The "initial" Style

(This important Topic appears in both the Styles and Templates sections)

When you create a DBT Template, you may wish that Template to perform in a certain way. You can therefore use a special Style called "initial" which will apply to the Template.

This feature is probably easiest to explain by example.

Let us suppose we wish to create a Template whereby any file we import, will be translated into Grade 1 braille. However, in all other respects, we wish our Template to work in exactly the same way as the "English (American) - Standard Literary Format".

From the File menu, Open a new file using that Template.
Open the Document menu and select Add Style.
If you are not using the Template mentioned above, look at the "Choose Style for basis:" list box to see if an initial Style already exists. If it does, follow the next step anyway. (See Note below)
In the "New Style Name:" dialog that comes up, type initial and click on OK.

Image shows a section of the Document: Add Style dialog

A dialog will come up called "Edit Style Codes"
In the "Beginning Codes:" text box of this dialog enter the codes to produce Grade 1 braille. [tx][g1]

image shows the Edit Style Codes dialog

Click on the OK button, which will return you to your blank document.
Open the Document Menu again, and select "Create Template"
In the "Create New Template:" text box, type an appropriate name. For example "Grade 1 - Standard Literary", and click the OK button.

Image shows a section of the Document: Create Template doalog

You may now go to the File menu and close the document.

When you now Import or create a New file, you will find that the Template you have created is listed. (In alphabetical order)

Image shows the Import File dialog with the "Grade 1 - Standard Literary" Template name in the Template list. Image shows the File: New dialog with the "Grade 1 - Standard Literary" Template name in the Template list.

However, when you now Translate, you will find that the Braille document is in Grade 1 braille.

NOTE: (Hopefully this will give you some idea of this feature's potential)

In some Templates, an initial style already exists. A good example of this is "English (British - no capitals in literary", where you will see that the initial Style already exists as shown below. (Except for the [tx] and [g1] codes)

Image shows the Edit Style Codes dialog as described in this section.

So just what do these codes mean?

[svant3] sets running header on both pages if used.

[svdac~1] determines the decimal separator where numbers are used.

[svles1:1:0] sets default reference page number treatment.

[caplv1] suppresses capitals in the literary braille only.

By adding the [tx] and [g1] codes, as explained above, any imported or new document will be translated using Grade 1.