Creating and Using Sub-Templates in BigChange

Sub-templates in BigChange are essentially reusable components or sections that can be included within larger templates. These sub-templates help standardize and simplify the creation of documents, reports, or forms by allowing users to insert pre-defined sections without having to recreate them each time.

Here are some key points about sub-templates in BigChange:

Reusability: Sub-templates allow you to create a standard section once and use it across multiple templates. This ensures consistency and saves time.
Standardisation: By using sub-templates, you can ensure that certain sections of your documents or reports follow a standardised format, which can be important for compliance and quality control.
Efficiency: Sub-templates can speed up the process of creating new templates since you can simply insert a sub-template rather than manually creating the same section repeatedly.
Maintenance: If a change is needed in a section that is used across multiple templates, you only need to update the sub-template, and the change will be reflected wherever the sub-template is used.

This feature is particularly useful for displaying detailed information such as stock movements, worksheet answers, and financial document line items. This article will guide you through the process of creating and using sub-templates in BigChange.

Creating a Sub-Template

To create a sub-template, follow these steps: (Please refer to the section on Templates to create your Master/Parent template to which we will insert a sub template into.)

Navigate to: [Top menu] Account settings (icon)
Select Settings
Account from side menu
Templates
Add or open Microsoft Word.
Create your parent template as desired and then select Save.
If you created the template using Microsoft Word, upload it to your site but do not add any usage to it.

Example

In this example, should you wish to add certain financial information coloums to your invoice, you could create a parent template which would be your invoice layout and then create a sub template for the line line coloums and then insert the sub template into the parent template and by doing this the line items will repeat to the number of line items on your invoice.

Invoice templates (parent)

Create a parent template for your overall invoice layout. Then, create a sub-template for the line item columns. By inserting the sub-template into the parent template, the line items will automatically repeat according to the number of line items on your invoice.

Sub template 2.png

Sub template (financial lines)

This will be just a simple table with coloum headers and then insert 1 line for your keywords as shown below:

Sub template 1.png

Inserting a Sub-Template

Steps to Insert a Sub-Template

Once you have created your sub-template, you need to insert it into a parent template:

Open the template to which you want to add a sub-template.
Once the Template pop-up is open, select Insert a keyword.
A new pop-up will open. Navigate to Miscellaneous Tab
Select Sub-template keyword.
Choose your template from the dropdown menu.
Select Financial document line items from the five options presented in the "Items to repeat the sub-template with" menu:
- Simple insert, doesn’t repeat
- Job worksheet answers
- Planned job stock
- Actual job stock movements
- Financial document line items
Select Add.

Sub template 3.png

Your sub-template is now inserted; you can select Save.

Conclusion

Sub-templates in BigChange offer a powerful way to display detailed information conditionally. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create and use sub-templates to enhance your templates with additional data such as stock movements, worksheet answers, and financial document line items. Start using sub-templates today to make your templates more dynamic and informative.