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Barry MacDonnell's
Toolbox for WordPerfect

Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2024 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

 Page updated Feb 5, 2019

LETTERHD - An automated letterhead template

Download LETTERHD.ZIP (two templates and documentation; 523,750 bytes)

Compatible with WordPerfect 8 (c.1997) and later versions. See the !Readme file in the ZIP archive above.

Also includes Automating.pdf ["Automating WordPerfect Templates"] — separately viewable/downloadable here (42 pages, PDF format).

WordPerfect 11 users: See important information about using macros in the first release of WP11 (11.0.0.233) at the top of this page.

Downloading, Documentation, Modifications, and Support

Files included in the ZIP archive:

 • !Readme first.wpd
• My letterhead template.wpd
• My letterhead.wpt
(two versions of the template, one for WP8 (c.1997) and one for WP9 (c.1999) and later versions
• Automating WordPerfect Templates.pdf (PDF format)

Other related pages on this site that might be of interest:

Custom templates - How to easily create and modify your own custom templates

The Suppress feature - Stopping the display of certain format items on a page

Delay Codes - Starting specified  formatting "x" pages further into the document

2footers.html - Using two footers simultaneously (one for page number, the other for separator line and filename, etc.) so that items do not overlap

2Trays.html - Print your letterhead page from one printer tray, and second and subsequent pages from another tray ("two-tray" printing) - The functions of WordPerfect's Page Setup dialog

Assoc.html - Automatically associate a personalized keyboard or menu with a template

AutoDate.html - Automatically insert the current date as unchanging text in a letterhead or other template

AutoNumb.html - Automatic paragraph numbering, outlines, and numbered lists - How to turn these on and off, temporarily or permanently

AutoSpel.html - Automatically run the spell checker before printing a document

Boilerplate.html - Ten ways to insert 'boilerplate' and other repeating items: QuickWords, QuickCorrect, Shortcut keys, Styles, Macros, Floating cells, Insert>File, and (in WordPerfect 10+), Text variables, the Corel ClipBook, and other utility programs

CustomRA.html - Customize the return address on envelopes with graphics and font attributes

CustPrns.html - How to create new, customized copies of your favorite printer choices - Controlling the tray source, ink color, and other features of your printer

Env2Prn2.html - Print envelopes to another printer, then reset WordPerfect 10 to your default printer

HeadFootWM.html - Headers, Footers, and Watermarks - Some useful WordPerfect features you can add to multi-page documents ... and how to start, stop, replace, change, or delay their appearance (links to related topics, such as page numbering and page identification, can be found on the left column of the page)

LoadLetr.html - Load a letterhead (or any other document based on a template) with a mouseclick or keystroke

MailingAddress.html - How WordPerfect finds a mailing address on your letter

MergeMP.html - Merging multiple-page letters using letterhead paper for page 1 and plain paper for subsequent pages - Merging multiple-page documents so that formatting is identical from record to record - Page numbering in multi-page form documents

PageNumb.html - Page numbering in WordPerfect (plus related links)

ResetMargins.html - Need to reset page margins on page 2 (if there is a page 2) back to the one-inch default or some other setting? Here's how to do it in either the current document or in a template.

StampDoc.html - Creating "DRAFT," "COPY," and other identification stamps on the pages of a document

 Here is an automated custom letterhead template.

Notes

¤  If you are NOT interested in an automated template you could set up a simpler, non-automated (or unprompted) version based on the format of the included letterhead template on this page. See the tip below.

¤  To create ANY non-automated (unprompted) custom templates see here.

The download ZIP file (see left column) also contains detailed, step-by-step guides to modifying the included sample templates and/or creating other "prompted" templates.

There are 2 nearly identical sample templates included in the download ZIP file:

One template is for WordPerfect 8 (c.1997, and which has slightly different Address Book fields than later versions), named "My letterhead (WP8).wpt".
The other template is for WordPerfect 9 (c.1999) and later versions, named "My letterhead (WP9).wpt".

