this feature if not already available?  Seams to me that it would be a valuable addition and, given the outstanding capabilities of HDPro, would be an expected basic feature.

Thanks so much!

Jeff

 

HDPro 2015

Win8.1

post-1717-0-67481700-1426892999_thumb.jpg

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I have posted on this before , not sure if this forum or the Legacy one, not at my computer now but basically if you open a file called

   Home Style Templates.dat   in the Templates folder and observe the formatting carefully you will see how to add your Own Template to the File along with a default image for the preview window.

 

the file does not use Word wrapping ,so be careful not to alter it ...

 

make a backup of the file before playing around ,so you don't need to reinstall HD if it gets messed up.

 

M.

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Don't have Pro on my Netbook but this is the line I added to  the top off the file called Home Styles Templates.dat  in Wordpad.

 

note these are the names of MY files in the Template Folder , you need to use your plan name and image file name.

 

ie my .plan file is called  _HD Basic House.plan           ( the _ causes this file to be listed 1st)

 

   My .jpg is called  _HD Basic House_p.jpg

 

so the line in the .dat file is :

 

_HD Basic House.plan;My Template;_HD Basic House_p.jpg;My Template Plan and Defaults.

 

  ie  Plan name:Template Name(you want to see in DBX);Image name for DBX;Brief description

 

 

post-25-0-73590600-1426901567_thumb.jpg

 

Hope this helps,

 

Mick

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Thanks, Mick & Treenet for your help!

I was able to edit the templates file, but as of yet have not been able to save it - keep getting error message: "Access denied". I am logged on as Admin, have checked file permissions and attributes, and made sure HD is closed (not using the file).   ?

Although I was hoping for placing multiple templates in the New Plan diag for different period & style homes I often work on, I guess I will go with Treenet's idea - until I can save the Temp's file - and place those mutiple file references in a seperate Win's toolbar on the Desktop a/o icon group on the Start screen.

Thanks again for all your help!

J

:)

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I was hoping for placing multiple templates in the New Plan diag for different period & style homes I often work on

Chief Architect Premier has the ability to do Plan Databases like what you want to create, so Home Designer is intentionally limited in this capacity.  Personally, I wouldn't mess with the template files to get things to show up in dialog (sounds risky).

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I've been doing this for about 4-5 yrs, (works in versions other than Pro too)  and never had an issue , the .dat file is just a plain text file , no hex editors or anything fancy required, and works well once you figure out the syntax.  

 

The C:\Programs\XXXX\XXXX\ Templates Folder IS the full backup for the MyDocs\XXXX\XXXX\Data\Templates Folder so if anything goes wrong with the Data\Templates Folder Files , HD/Chief can "repair" itself if needed, if something becomes corrupted without a full reinstall. 

 

The XXXX_p.jpg file is actually the Thumbnail image HD and Chief auto makes if you have Thumbnails on in the Preferences.

 

Do you have hidden files and folders on in Windows Jeff , trying to think of why you are not getting access to the file , unless it has been write protected ( read only) in the 2015 version? or has the "system" attribute so is protected?

 

M.

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  • 5 months later...

Windows 8 and 10 both lock up the c drive, you will likely have to add yourself under security for the drive, this will override the hidden or read only attributes.

 

Right Click on the Chief Architect folder under programs > go to the Security Tab > add your username (if it isn't there) > Grant your username Full Control

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  • 2 years later...
On 3/24/2015 at 7:56 PM, Kbird1 said:

The XXXX_p.jpg file is actually the Thumbnail image HD and Chief auto makes if you have Thumbnails on in the Preferences.

Mick,

Apologies for resurrecting this old post; hopefully that is not complete taboo here, but I couldn't find another reference to this by searching on "thumbnail image".

So, I have this working except for showing a Thumbnail image in the Create New Plan dbx. How can I have it display a thumbnail associated with my personal (blank/empty) templates in this dbx?

Are these somehow embedded into, say, HD's "Country Cottage" built-in plan template?

 

Thanks in advance,

Delain

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