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FAQ: Using templates in SuperMemo

You can change the position of question and answer fields
Editing an item associated with a template will affect the template
After you create a template, apply it to your elements
Using an element as a template
All newly added elements use the same default template
You can set question and answer fonts
Use default category template to determine the template used in new elements
You cannot modify the formatting of HTML texts with templates
You can change the look of items globally
Categories make it possible to select the default template
Applying template with a specific font
You can apply a template to any subset of elements you choose
Modify templates in elements that use them
Understanding templates requires some reading
If you delete a component from a global template, all elements will be affected
Occlusion tests
How do you make components come up on top
You can define your cloze template or apply it after generating the cloze
You can change the default item template for a given category
You can detach a template to avoid global template changes
To retain formatting and pictures, you need to use a matching component type in the template
 If "Add new" does not create needed components, you can redefine the template
Templates are able to hide content
You can add a picture to all your chemistry elements
You can restore deleted predefined templates
You can learn English in your own language (e.g. Japanese)
You can use Multiple Choice template for multiple choice tests
Component order may determine how the titles are generated
Use plain-text templates to change the font after question-answer text file import
Use Template : Save with objects to include text labels in the template
Reapplying a template is a snap
"Add new" uses your default template
In certain situations templates will auto-impose by design
Changing templates in SuperMemo is analogous to changing colors in Windows
Use the Sound predefined template to add pronunciation to your elements
Spelling exercises in SuperMemo
Difference between "view source" and "detach template"
You can drag components inside a template
Template flags determine how templates are applied
In some cases, detach template will not restore the original element
You can add a picture to a subset of elements
You can delete the source element of a given template
What if a template keeps old texts
Use Spelling template over cloze deletion for a "typing cloze"
Answer attribute and the template
 An item cannot use two templates at the same time
You cannot auto-impose templates
Using default RTF templates instead of HTML templates
The meaning of Replace with template

You can detach a template to avoid global template changes
(Mariusz Zmuda, Poland, Jan 29, 2001)
Question:
I changed the size of the question field in one element and SuperMemo changed this in other elements too! This was quite a surprise!
Answer:
If you change the template of one element, all elements that use this template will be affected. If you want to provide a unique look to a single element, you need to detach its template. For best effect, choose Template : Impose template or simply press Ctrl+Shift+F2 and respond with Yes to Detach template? As of this moment, changes to the element will not propagate to other places in the collection

You can set question and answer fonts
(Paul R Taubr, Wed, May 22, 2002 0:41)
Question:
I try to create a default template which is just a font and font size (Arial 14) to use with all my items (questions and answers)
Answer:
If all your items are to use the same font for all questions and the same font for all answers, you could use Tools : Options : Fonts : Question font and Answer font. 
However, if you want to use a template only on a subset of elements, you could do the following: 

  1. Add an item (Alt+A) 
  2. (optional) If you want to save space and use the same font in the entire text field, apply the Classic template (Template : Apply template on the element menu or Ctrl+Shift+M)
  3. Choose Text : Edit font on the component menu to change the font. Do it for both the question and the answer fields (e.g. right click over the question and choose Text : Edit font)
  4. Use Template : Save as default (Ctrl+Alt+M) on the element menu. Your new template with the new font will be saved as the default template for the currently used category. This means it will be used each time you press Alt+A

You can change the look of items globally
(Doug Edmunds, USA, Nov 4, 1997)
Question:
How can I globally change the layout of question, answer, font, background color, etc.
Answer:
Do the following:

  1. Create a new template with your new layout
  2. Save the template with Template : Save as template (on the element menu)
  3. In the contents window, choose the branch that should be changed (or open a relevant browser subset)
  4. On the contents menu choose Process branch : Template : Apply template and select the new template (or use the same operation in the browser)

