script new document from user template

[sdedalus1]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel

Hi,

I would like to make a very simple applescript/automator action to open a new document based on one of my user templates. I can't find an example on the web, and haven't scripted before. Can someone help?

Background: I am replacing a one-click 'new document from <my user template>' macro I had as a button on my customized toolbar in Word 2004. I understand I can't have it as a button on my toolbar in 2008. Unfortunately, that means two clicks to create a new doc from the script menu. At least I should be able to make it a keyboard shortcut though. I am doing all of this because I hate the Project Gallery, and can't stand to have to make three clicks or more to open a new doc based on one of my user templates. For speed/efficiency reasons, Word really needs a "Create new document from <specified template>" menu item & button; I could not find an automator action that shipped with Word08 that did this either. This should be one click away!

Of course, I don't store my styles, etc. in the Normal template, so that I can easily trash it when (not if) it becomes corrupt. And I alternate between 2 different user templates as my main starting points for documents.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[John McGhie]

You don't need a script for this.

Probably the easiest thing is to place a shortcut to the folder containing
your templates on your desktop.

Open that folder, then double-click the template you want, to create a new
document based on it.

Hope this helps

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel

Hi,

I would like to make a very simple applescript/automator action to open a new
document based on one of my user templates. I can't find an example on the
web, and haven't scripted before. Can someone help?

Background: I am replacing a one-click 'new document from <my user template>'
macro I had as a button on my customized toolbar in Word 2004. I understand I
can't have it as a button on my toolbar in 2008. Unfortunately, that means two
clicks to create a new doc from the script menu. At least I should be able to
make it a keyboard shortcut though. I am doing all of this because I hate the
Project Gallery, and can't stand to have to make three clicks or more to open
a new doc based on one of my user templates. For speed/efficiency reasons,
Word really needs a "Create new document from <specified template>" menu item
& button; I could not find an automator action that shipped with Word08 that
did this either. This should be one click away!

Of course, I don't store my styles, etc. in the Normal template, so that I can
easily trash it when (not if) it becomes corrupt. And I alternate between 2
different user templates as my main starting points for documents.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[sdedalus1]

Thanks John.

I didn't realize that double clicking on the template file opens a document copy rather than the template itself.

I'd rather keep my desktop clean, so I made a folder with shortcuts/aliases to my user templates and dragged it to the dock. I guess I could just drag the "My Templates" folder there, but I took the extra step of making aliases so that I could rename the folder & the file aliases. Now my doc templates are one click away. (It's actually click-and-hold on the folder in the dock, then choose the right file before releasing).

I'd still prefer they live in my custom toolbar, but this is close enough. Thanks again!