The main instructional guide for both templates is named "My letterhead template.wpd" and it is a regular WordPerfect document, not a template.

Sample letters created with the letterhead template:

Screen shot 1: 
[Larger size]
Page 1 of sample letterhead document (easily customized):

Letterhead page 1
Screen shot 2:
[Large size]
Page 2 of sample letterhead document:

Letterhead page 2

As shown in screen shot 1, the template uses a simple text letterhead inside a graphic box at the top of the letter. The use of text makes it easy to edit and change; the use of a box keeps the letterhead information together on the page.

But what makes it truly useful is this:

It pops up a fill-in Template Information dialog (screen shot 3) to get information from the user, then it automatically inserts this information — and certain other information — in various places in the letter. This information includes such things as the current date, delivery method, recipient's name and address, reference information, and page numbers on subsequent pages.

[Note: You can skip this automation method if you just need the basic format as a basis for your own letterhead, as discussed below.]

Screen shot 3:

Template Information dialog that appears when a new letter document is loaded:

Template information dialog

The template also creates informational headers and footers in their proper locations depending on the number of pages in the letter. (See screen shot 1 and 2).

Multipage letters

If the letter has more than one page, page 2 and following pages will have different headers and footers from the ones used on page 1. The header on page 2+ (see screen shot 2 above) will show the recipient's name, a RE: item (if used), the current date, and the page number. The footer on page 2+ shows just the company name and address. (Again, these can be customized.)

Some of the placement of these features is done with suppress and/or delay codes. [To add items to the template on certain pages (and not other pages) — or suppress certain items on a given page — see here. Also see the related web pages linked in the left column above.]

Cleaning up

Finally, a template macro — a macro that was saved inside the template — removes certain text strings if they are not used (and the lines they would have occupied) such as empty address lines, reference lines, and "cc:" information.

Note
The last two pages of the included guide (My Letterhead Template.wpd) contain a sample of the letter that is generated by the letterhead template. Print both pages to see if the letterhead design is something you want to modify and use for your own letters.

If you like the way the letterhead works you can modify the text (inside a text box) at the top of the page, the letter's closing, and both footers to use your own name and address. Instructions are given in the included guide document, including the steps needed to make more extensive modifications.

"Automating WordPerfect Templates" (Automating.pdf) is an included Adobe PDF file that contains more information about using prompts, bookmarks, and template macros in a template to help you automate it. It may be particularly useful to newcomers as a "How To" guide on creating other automated documents such as invoices, fax cover sheets, memos, etc.
☼  Tip
Setting up a non-automated (or partially automated) letterhead template
You may not need (or want) the kind of "fill-in" automation that the above template contains, but the "Letter design" section of the "My letterhead template.wpd" file that is included in the download archive explains the use of the first-page text box, setting up the second page header, both footer types, etc.

You should be able to use it as a guide to setting up your own formatted multi-page letterhead template, including setting up headers and footers that automatically change on page 2 (if there is a page 2). [For information on creating custom templates, see here.]
•  In brief, here is the basic formatting used in the "My Letterhead" template:
The letterhead on page 1 was created inside a text box (click Insert, Text Box) that is attached to "Page" (right-click on a text box to set its Position).

[Alternatively you could use a Header that is discontinued with a Delay code (see here for more on Headers and how to discontinue them). There are several alternatives for designing a "page 1 letterhead" — e.g., columns, watermarks (see below), etc.]

Header A, created on page 1 (but suppressed on that page with Format, Page, Suppress so that it doesn't display there) is used for second and subsequent page identification (recipient's name, date, page number). This leaves Header B for any other purpose.