How do you make components come up on top
(George W., USA, Dec 14, 2000)
Question:
I use the occlusion pre-defined template. Is there any way to make the red occlusion box appear in front of the image?
Answer:
You need to learn two skills that will help you handle such situations:

Note that when you return to your element, it is the component order that determines which components are displayed on top (see: element menu)

You can learn English in your own language (e.g. Japanese)
(Tomoki Takahashi, Japan, Feb 6, 1999)
Question:
I would like to learn English with questions asked in Japanese. How can I do it?
Answer:
You might want to (1) create your own template with the Japanese font in the question field (you can use Text : New Font to change the question font in the template), (2) save the template with Template : Save as default.
After this, each time you choose Add new (or press Alt+A), your questions will be generated in Japanese and answers will retain standard look (you can also swap English with Japanese by using Edit : Swap components).
Although you cannot change the writing direction in SuperMemo text components (from yokogaki to tategaki), you can include texts via OLE from Japanese Word or Ichi Taro word processors. These programs use either Microsoft IME or ATOK utilities to input Japanese text. Microsoft IME is part of Japanese Windows. ATOK is part of the Ichi Taro word processor (Justy System) but can be installed as a separate unit. With ATOK you can change from the English to the Japanese input mode. It is fully compatible with SuperMemo: 1) You type the pronunciation of a word from the keyboard, 2) press Space, and 3) select the appropriate kanji(s) from the list showing those matching the input sounds combination. Ganbatte ne

What if a template keeps old texts
(Brian DeMio, USA, Jan 10, 1999)
Question:
I changed the template for the questions so that I have a purple background and yellow fonts. Everything is fine with that part. After I entered in an element (question and answer), I hit Alt+A to put in a new one. The question from the previous element keeps popping up in the new elements where you are supposed to input answers. How can I fix this?
Answer:
Please make sure that when you save your template there are no texts in text components. You can accomplish that by choosing Save as template rather than Save with objects on the element menu

Component order may determine how the titles are generated
(Krzysztof Morawski, Poland, Dec 28, 1998)
Question:
I am learning Norwegian. Until recently, SuperMemo has automatically chosen appropriate titles for my elements; however, for some time now, it has been choosing Norsk as the title for all elements (Norsk is a text included in a text component displayed as a label on each page). How can I make SuperMemo choose the right title (in my case, Polish word used as the question)?
Answer:
SuperMemo will automatically generate the title from the first text component in the component order. Your Norsk component is clearly first in the component order in your template. Choose Component order on the element menu and drag the component with your question text to the first position. Then choose OK and save your element in a new template (choose the same template name as before, i.e. default item template name)

If you delete a component from a global template, all elements will be affected
(facep2b, Sunday, July 22, 2001 10:29 PM)
Question:
My collection is composed of questions and answers. For some reason, only the answers are showing. What gives?
Answer:
Most likely you have deleted the question component (or changed its display status) in the default global template used in your elements. Try applying another template (e.g. Classic, Item, etc.) to see if this is the correct diagnosis. Then you will need to define the appropriate template and save it in place of your default template. Remember to make a backup beforehand!

You can change the position of question and answer fields
Question:
How can I change the position of the question field on the screen?
Answer:
Alt-click the question twice. It will become draggable. Alternatively, you can choose Dragging mode on the question's menu or on the element menu (in the latter case, all components will become draggable). If you want to change this position globally (i.e. in all elements in your collection), you should use templates

You can delete the source element of a given template
(Christian Roessel, Germany, Dec 17, 2000)
Question:
If I save a template, is it safe to delete the source element? Is the element used to save the template copied or only referenced to in the template registry?
Answer:
 Yes. You can delete the source element. Every template is a separate copy of data defining the look of elements. Deleting the source element will only decrease the reference count for a given template. Templates are not deleted even if the reference count drops to zero

You can drag components inside a template
(Adam, Australia, Mon, May 07, 2001 2:48)
Question:
How can one tell if a transparent image component without an image is present in a template displayed in the template registry?
Answer:
You can put the template in the editing mode by Alt+click or by choosing Mode : Editing on the template's menu

