Save a Template

A template is a collection file with no data. Recollector comes with a number of templates, any one of which you can use as a starting point when creating a new collection. (See the help on creating a new collection from a template.) But once you have developed your own collection database with Recollector, you might want to share the design of your collection with fellow collectors. You can do this by exporting a template from your own collection. That template will include all of the field definitions defined by your collection, as well as any picklists and field profiles.

A template is a single XML file which can be opened as a normal collection, though it has no data records. If you have sent your template to a fellow collector who is beginning to use Recollector, the recipient can simply open the template collection file from Recollector and begin to use the collection by starting to add or import their own collection data. Of course they can also make modifications to the design of the collection (see the help on Modifying Fields), if they want make adjustments to better fit their own needs.

MapRecord Publications also encourages Recollector users to share their collection templates by providing a library of customer-supplied templates which can be downloaded from the MapRecord web site. Please contact MapRecord Publications (support@MapRecord.com) if you are interested in sharing your collection design through a collection template.

To create a template from your collection, choose File > Save as Collection Template from Recollector's menu. You will be asked to give a name and location for the saved template file.

Note: In addition to omitting data, when you create a template from your collection, ßthe extended information texts (used by X-type special hyperlinks) and the URL patterns (used by P-type special hyperlinks) are also omitted when a template is created.