Templates

Mathcad provides a variety of built-in templates. When you create a new worksheet, you choose a template on which to base it, either from the dialog that is opened when you choose File > New, or by default when you click the New File button. By default, Mathcad uses the NORMAL.XMCT template. A template is just a Mathcad file with a .XMCT extension.

You can create a personal template to hold repeated settings, text, definitions, and graphics that you want to use for multiple new worksheets, or you can modify one of the existing templates.

A Mathcad template specifies the following:

• Default text properties
• Definitions of all math styles
• Definitions of all text styles
• Headers and footers
• Margins for printing
• Numerical result formats
• The default unit system
• The default calculation mode
• Regions defined in the worksheet when created (may include text or math, typically reusable definitions for units, variables, functions, or a referenced worksheet)

Note:

• Mathcad worksheet templates differ from Mathcad HTML templates which have the .MLT extension. HTML templates set the look of a document in a Web browser. Mathcad templates set the styles inside Mathcad.

Modifying a Template

To modify an existing worksheet template, such as the Normal template:

1. Choose Open from the File menu.

2. In the "Files of type" drop-down list, select "Mathcad Template."

3. Type the name of the template in the "File name" box, or browse to the Template directory to locate it.

4. Click "Open."

5. Edit the template as you would modify any other worksheet.

6. Choose Save from the File menu, or if you want to give a new name to the modified template, choose Save As.

Notes:

• When you modify a template, your changes affect only new files created from the modified template. The changes do not affect any worksheets created with the template before the template was modified.
• Instead of modifying the existing Normal template, you may wish to rename the NORMAL.XMCT file and replace it with a new NORMAL.XMCT, so you have a backup copy.

Creating a New Template

You can extend the collection of templates by creating your own. For example, a custom template can specify a header and footer, have custom default unit settings, or include regions at the top of every new worksheet, such as a worksheet reference.

To create a new template:

1. Create a new worksheet with the settings and text, math, or graphics you want in each worksheet based on the template.

2. Choose Save As from the File menu.

3. Select "Mathcad XML Template" from the "Files of type" drop-down list in the "Save As" dialog.

4. Type a name for the template in the "File name" box.

5. Click "Save"; the template file has an .XMCT extension.

6. If you save the file in the Mathcad Template subdirectory, your template displays when you choose New from the File menu.

Tutorial - Working with Text