Categories make it possible to select the default template
(Adam, Australia, Mon, May 07, 2001 2:48)
Question:
How do we select a template from the template registry as the default template?
Answer:
You need to select this template for the current category in the category registry. For example, choose Search : Categories, click Template (if you want to use the template with items), select the template from the registry and choose Accept (at the bottom of the registry window)

An item cannot use two templates at the same time
(facep2b, Monday, July 23, 2001 8:37 PM)
Question:
There seems to be two templates being applied at the same time! Superimposed over my questions and answers
Answer:
Each element is made of the source data (e.g. question and answer) and may additionally include a template. There cannot be two templates used with the same element. If you apply a template to an element, the template is filled out with matching source data and displayed in the element window. For example, blue template with empty text fields applied to a green source with non-empty text will show as a blue element with non-empty texts taken from the source

If Add New does not create needed components, you can redefine the template
(noam-at, Israel, Aug 04, 2001)
Question:
When I click Add New, I get a new item, but SuperMemo doesn't create two editing fields for the question and answer. Instead, I see the gray screen of SuperMemo without any fields
Answer:
Add New uses the default template to create new items. If you delete all components (e.g. question and answer fields) from the default template, Add New will add new elements that look empty. If you want to restore your question and answer components, you need to redefine the template. If you are not very fluent with templates, locate an element in your collection that looks ok and choose Template : Save as default on the element menu. This will save the look of the selected element in the default template. Add New will then replicate this look

You can define your cloze template or apply it after generating the cloze
(Patrick Stöckmann, Germany, Wednesday, July 11, 2001 8:03 PM)
Question:
How can I influence the template for cloze deletions?
Answer:
The element from which you generate the cloze deletion will be used as a template for your cloze unless you choose to automatically apply the default category template (see: Categories). If you miss the answer field in the parent template, it will be added for you. If you define your own answer field in the parenting element or in the template, it will be reused. Once you generate the cloze deletion, you can manually apply any template with Ctrl+Shift+M

Editing an item associated with a template will affect the template
(Reinhard K. Koehler (private), Friday, September 21, 2001 10:15 PM)
Question:
I changed the width of a component and all my items changed. I only wanted that one item changed
Answer:
If you edit an element that is associated with a template, the appearance of all items using that template will change. If you want to edit only one element choose Template : Impose template on the element menu (answer Yes to "Detach template"). This will disconnect your item from the template

Changing templates in SuperMemo is analogous to changing colors in Windows
(Reinhard K. Koehler (private), Friday, September 21, 2001 10:15 PM)
Question:
Why templates change the appearance of elements behind my back. Those things should not change unless there is a specific clear conscious command by the user
Answer:
Changing templates is like changing colors in Windows. Once you change the color scheme, all windows will be affected. To prevent changing the look of other elements, detach the template (e.g. with Template : Impose Template on the element menu)

Use plain-text templates to change the font after question-answer text file import
(Eli Liang, Russian Federation, Fri, Sep 21, 2001 21:10)
Question:
When I try to use File : Tools : Import : Q&A text to import Cyrillic questions and answers. After import the Cyrillic displays as other characters (i.e. not Cyrillic)
Answer:
Question and answer files are plain text files and do not include the font. You need to import your file into the correct template based on plain-text components that will use the appropriate font in text components. You could also use Tools : Options : Fonts : Question font and Answer font to define fonts for plain-text templates that use the default font (i.e. have no specific font setting). For example: apply Classic template, change the font to Cyrillic and import your file using the newly defined template

