This feature is not available in GuideSIGN SIGMA.

The steps to create a sign to be used as the basis of a template are generally the same as those for creating signs (see Using Sign Creation Features -> Creating a Sign: Basic Steps for Creating a Sign).

To ensure that your template behaves as desired, consider the following points when creating the sign:

• Panel Style Margin Settings
• Panel Updates
• Text Strings
• Numbers and Ordinal Endings

Panel Style Margin Settings

When a template is created from a sign, the panel size is recalculated based on applying the sign's panel style. If you have placed objects that encroach on the margins and the size is not locked, the panel will increase in size to accommodate the margin calculations. To ensure the template system will accurately create the desired templates and thus subsequent signs, ensure that the panel style has appropriately sized margins (see Panel Styles' Margins Category).

Panel Updates

It is usually a good idea to work with the Auto update panel setting turned on (see Program Settings' Locks - Design Category). This ensures that the sign will behave as desired when a template is created from the sign. Ensure that the objects do not encroach on the margins if you did not use auto panel updating while creating the sign.

Text Strings

• Create all text strings in a distance sign using the Name X text style and the same fixed length value. This will enable the template system to treat the strings correctly for that type of sign (see Creating Templates -> Creating Distance Sign Templates).
• Do not use letters (e.g., 'X' or 'XX') to represent a replaceable number. Instead, use '10', '100', '1000', etc.
• Use '3/4' for the Fraction component as this is the widest stacked fraction. This ensures that the sign will be created correctly when the fraction is replaced with the same or narrower fractions when the sign is created from the template.
• Use the Align Text Components tool to align the whole numbers, and then align the fractions.

  

  Distance Sign Created for a Template

Numbers and Ordinal Endings in Street Name Templates

The number and ordinal ending in street name signs must be created as a text string with two components. Remember to select the Number-Ordinal Ending text style in the Text Style box when placing the text in the street name sign.

Number-Ordinal Ending in a Street Name Sign