News & Opinion Survey: The Dynamic Templates: What's Next
I would like to move on to the next "evolutionary step" in this project, but I do not want to leave any huge holes or problems -- little ones are OK :)
I want, here, to do two things.
- First is to ask if there are any outstanding complaints about the Dynamic Templates as they are now.
- Are they doing what they are supposed to ?
- Are they doing anything they are not supposed to ?
- Second, I want to describe where I am going with it.
- The first thing I plan to do is combine all the little applications into a single Dynamic Template application. I have been having problems keeping all the separate little apps properly updated. When one changes, more often than not, all need to change and that is a pain. Better to roll everything together.
- Once I get all the current pages bundled into one application, I will be doing format variations and additional templates
I really enjoy this work with the Dynamic Templates. It is an enjoyable intellectual challenge for my software development skills and I know that what I am doing is helping out a lot of folks "out there".
If you have a problem, complaint, or request, please tell me. But also remember that I am one person, with a full time job that takes up at least 40 hours per week (more with commute) and a family that I dearly love that takes up a lot of my time as well.
I will do the best I can with the time I have to invest here, but remember the name of the site:
DIY Planner
Just like the "give a man a fish/teach a man to fish" proverb. There are lots of great "fishing instructors" here. All you have to do it open your mind a bit.


First of all, thanks for all
First of all, thanks for all your hard work! The dynamic templates are really cool.
As far as features go: it might be nice to have some support for printing N-up features available as part of the dynamic templates. I finally got a punch, and I've been having a lot of trouble printing out stuff that will fit in my Junior Levenger with my printer - I'm not sure if it's margins or what, but it's a big pain. If the software had tweaks for page offsets and margin adjustments, plus the ability to do the 2-up (in this case) printing itself, then I could fix those problems a lot faster. Likewise, printing full-bleed 3x5 cards with my printer requires printing on card stock and cutting it down - but none of my printers 4-up options stick all of the pages together with a common cutting line in the middle like the pre-made 4-up templates do.
Beggars can't be choosers, but, if you're making improvements, that's something I'd love to see support for. Thanks!
Margins and N-Up
The applications have margin controls. If your printouts are cut off, have you tried increasing the margins ? I find that the printers I use need a minimum 7mm margin.
About the n-up "feature", take a look at these:
How to utilize Dynamic Templates and Multivalent: Example 1 - January 2008 classic booklet (2-up, duplex)
How to utilize Dynamic Templates and Multivalent: Example 2 - A 2 year classic booklet (2008 - 2009) (2-up, duplex)
How to Arrange Pages for 2-Up Duplex Printing
Dynamic Template Printing Non Duplex printer
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
N-Up without command line java?
I love the Dynamic Templates! I agree that a way to print them 2-Up for my Junior-sized planner with the convenience of the executable GUI would be ideal since the java and command line stuff confuses me.
Thank you again, ygor, for your hard work and dedication!
-sfb
Don't hold your breath
I Googled around a bit and found some possibilities, but nothing that matches what you describe.
I would have to learn how to make a Swing GUI to do it.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
You already know I think all
You already know I think all this is great!
Don't stop telling me...
and I promise I will not let it all go to my head (too much)
:D
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Long Shot
But would there be a way to utilize different background templates, if they were, say SVGs?
It's great now, sufficing every need I can imagine. But the graphic/template isn't suited to my use.
I have no expectation to see this, but it's all I can think to add to a great, rocking arsenal!
Jason
-- Coffee and Books, the pleasures of life
I do not understand. Details, please.
I do not understand your term "background templates".
Are we talking about pictures behind the lines or what ?
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Yep
Like replacing the actual DIY*P template graphics. That's why I think it'd be a long shot, due to having to re-set everything.
So, for instance, be able to sub in my Harvard-esque image in place of Doug's.
Still muddy? If so, I'll try for more examples.
Jason
-- Coffee and Books, the pleasures of life
Yes. Still muddy
I am just drawing lines and boxes with software, calculating size and placement based on page dimension.
The idea of "graphics" is very muddy to me.
Please enlighten me.
But then I have been accused of having a dirty mind >:D
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
So...
So, you are using the software to recreate the official DIY*P templates? Then, the idea is out.
It was basically a 'cleaner' mailmerge.