Use Template : Save with objects to include text labels in the template
(Walter G. Mayfield, Jr., Friday, July 13, 2001 6:37 AM)
Question:
I would like to use the template as a header stamp, to identify where the information came from
Answer:
You can accomplish this by defining an empty template with a plain-text component filled out with the label (e.g. "biology"). Instead saving this template with Save as default, use Template : Save with objects on the element menu to make sure the label text is included as part of the template. If this template becomes the default template of your "Biology" category, the label "biology" will be included in items each time Add New is chosen

Modify templates in elements that use them
(tomkin242, Nov 05, 2001)
Question:
How do I add a specific picture to a template?
Answer:
In the element that uses the template, add an image (e.g. paste it). Then choose Template : Save with objects and save the template under the old name. This way, all elements using the old template will display the image

After you create a template, apply it to your elements
(Safecity Training Academy, Sat, Dec 29, 2001 7:29)
Question:
We create a template for a collection. But when we choose Learn, the template reverses back to the dull grey format and the very small text
Answer:
It is not enough to create a template. You need to apply it (i.e. use it). If you created a template with Save as template, you could choose Save as default instead. This will make the new template a default template in the currently used category. All newly added items will use that template. As for previously created items, you can use Template : Apply template (Ctrl+Shift+M) on the element menu or apply it en mass in Contents or in a browser

You can use Multiple Choice template for multiple choice tests
(dieter.gauss, Germany, Friday, January 11, 2002 9:35 AM)
Question:
I want to make a simple multiple choice test. Not one word in your entire guide how to do it
Answer:
You can use ready-made Multiple Choice template with Template : Apply Template (Ctrl+Shift+M) for the simplest form of multiple choice test. The reasons for little coverage of multiple choice tests in the documentation are two: 

  1. Multiple choice tests are not an efficient way of representing knowledge in learning. Unless you are learning for a specific multiple choice test exam, it is by far better for your knowledge and skills to produce simple questions and answers where you need to remember correct answer instead of choosing it from among several options 
  2. Once you understand how to create and resize components, you only need to select MCT : Wrong or MCT : Correct on the component menu. Those and similar skills are sufficient to build more advanced multiple choice tests as well as a whole range of specialist testing procedures. In other words, you are only given basic building block skills. The rest is up to your infinite creativity

You can apply a template to any subset of elements you choose
(I.L., Canada, Monday, January 28, 2002 3:40 AM)
Question:
I have created a template with fonts I like. Can the questions and answers I entered earlier be converted quickly and conveniently to the font that new elements are "enjoying"?
Answer:
You can try the following steps: 

  1. Open the earlier-created elements in a browser 
  2. Choose Process browser : Template : Apply template on the browser menu
  3. Choose the template you have defined for your elements and click Accept

There are two conditions that need to be met for this to work: 

  1. Template type must match the type of elements to which it is to be applied. In your case your template must be an item template to be applied to Q&A items (right-click the template to see its type on Type menu)
  2. For your fonts to overwrite earlier-used fonts in your elements, the template must use plain text components. If your template uses rich text components, the template font will not be used (fonts are hard-wired in rich text). See also: Text components

All newly added elements use the same default template
(Dustin J. D., USA Educational, Sunday, May 05, 2002 9:53 PM)
Question:
Anytime I hit Add new, SuperMemo creates an item with a template. However, it links the appearance from the last created template element to the new element
Answer:
Add new uses the current default item template. Each time you change that template, all items using that template will be changed. All new items will also look in a new way. If you want to modify only one element without affecting the others, you need to detach the template. Most likely, you will want to use Impose template to make sure you detach the template without changing the way other items look

Reapplying a template is a snap
(Lawrence Kritzinger, South Africa, Sunday, July 14, 2002 8:00 PM)
Question:
Is it possible to have a template with a custom font in a component as well as using a bulleted list at the same time?
Answer:
No. By definition, plain text does not support bullets, while rich text encodes font within the text. These two cannot be reconciled. However, you can keep a handy HTML or RTF template which you can apply over a plain text component each time you need a bulleted list. Apply template takes just one keystroke (Ctrl+Shift+M). Important! Optimally, in your final questions and answers you should use plain text and you should not use bullets. Enumerations are not a good way of remembering things. They are costly in terms of your time. See: 20 rules to find ways around bullets and enumerations

