Style Sheets

   Given the importance of styles, Pathagoras makes it easy to transfer styles from a designated template (a 'Style Sheet') into the document you are currently editing. Using one of your 'office standards' will typically alleviate most of the formatting problems discussed on the previous page of this Manual.

   You can assign up to 5 style sheets that you can instantly apply against any document. For lawyers this is enough for (1) standard letter with letterhead, (2) fax coversheet, (3) memo, (4) pleadings and (5) any other standard template.

   Here's another scenario. You are composing an original document, or transcribing some dictation for 'the boss' and are not sure what the document will eventually become. A formal letter, a memo to file, a fax, email correspondence? Had you known at the beginning, you would have called up the proper template. But now, you can add the proper StyleSheet at any time.

Setup:

    First, assign your Style Sheets. This is done through the 'Document Assembly' tab of the 'All Settings' screen.

   When you click the 'Set' button (the one with the 'blue circling arrows'), Pathagoras will ask you to navigate to the template you want to serve as your style sheet. Do so. (If you happen to have a template open when you start the process Pathagoras will initially ask if the open template is the style sheet. Say 'Yes' if that is the case.)

    After you have selected the Style Sheet, a 'Save' button will appear next to the Set button. Make sure you click it to save your choice.

    If the Style Sheet contains headers and/or footers (letterhead, page numbering coding, etc.) that you want to be automatically inserted into the receiving document, check the box to the right of the style sheet name.

    If the Style Sheet contains preliminary text (body text, not part of a header), or concluding text (signature blocks and the like) that you want to be automatically inserted, check the 'Start Here Text' box to the right of the style sheet name. (This introductory or closing text must be designated as such in the style sheet with a 'StartHere' and/or 'EndHere' bookmarks. Read more about the StartHere and EndHere bookmarks at this link.)

Use:

   Click Pathagoras Features | Authoring/Editing Tools | Templates & Style Sheets*. You will see this screen.

1. Select 'Style Sheets' (it's the default selection)

2. Choose from among the pre-set style sheets.

3. Choose the action. (Apply is the default)

4. Click Next.

Pathagoras will find the selected '.dot' or '.dotx' file and apply all style definitions in that template to the document currently being edited. Pathagoras will then ask if you want to copy any Headers and Footers from the template into your current document. If you say yes, it will do so, even recognizing 'Different First Page Header/Footer' and 'Odd/Even Page Headers and Footers'. If you have 'preamble' or 'closing' text in the template (designated by "StartHere" and 'EndHere' bookmark), Pathagoras will insert that preamble and closing text as well.

  If you activate the Templates and Style Sheets screen and realize you have not assigned a style sheet that you want, just click the 'Set' button You will be taken directly to the Setup screen discussed above.  

 Any document can be a temporary style sheet. If you have a document with the desired styles and definitions open in another window and you display the Templates & Style Sheets screen, in addition to the pre-defined style sheets appearing in the template list (upper left corner) all open documents will also be listed. To transfer the 'look' of that other document to the current one, select it and click 'Next'. Pretty simple way to 'steal' styles.