Jason
-- Coffee and Books, the pleasures of life
info-merge is on the "to-do" list
I am exploring ways to get calender information into the templates thru the software.
A while back, I decided to use an iCalender file as input 'cause everyone can create iCalender output (I am fairly sure), but there are few choices for iCalendar manipulating source libraries that are free and not tangled up with unwanted dependencies. I will probably have to write it myself from scratch.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
I think they're great,
And putting them all into one app will make them even better. These are truly a boon. I still haven't settled completely on a size or a format, so I've relly appreciated being able to try them all out for a week or two.
thanks for all the hard work, tell your family thanks for the time away too,
-kmorris
I think your templates are wondrous ygor
and your generousity of time and listening and responding, huge.
I dont know enough to know about how template- making works as a newbie, and what 'wish list' to ask for. But, I would like it if all templates could be filled in online, electronically, as well as printed out in analog. As well as f'iddle-ible with-able,' meaning one can change words and headers to suit one's process at hand
thank you ygor for this huge body of work you've done and continue to do. It has mattered to a great many souls.
archangel
Great Product!
I came to visit DIYPlanner today and look at the great present I found! Thank you very much for coding this product!
As for suggestions, after playing with it for all of 10 minutes, I wouldn't mind the ability to export to a word processor file, but I do understand the issues involved.
I would also like the option of personalizing the module headers, such as swapping out the EXPENSES with a CALL or SHOP header.
All in all, thanks so much for doing this - you've made DIYPlanner a better place to be!
Special Dates auto printed on each page
Firstly, GREAT templates and glad to hear you are still interested in improving & creating new ones.
Already using your Monthly calendar templates.
Would like to see a Phone/Address template,
A6 page size so i can do booklet printing on A5 would also be very helpful.
Just an idea if your programme can interface with an excel like application...
I created A6 size, day per page template via excel (I don't know how to use OpenOffice). I have excel automatically put in Birthday, Anniversary, Holiday dates etc onto each relevant auto-dated page with a little gift image (jpg). Was great to finish, as these dates are now permanently stored in excel and has saved me from forgetting peoples birthday and having to hand write birthday's every year.
My next venture is to do the same with a Phone/Address template as the fixed formats for purchased forms don't have enough mobile phone reference lines, family, kid & pet names, etc.
Again, great templates and I'm looking forward to your future templates as then I may be able to stop using excel.
Cheers
Tammyl
excel
I love excel and spend most of my days working on spreadsheets. I would be really interested to learn how you did the automatic insert of your bday, anniv, etc. info. I have never been able to figure this out! If you have time, is there a way to write up an instruction sheet? I don't know how complicated or time-consuming that would be...
Thanks in advance for any input!
nay nay :)
my ideas
Hi Ygor,
Here are a few ideas. Take them as such, great if you decide to act on them, also ok if you just ignore them as bad ideas.
First, the translations that I sent you are not up yet, or are not working. I tried the monthly pages and yearly pages. Can you do something about it, or is there some way I can tell the app to just use english even while my OS is Dutch? I don't mind English, I just mind nonsensical Dutch.
Second, I would love week on one page templates. The monthly pages give just too little space, the weekly too much, so it would be a nice compromise. Don't do this if I am the only one.
Another question, is it possible to print the notes templates without title? I tried this, but then also the margins went away. I know I can just use a " ", but then I waste space.
And last but not least, is it possible to put in checkboxes? Then we can also make our own to-do or checklist-like pages, but for example with three lines per item.
Hope some of these are useful ideas. And please know that anything you do will be greatly appreciated, just like the stuff you have already done.
On the translation...
Did you download the latest translation files ?
If you did, and they still have problems, I can do an update.
I'll "buzz" you offline about the rest of the issues.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
files
Yes, I did take the newest ones. I did this last saturday. So maybe some files got confused?
Feature Requests
Undated Weekly and Monthly
Single page for those forms as well (for hipster users).
I don't think I ever mentioned it but I understand the amount of effort that went into making these. Thank You, Doug really should give you a cut of the registration royalties.
:)
Undated Forms
The undated forms, in many versions, are found in the basic DIY PLanner kits that Doug originally put together. The basis for this whole forum and great community. Ygor's fantastic apps are for making pre-dated versions so that they don't have to be created from scratch every year.
Or are you asking for something I'm not quite understanding?