"Add new" uses your default template
(Bill Sanchez, Saturday, July 13, 2002 9:13 AM)
Question:
Add new does not create needed components. What is the reason?
Answer:
Add new uses your default category template. If you define an empty template, Add new will create no components. You can define a new template and save it as default. You can also choose any of the predefined template to become default in your current category

Occlusion tests
(mstlk, Monday, July 15, 2002 2:51 AM)
Question:
I made a series of elements using an occlusion template. When I went back to drill on them, I noticed that the red rectangles moved in some elements
Answer:
The position of the occluding rectangle in SuperMemo is considered "data", i.e. not part of the template. In other words, it will not be affected by the change to the template. However, the position of the image is considered "style". If you redefine your template by moving an image, all images affected by the template will move. This may make an impression that the rectangles have moved. You can use Impose template to detach the occlusion test from the template. Another problem may occur if you choose to scale elements (Scale on the element menu) and do not choose a matching attribute on Image : Size menu. Once you resize your element, the image and rectangle components may resize, but the image content will not

You cannot auto-impose templates
(Nathan Forsdyke, Sunday, June 30, 2002 2:54 PM)
Question:
How can I make SuperMemo auto-impose a template when I add a new element to different categories? I don’t like this if you change the element the master template changes all other elements
Answer:
You cannot auto-impose templates. However, you can impose and/or detach template before you introduce changes that are not to become global. You can use Ctrl+Shift+F2 for that purpose. Upon confirmation, you can also impose templates in all elements in a category, tree branch, or browser. Imposing a template involved deleting source template data. This is why auto-impose would be irreversible and potentially dangerous

Templates are able to hide content
(Nick Murray, Australia, Wednesday, August 07, 2002 12:23 PM)
Question:
Why does a template obscure the content of an element?
Answer:
Content of a template component cannot obscure the content of a source component. However, if your template does not include a component that corresponds with content data then, depending on template flags, you can make the unmatched source component transparent via the template or hidden. The latter option is used to hide or delete source components (and their content). For example, if you use Advanced English 97 illustrated with pictures, you can impose a picture-less template and thus hide the pictures. You can also delete the pictures if you impose the picture-less template

Use default category template to determine the template used in new elements
(Seyed Razavi, Monday, August 19, 2002 12:23 AM)
Question:
I tried to select the multiple choice test template but it only works once. When I add new elements, it returns to a regular classic template
Answer:
Use Search : Categories and click Template to select the default template for your default category. 
More details: Categories

Applying template with a specific font
(Tim Elston, Thu, Jun 27, 2002 6:07)
Question:
I create an element with the desired font and use Save with objects. But when I then seek to apply this new template to a given element, the text of the element does not assume the quality of the fonts I tried to save in the template. Instead, the text turns into plain text
Answer:
The behavior of your template will depend on the type of text components used: 

  1. Plain text components: you do not need to use Save with objects. Font is part of the template. This font should apply to texts assigned to the corresponding component 
  2. Rich text components: you cannot save fonts with rich text components unless you save some text with the template (here Save with objects is needed). However, when you apply such a template to components with rich text, the template font will be overwritten by the font coded into the rich text associated with the element. You would need to first apply the template and then type the text. If rich text component is applied over an HTML component, font coding will be ignored (i.e. RTF texts do not get converted to HTML) 
  3. HTML text components: you can save the font setting with Save with objects. Again, if you apply an HTML template to other texts, the rich text font codes will be used (in rich text components) or the default Internet Explorer font will be used (in plain text component). You need to apply the template first and then type the text 

The simplest way to uniformly apply fonts to texts in SuperMemo collections is to use plain text templates with the desired font setting

