3.3. Using frame templates

Frame templates are a way of saving the styles you've given to a frame so that you can use it on another frame. For example, you might set a frame to have a red background, a blue border, and to have the size 50 pixels by 50 pixels; you could save that frame as a frame template, then make another frame look exactly the same way by applying the saved frame template to a new frame. Frame templates can contain all or some of the original frame's attributes. You can use frame templates similarly to the way you can copy and paste frames.

Creating a frame template

To make a frame template, make changes to the frame, then click the + page halo to save the frame as a frame template. A window will appear asking which aspects of the frame you want to save as a frame template:

../../images/AddFrameTemplate.png

All properties are chosen by default. Choose which you want to use; when you're sure, click Add. Be careful with the location and size properties: often you will want to use frame templates for frames that are different sizes and places than the frame you're creating the template from. The frame template you've just created will appear in the frame templates palette in the library tab:

../../images/FrameTemplatePalette.png

This screenshot shows a single selected frame templates. You can have as many frame templates in a book as you want.

Applying a frame template

To apply a frame template, select the frame to which you want to apply the frame template. Go to the frame templates palette in the library tab; choose the frame template that you want to use, then double-click it. The frame template should be applied to your frame. Be careful: applying a frame template may undo changes that you've made to the frame.

You can also apply a frame template by dragging the name of the frame template from the frame templates palette to the frame on the page that you want to apply it to. The frame should light up red when you do this.