I searched and all I found was a wish list mention from 2016.
Is there a way, in Scrivener 3, to make my document templates lockable so that I can input new info but not change the actual template?
Like a fillable form?
Hi.
No. You canāt lock parts (or the whole) of a document.
The best thing to do is to take a snapshot of the original before filling it up. So this way you can copy paste back requiring parts of it if you messed it up by accident.
You can design a table to make the process more convenient, but again, nothing will stop you from messing it up.
I thought that was the purpose of Document Templatesā¦
For instance, in my āFoodā project, I have set up a āRecipeā template. It actually consists of three documents: the main document titled āRecipeā for info about the recipe, where I found it, or itās history within the family; a child document titled āIngredientsā which is set up with the paragraph style for listing the ingredients; a child document titled āMethodā ready for the cooking instructions.
When I encounter a new recipe to try, I donāt open that template in its folder. I make sure I have selected the appropriate section in the Binder for that recipe and go to Project > New from Template and click āRecipeā. A new set of documents, āRecipeā, with āIngredientsā and āMethodā child documents is created at the end of the section I have chosen. So I change the title āRecipeā to the name of the dish, put in all the details in the appropriate places, and then move it to where I want it to be in the list (which is sorted alphabetically within sections).
I donāt touch the āRecipeā document template in the Templates folderā¦ it remains unchanged. In essence, it is a fillable form. Or have I misunderstood your problem?
Mark
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Yeah. Now that youāve put it this way, the initial question is actually quite ambiguous.
OP, please expand/refine.
Vincent you had the correct understanding. You can always accidentally change your template while using it.
Not quite, by fill-able form I mean like a PDF form. You can not change the form headings or other wording. You can only enter additional information. Once you add a template to a subdocument, there is nothing to prevent accidentally deleting or changing formatting from the template.
I do not know how to do this in Scrivener, but assuming you have access to Word, and if you wouldnāt mind keeping your template in your resource folder or as an external link in your bookmarksā¦
I transcribe hundreds of historical records. The boilerplate text/form within each category is repetitive. (Much like a character sheet is)To save time:
- I created a form in Word (or other word processor) with fields to contain the āblank linesā
- The document can then be locked to editing only the fields (blank lines).
- Save this form as a template in the word processing program you use.
- Add the link to this template to your resource folder (or bookmarks) and set it to open in Word.
- Test your link in Scrivener. It should open your Word template in Word.
- Fill in the blanks/fields
- Use āSave asā and create ānew name.rtfā (type .rtf is important here)
Iām working from memory, and not at my computer to check the steps right now, so forgive me if I leave something out.
Now you can bring the completed doc back into Scrivener as an .rtf (Scrivenerās native format). It wonāt be locked to editing, but your template will still be locked.
As an rtf, the newly created document from Word should work anywhere in your binder or draft. If you are not worried about changing the 'filled out form", but only the template, this could work for you.
Alternatively, I think there is option to keep the fields visible (shaded) and the rest of the template locked. In this case I donāt think Scrivener can read it or keep it locked to editing. (Iāve not had the need for this, so havenāt tried). My understanding is that a doc of this type would have to live in your resource folder, and open in itās native program/external editor.
Just fyi, when you save as RTF, it effectively āerasesā the field shading and locks (which is what I use) - then my transcription looks identical to the original I transcribed from.
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