Answer attribute and the template
(Roger , Tuesday, May 06, 2003 10:24 AM)
Question:
What do you mean saying "the answer attribute is part of knowledge/data not part of template/presentation"?
Answer:
It is a good practice to separate data from the way it is presented. Data might be the word "Washington", while its presentation will depend on the font used, boldface, etc. In SuperMemo, templates determine how data/knowledge is presented. Template do not change the content of knowledge. The distinction between the question and answer part in the collection is part of knowledge. In other words, you cannot change the answer attribute of a text by applying a template. Whichever template you apply, your knowledge should retain its basic sense. Examples of data attributes: texts, pictures, answer flag, truth flag (in multiple choice tests), etc. Examples of presentation attributes: color, font, formatting, scale attribute, field size, etc.

You cannot modify the formatting of HTML texts with templates
(W Paul Gephart , Thursday, May 08, 2003 11:48 PM)
Question:
How can I create a template with HTML fields and the font size 18 pts, blue, Arial? I modify the template, save with objects with a space of the selected text, but still when I apply to an existing item, the text goes to small 9 pt, black?
Answer:
You cannot use HTML templates for formatting HTML texts. When you create an HTML template with HTML text included, this text will be replaced by the source data text at Apply template. The formatting will not be transferred between HTML objects (from template to data). Only plain text components ignore source text formatting and apply their own font. RTF and HTML texts have formatting "wired" into the text. One of the fastest ways of applying a given font to HTML text is to paste an appropriate <font> label into the HTML source code (available with Ctrl+Shift+F6 or Ctrl+F9)

To retain formatting and pictures, you need to use a matching component type in the template
(MMM, Poland, Jun 28, 2003)
Question:
I had a nice picture in the answer component. I applied a template and my picture disappeared. Why?
Answer:
Most likely you pasted your picture to an HTML component and then used a template with a different type of text component. For example, plain text components can only show unformatted text. Such components, when used in a template, will only display the plain text of your HTML text without formatting and without the picture. You can solve the problem by using Detach Template and then applying a compatible template. In this example, you need to use a template based on HTML

In certain situations templates will auto-impose by design
(Piotr, Poland, Feb 22, 2004)
Question:
I applied a template to an item. After some operations, the template self-imposed itself onto the source. I mean, it cannot be detached now. Is it a bug?
Answer:
No. Some operations would be meaningless without imposing the template. For that reason Impose template is executed in the background without alerting you. 
For example: 

  1. if you type text into a template component that is not present in the source, the template must be imposed, as changing the text in one element, would change texts in all elements using that particular template if other elements did not have their source text components 
  2. if you link a registry member to an extra template component, the template must be imposed, as linking the member in one element, would affect all elements using that template if they did not have the source component 
  3. if you move a shape in the occlusion test and the shape is absent from the source, the template must be imposed, as changing the position of the shape in one element, would affect all elements using that template that did not have the source shape 
  4. if you delete components the template is imposed and reattached after removing the source components

If you want to prevent this auto-imposition, be sure that all significant components used in the template are present in the source.

Use the Sound predefined template to add pronunciation to your elements (#342)
(Karolina Melkowska, Poland, Wednesday, October 09, 2002 8:56 PM)
Question:
I am a learner of English. I have created my own collection in SuperMemo and add new words on a daily basis. My question is how I could add pronunciation to my English elements?
Answer:
You would need to use the Sound template as opposed to the default Item template used in SuperMemo. It makes it possible to add sound files (e.g. with pronunciation of an English word) by right-clicking your mouse over the sound component and selecting Import file (e.g. press Ctrl+Q) from the component menu

