I tried creating a template and I get a “Runtime error.” Then I get a “Scrivener not working error.”
Does this happen repeatedly with the same project, and further does it happen with any other attempts to create a template (for a very simple example, try creating a new blank project and then saving that as a template).
It appears to do it for any type of template, in the existing project. I created a blank test project and a template was saved without any problem.
Okay, so do I take it from the first line that you are able to get into the template setup area? You can give it a name, description, icon, and set a category—it’s just when you actually try to create the template itself that the program crashes?
I wonder if perhaps there is something in the project itself that is causing issues. I would have a look about (check the Trash as well; ought to empty it for templates anyway), especially for media files and PDFs. Those are the sort of things that can cause problems from time to time.
Yes, that is correct.
I have a lot of Jpeg images but don’t think there are any PDF’s and I don’t have any media files. I will check the trash. When I did complete a test template in a new document, it only had a few words while the one I am working on, that has the problem, is a lot larger ( around 4,000)…lots of files and folders I use for structure and research.
I would try exporting all of the jpegs, trashing them from the project, and see if that works. Just as a test, mind, to see if that is the problem or if it is red herring.
Emptying the trash didn’t solve the problem. I don’t want to export the jpegs because it will be a pain. I’ll just use it as is and not use a template…I guess. I hope my backups aren’t corrupted ?
Typically a template is completely devoid of any real world project details like research material and written stuff. There are exceptions of course, and I don’t know specifically what you are attempting to accomplish, but perhaps the template tool isn’t what you meant to be using it for anyway? If you use this same set of JPEG files all of the time, then that is another matter and maybe they would be useful in a template.
Well, when I say something in the project might be messed up, I don’t mean to imply the project itself is corrupted. The project holds files within it. Its integrity is in most cases separate from the integrity of the files. Think of it a bit like your computer on a smaller scale. If one MP3 on your computer stops opening because it is corrupted, that doesn’t imply the computer is corrupted, just the MP3. So if one JPEG is messed up and causing the project to not encapsulate itself into the template format, that doesn’t mean the project is corrupted (or thus its backups), just that this one file somewhere in there is acting up.
If you wish to test the no-JPEG files without exporting, then use the File/Save As... menu command to create a temporary fork of your project file on your Desktop. Delete the JPEGs from that forked version, and then try saving it as a template. Once you are done with the test project, you can close it and delete it, then open the original from wherever you have it saved now.
I was attempting to create a more detailed character template, no jpegs…just text. Went to the “template sheets” and created a file that I then put text into. Then tried a file|save as template| and got the “title,” “category,” “description.” I entered “Character, detailed template,” no category (blank), then left the existing text in the description. I never created a template before and this was my first attempt.
Okay, that sounds like a good usage. If you wish to adjust our basic character/setting sheet examples to something you prefer, then creating your own derivative template based off of the built-in one is the right way to go. Just keep in mind that when you create a project template, it will save absolutely everything you see in front of you in that project (and a lot of things you can’t as easily see as well, such as compile settings, and various preferences such as Show Invisible and so on). Anything you adjust in the project, that sticks when you open and close it, anything you add as data in the binder, any UI choices (such as split views, corkboard settings, outliner columns, which toolbars are visible) will be a part of the template. So try to keep the whole project as generic as possible. If you don’t need the JPEGs in every single novel you intend to create, then you wouldn’t want them in the template to begin with. Hopefully that makes more sense!
Yep, that makes sense…thanks a lot. I keep most of the jpegs in a separate folder.
Appreciate all the info !