Reese
Your right
There are Undated in the existing forms but they can not be dynamically sized. Say for quarter page or Filofax.
Ygor's apps are going to be the fourth and possibly final version of the forms, I just want to see my favorites make the cut. Mostly the single page versions for my hipster or letter sized pages.
Undated form is not that hard
I will add it to my "to do" list.
No reason to exclude the folks who do not use specific paper sizes.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Good Point!
I never thought of the odd sizes - I'm a classic or hipster guy. Carry on then!
Reese
Margin settings - 2 pages per day
It would be REALLY helpful if the margins could be set in the 2 pages per day to greater than 100mm for those of us with abnormal sized planners - I have a franklin covey compact size.
I need it to be:
Top: 13mm
Bottom: 135mm
Inner: 116mm
Outer: 10mm
But instead have to use:
Top: 48mm
Bottom: 100mm (maxed out)
Inner: 100mm (maxed out)
Outer: 26mm
Which results in having to make 2 additional cuts. It still turns out really well, it's just a bit more work.
Thanks for the great program.
Use a custom paper size
The margins are not meant to substitute for page size
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Ok. So how am I supposed to
Ok. So how am I supposed to achieve the correct page size for my compact planner? Am I missing a setting? Changing the margins is the only way I can figure out how to do that, and for some reason it's limited at 100mm. It seems to work great for that purpose.
Beyond the margins, there is only the page setup, where I could change the size of the paper. I don't think that solves the problem, as I want to use "normal" US sized paper.
Would really appreciate learning a better way. Thanks.
Aha...
There's the rub.... You want to print on 8 1/2x 11 paper...
How do you cut the paper after it's printed? Scissors? If you are using a paper cutter, which I personally hope you are doing, I think you might find it simpler--much simpler--to cut the paper to size, and print on that instead. then, no worries about 2-up, and all that mess. I used to print (and sometimes still do) my 1/2 page sizes on full-sized paper, but in the end, it's typically much simpler to cut and then print. Especially, since you are going to cut anyway. And if you don't have a paper cutter, take a stack to Kinkos (from what I hear) they can cut it pretty cheaply, and I'm betting your typical office supply store will also cut you a ream cheaply enough--or whatever quantity you want.
The truth is, sadly, with this software, you've pushed it beyond its boundaries.
-Jon
Are you printing directly or to PDF ?
If you are printing directly, go with what Jon said: Cut, then print
If you are going to PDF, you can then use Multivalent to put multiple pages on one sheet and then print that way.
One "trick" in that regard: If the final page size is NOT an even multiple of the final paper size, you have to do some extra "black magic"
For the purpose of the example (and ease of math) let's say you want Hipster pages: 3 by 5 inches. A block of 4 can fit on a letter size page, but that block measures 6 by 10 inches. What I found had to be done was to make a 4-up page that is 6 by 10, then print it using the "No scale / auto rotate and center" options in Acrobat Reader. Duplex can be tricky, but possible.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Still buggy font for me
I could never get these to print out correctly -- the large number was always missing because of the corrupted Blue Highway font. I was using the Just Print 'Em, but I finally broke down and made my own .odg two page per day 2008 calendar. Truth is, by making my own .odg, I got to tweak the colors and the design to suit my needs exactly, so, in the end, I enjoyed making my own version.
But anyways, I'm still having trouble printing due to the corrupted Blue Highway font.
submit template?
would you mind submitting your new template? I know I would love to see some color templates and I like the the "Just Print 'Em" versions!
Smiles,
nay nay
The zipped files for the
The zipped files for the entire year were 15 mb each (I did a purpley-blue version and black-gray version), so I couldn't submit them to diyplanner.com as one file for the whole year. I have to submit them a single month at a time. I've submitted Feb and March but they haven't been approved yet. I'll post the node link when they are approved
If you want to get the entire zip files (pdf and odg included), you can download them from my site. I'll keep them up there until I get the entire year submitted to diyplanner.com.
zip files for entire year: http://www.angelsdesk.com/diyplanner/
I followed the Just Print 'Em format but then sharply veered off into my own design that suited my needs. But the .odg's are included, so you can personalize them however you want. I used the "master" slide, so you just have to make your changes once for each month, and the changes will propogate through the whole month. The two versions (black and purple) are exactly the same except for the color scheme.
Hope you like them. They were fun to make. :)
Angel.