In some cases, detach template will not restore the original element
(M.-L. Li , Taiwan, 2003/2/27 05:40:09)
Question:
Sometimes Detach template does not work as expected. After detaching a template, my Chinese words became random codes
Answer:
Unfortunately, there is an exception where Detach template will not work as an ideal Undo. If you apply HTML template to RTF code, the only way for SuperMemo to retain the formatting of the text is to convert RTF text to the HTML format. This operation is irreversible by design (as HTML is the preferred future format for SuperMemo). Once you detach HTML template from RTF texts, RTF components will be unable to use HTML codes of the file, and will pull plain text from the registry. This will help you restore the text as long as your language is English. However, for Asian languages, plain text is useless and you are stuck with the HTML template. Detach template will simply not work

Template flags determine how templates are applied
(Ahmet Karahan, Saturday, December 21, 2002 5:14 PM)
Question:
I have designed a template with two text components and a banner at the top and saved it as the default template for the category. However, when I apply my template to a cloze deletion element, the banner is not displayed.
Answer:
By default, cloze deletion elements have the Delete template extras template flag set. When it is on and you apply a template, all template components that do not match the element's source data will be deleted. If you would like your banner to be displayed, change the template flag before applying a template. You can change a template flag by right-clicking an element, and then choosing an option from the Template : Template flags submenu available from the element menu

You can restore deleted predefined templates
(Lisa Reaves, Tuesday, December 31, 2002 3:05 AM)
Question:
I have accidentally deleted the occlusion template from the template registry. Do I have to download your software again in order to restore it?
Answer:
No. Do the following:

  1. Go to the template registry (e.g. by choosing Search : Templates from the main menu)
  2. In the template registry window, click the Menu button (first from the left) on the registry toolbar
  3. Choose Tools : Add predefined templates from the registry menu

You can change the default item template for a given category
(Anatoliy Lipatov, Ukraine, Friday, January 10, 2003 8:59 AM)
Question:
Whenever I create an extract from an article, it is not merged with the default cloze deletion template, where cloze deletions are marked in red color against the yellow background, but what seems to be the Classic template. How can I change it to the default cloze deletion template?
Answer:

  1. Choose Search : Categories in the main menu to open the category registry
  2. In the category registry window, select the category in the left pane list
  3. Uncheck Auto-Apply

Instead of turning off Auto-Apply, you could also choose a more appropriate template:

  1. Choose Search : Categories in the main menu to open the category registry
  2. In the category registry window, select the category in the left pane list
  3. In the top-right pane, click the Template button
  4. Select an appropriate template (e.g. Item) in the template registry
  5. Choose Accept at the bottom of the registry window

Using an element as a template
(Siow Yew Nam, Singapore, Oct 10, 1999)
Question:
I have created an element that I want to use as a template. How can I make it the default template?
Answer:
To use the current element as the default template in the current category, use Template : Save as default on the element menu or simply press Ctrl+Alt+M

Spelling exercises in SuperMemo
(grzilc, Wednesday, January 30, 2002 8:56 AM)
Question:
How do I do spelling exercises in SuperMemo?
Answer:
The simplest method is to use the Spell-Pad component within the Spelling standard template. To add a single Spell-Pad click the Spell-Pad button on the Compose toolbar and then click two points of the element area in the element window. To apply the Spelling template choose Template : Apply Template (Ctrl+Shift+M) on the element menu, select Spelling and click Accept. To make the Spelling template the default template in a given category, select this category in Search : Categories, click the Template button, choose the Spelling template and click Accept. If your collection has been upgraded from earlier versions and the Spelling template is not present, you can add it with Search : Templates and then with Tools : Add predefined templates (on the registry menu)

The meaning of Replace with template
(George W., USA, Dec 17, 2000)
Question:
Is it accurate to say that the Replace with template command is the same thing as Apply template, Impose template and "do not detach template" run in succession?
Answer:
Yes

Difference between "view source" and "detach template"
(Christian R, Germany, Sunday, December 17, 2000 1:43 PM)
Question:
I cannot see a sense of Template : View source. If I want to go back to the source, I can Detach template. Viewing the source is confusing
Answer:
View Source is useful if you want to quickly peek at the source template. You can do it with Ctrl+Shift+U. The same key will return the applied template look. Detaching and reapplying the template in such circumstances would require accessing the menu, finding the detached template in the template registry (without actually being informed which template had been detached), and reapplying the template

