Works 95: Sharing Templates on a Network (139022)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 4.5
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0 4.0a
This article was previously published under Q139022

SUMMARY

Templates are documents that contain information and settings that you can reuse. Creating a new document from a template gives you a head start over creating a blank document. For example, instead of using the Letterhead TaskWizard each time you want to create a letter, you can save your letterhead document as a template. Then all you need to do is select that template every time you want to create a letter using that letterhead. If Microsoft Works 4.0 or 4.5 is installed on a network, templates created by one user can be used by others on the network.

MORE INFORMATION

If you are using Works in a network environment with several workstations running the program from a central server installation, see the section below titled "Shared Templates with Workstation Installations of Works." If you are using Works in a network environment with each user installing Works locally, see the section below titled "Shared Templates with Local Installations of Works."

Shared Templates with Workstation Installations of Works

These steps are for users that have installed a workstation copy of Works from a centrally located administrative installation.

During an administrative installation (setup /a) of Works 4.0 or 4.5, an empty folder named Template is created in the Msworks folder on the server. This folder is used to store templates that will be shared on the network. Follow these steps to create and use shared templates:

  1. If you have not already done so, perform a workstation installation from the administrative installation point that is located on the server.
  2. Place any Works document files that you want to be used as a shared template into the Template folder on the server.

    NOTE: You must have write privileges to the Template folder on the server to do this. If you do not have write privileges to this folder, see your network administrator.
  3. Start Works and click the Wizards tab on the Task Launcher. Click the category called Shared Templates, and select the template from the list that you want to use.
Any Works document (Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Database, or Communication file) can be used as a shared template. If you save a file as a template by clicking the template button in the Works 4.0 or 4.5 Save As dialog, that file will be saved as a local template only. You must copy it or save it to the Template folder on the server if you want other workstations to be able to access it.

For more information on how to perform an administrative installation of Works, see the network Help file, Netwrk.hlp, located on disk 1 of the Microsoft Works 4.x disks or in the Msworks folder on the Works version 4.0 for Windows 95 & Bookshelf 95 compact disc. This information is also in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

138331 Installing Works 4.0 or 4.5 to a Network or Shared Folder (Part 1)

138328 Installing Works 4.0 or 4.5 to a Network or Shared Folder (Part 2)

Shared Templates with Local Installations of Works

If you are using Works 4.0 or 4.5 on a network and have installed it locally on each computer, you can still share templates with other users on the network, but you must first create a shared folder location where the shared templates will be stored and accessed by all Works users on the network. The Windows 95 Registry must then be modified to include key values necessary to enable template sharing within Works. Follow the steps below to enable template sharing on networked computers running a local installation of Works 4.0 or 4.5.

I. Create the shared template folder:

You must create a folder that can be accessed by all users who will be using shared templates in the folder. If each user will be placing templates in this folder for other users to access, then each user must have write privileges to this folder. Otherwise, if each user will merely be using templates that have already been placed in the folder, then each user only needs read-only access.

II. Modify each Workstation's registry

The second step of making Works 4.0 or 4.5 shared templates accessible to workstations that are using a local install of Works is to modify the Registry on those workstations.

IMPORTANT: Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat).

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry


To modify the Registry on the workstations:

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK.
  3. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
  4. Enter a filename and select a destination for the backup Registry and click Save.
  5. Open
    My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Works\4.0
  6. Use the right mouse button to click the Template Section key. On the popup menu, point to New, then click String Value.
  7. Replace the name "New Value #1" with SharedTemplateDirectory (with no spaces between words).
  8. Double-click SharedTemplateDirectory and type the full path to the network folder that will be used for shared templates, followed by a \.

    For example, if the shared template folder is on a server called Server1 and the name of the shared folder is Templates, then you would type

    \\Server1\Templates\

    as the value for the SharedTemplateDirectory Registry key.

    If the workstations will always be accessing the shared template location from a mapped network drive, you can enter the path using the mapped drive letter instead of the UNC format shown above.
  9. Close the registry and start Works.
NOTE: The Shared Templates category will not appear in the Task Launcher Wizards list until there are files in the shared template folder.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/15/2004
Keywords:kbinfo kbnetwork KB139022
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.