Templates allow you to set up a default look and feel for your experiment. For instance, if you like a certain paper size, or certain margins, or wish to include your company logo on every layout, you can do so by creating a template.

 

A template is nothing more than an FCS Express layout that is set up the way that you want, providing the user with the opportunity to use a previously created layout as a starting point for a new analysis layout. Otherwise, it is just like any other layout. FCS Express remembers the layout as a template when you select it using the File Tab→New Layout→New From Existing command/gallery. Clicking on New From Existing will bring up a Create New Layout from Template dialog where you can choose any existing layout. If you have previously created one or more templates, you can also choose one from the Recent Documents or Places area of the gallery.

 

When the new layout is opened, it will look identical to the template layout. However it will "forget" that it came from the template, and when you save the new layout for the first time, FCS Express will prompt you to select a new file name.

 

You can also set a "default template" for use when any new layout is opened. If a default template has been set, selecting the File Tab→New Layout command will bring up the default template instead of a blank layout. Setting the default template is described in the section on Default Files/Directories.