You can add a picture to a subset of elements
(Rod F, Jun 21, 2005, 07:09:56)
Question:
I ordered the text only version of Advanced English and I'd like to add my graphics to elements falling under the main categories
Answer:
You can define a template that would include a question field, an answer field, and an image component. You can then link a picture with the image component. If you save such a template with objects (Template : Save with objects on the element menu), and apply it to any subset of your collection, the picture will show in the subset. Note that if your element already includes pictures (e.g. illustrating the question), the template picture will be replaced with the source picture of the item. In other words, the template will add pictures only to picture-less elements

Understanding templates requires some reading (#2337)
(anonymous, Oct 27, 2005)
Question:
SuperMemo applied some stupid template to all my cloze deletions. I applied the template I want to be used on the parenting topic. Then I imposed it. But my templates are still unchanged. Do I have to go to each item now and apply my preferred template? Just please do not send me to any article. I do not have time to read it. I just want my templates to look nice
Answer:
Some basic reading in unavoidable when using templates. Experience shows that templates and categories in SuperMemo are not very intuitive and many users waste unnecessary time by trying to figure these out on their own. Instead of imposing a template, you should change your default item template in the category in which the wrong template is applied. 

This is a terminology problem (impose vs. apply vs. default). This terminology problem can best be cleared by reading about templates. Imposing a template removes the template without changing the looks of the item. Changing the default template affects all newly created items. To find out more about managing categories you should also read: Categories. 

As for the items that have already been created, you need to open them all in a browser and apply your template en masse. Use Process browser : Template : Apply template on the browser menu. 

Again some reading will make life easier: Subset operations.

You can add a picture to all your chemistry elements
(Dariusz M., Jan 28, 2006, 06:44:49)
Question:
I have made a template that contains an image of the periodic table as its only component, so that I can batch place the table into all my chemistry elements. Add to Template seems to do nothing to the descendent elements of my chemistry branch. It changes only the root node of the category. It works neither in Browser window nor Contents window
Answer:
For the new template to change many elements, you need to overwrite the template that is used in these elements, or apply the new template to these elements. Add Template applied to a subset will not work on items if the added template is a topic template and vice versa. The simplest way to accomplish your goal is: 

  1. paste the periodic table picture to one of the items 
  2. save this items as template with objects 
  3. open all the items that should the picture in the browser 
  4. apply the template with the picture to all elements in the browser 
  5. (optionally) if you do not want to clog up your template registry, delete the new template and choose Impose (to make sure the picture are permanently placed in all elements that use the deleted template) 

If, in addition to items, you want your topics to use the picture as well, you will need to repeat the entire operation on topics

Using default RTF templates instead of HTML templates
(Pawel, Poland, Jul 27, 2005, 15:16:36)
Question:
I created a folder, converted it to a category, and created an article template (single RTF component). I also changed the settings in the category registry so that it automatically applies my article RTF template instead of the default Article. The problem is that it doesn't work
Answer:
Check the following:

  1. Did you modify your currently used category? Only the current category templates apply if you use options such as Edit : Add a new article (Ctrl+Alt+N). If your category is not currently in use, make it the current category by choosing it in the category combo box on the Tools toolbar
  2. Did you modify the topic template (as opposed to the item template)?

Use Spelling template over cloze deletion for a "typing cloze" (#29023)
(nibalart, Italy, Oct 13, 2004, 22:25:44)
Question:
Is there a component that in the question will leave a blank and in the answer will allow me to type in the missing word or phrase?
Answer:
You can use cloze deletion tools and apply a Spelling template to achieve this effect. To understand cloze deletions and templates, read: Incremental reading and Templates