To set the properties of a template frame, right-click between the dotted yellow line and the solid black line (i.e. the manipulation area of the frame). Select Template frame properties in the popup menu that appears. The Print template properties dialog opens where a number of properties can be set for the template frame (see Figure 1).
Figure 1
The Print template properties dialog contains the following settings:
Name
The template frame can be given a name. This name will be passed on to the created print template, and finally shown in the Print frame properties dialog. It is suggested to let the name reflect the intended usage of that particular print template (and also to let it correspond to the name of the .tbl file in some way).
Printer - Paper size - Landscape
Printer settings can be made for a template frame. However, a template frame will not be used for printing anything directly onto a printer. These settings are only for designing a certain print template to be suitable for a specific printer, paper size or orientation.
Scale
A template frame can be given a scale. The scale of the print template will not have any meaning in the finished print template, but is only used for convenience while the print template is being created. For example, many tools found in CET Designer are not convenient to use in the small scale of a paper.
Horizontal / Vertical alignment
It is possible to set horizontal and vertical alignment for the template frame. This will affect the print template behavior when it is fitted on a paper size that it was not originally designed for. Note that in order to get a good result, it is important to set these settings right.
- Scaling, either horizontally or vertically, is recommended when title blocks touch both opposite edges of the printable area. If scaling is used, there is a risk that the contents of the print template might end up with a slightly different aspect in the final print frame.
- If a title block only touches one opposing edge, it is recommended to align the print template to that edge. The size of the title block in that corresponding orientation will then be absolute, so if printed on a smaller paper there is a risk that some parts of the title block get lost outside the printable area. Aligning the title block to two edges is for example convenient to use when a title block only covers the corner of a paper.
To create and save the print template, click the Create template button in the bottom-right corner of the Print template properties dialog. A Save As dialog opens. Choose a suitable file name and where to save the file. When clicking Save, an independent .tbl file will be generated. This file can be sent to another computer and loaded into any print frame.