[In a non-automated letterhead, you could simply copy the recipient's name into that Header A; the date and page number can be automatically inserted with codes from the Insert and Format menus.]
•  Document identification is contained in the two footers:
Footer A, created on page 1 and displayed there, is used for the telephone number, email address, and fax number. Using a Delay code, this footer is discontinued on page 2 so that it shows up only on page 1 of a multi-page letter. (Here's how: At the top of page 1, click Format, Page, Delay Codes, 1, OK, then click Insert, Header/Footer, Footer A, Discontinue, and then click Close.)

Footer B, also created on page 1, is used for secondary page information (such as the firm's name and city/state/zip), and it is suppressed on page 1 with Format, Page, Suppress. Thus, it will show up on page 2+ on a multi-page letter.
•  This "manual method" of setting up multi-page templates with [Suppress] and/or [Delay] codes is also outlined in The Suppress feature and Delay Codes.

•  To make the cursor go to the proper location in the letter — i.e., where you wish to start typing — you can set up a bookmark in the template itself, and use a template macro to find that bookmark as soon as the new document based on that template opens. For details on the method see Footnote 1 below.
More tips
☼  Watermark logos
You can use a watermark instead of a graphics or text box for your page 1 letterhead "logo." This lets you create or use a shaded or transparent image:
[1]  At the top of page 1, click on Insert, Watermark, <choose the watermark type, A or B>, Create;

[2]  insert the logo image (either paste it from the clipboard or insert it from a file with the button on the property bar);

[3]  right-click (or drag) the inserted image in the watermark window to set its position/size on the watermark page (or use the button on the watermark property bar);

[4]  click outside the image and use the special button on the watermark property bar to increase or decrease the image's shading (brightness) as desired;

[5]  exit the watermark window with the Close button on the watermark property bar, or simply use File, Close;

[6]  back in the main template document window, discontinue the letterhead logo on page 2:
▸ Click on Format, Page, Delay Codes, 1, OK; this brings up the Define Delayed Codes window;

▸ click on Insert, Watermark, <choose the watermark type, A or B>, Discontinue;

▸ optionally set new default page margins, printer tray, etc. - see the tip below;

▸ click the Close button (or File, Close) to return to the main document.

☼  More than one logo?

If you also want your logo to appear on subsequent pages, but in a different size or form, use the other watermark (e.g., Watermark B, with the logo in a different size) at the top of page 1 and simply suppress it on page 1 with Format, Page, Suppress.

The watermark will not show on page 1, but will show on subsequent pages until it is discontinued or replaced.
Alternatively you can simply start the other watermark in the Define Delayed Codes window (see above tip).

☼  Using two trays
Note that the second page can also contain a custom page setup ("page definition") that specifies a new paper source (a specific printer tray). When in the Define Delayed Codes window (see above tips), click Format, Page, Page Setup, and then create/add a new custom page definition with a printer tray ("source") specified for all "second" pages. This is a common way to have the printer print the letterhead from one tray, and the rest of the letter (if there is more than one page) printed from another tray.

☼  Reset margins
Need to reset margins on page 2 of a letter or other document? Here's a tip (which also offers a workaround for a small bug in inserting a delay code in WordPerfect 10 and later versions).
 
☼  Load the letterhead
See "Loading new documents based on custom templates" for toolbar and menu methods of leading the document.

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Footnote 1

How to position the cursor at a specific location in a document as soon as the document opens.

Note

This material is for those who wish to create just a cursor-positioning function in any template — using the same basic method that exists in the MyLetterhead.wpt template above but without the other automation features employed in that template.

You may have heard of another method: Users have found that setting a QuickMark with Tools, Bookmark and enabling the option "Go to QuickMark on open" will work when saving an ordinary document but will not work when saving a template that has a QuickMark embedded in it. This small problem seems to be present since at least WordPerfect 8 and is still present in WordPerfect X4 (and perhaps later versions).

However, the following method will work to automate the initial positioning of the cursor in documents based on a particular template. The main reason is that it uses a standard bookmark, not a QuickMark bookmark.

Method

[1] Edit (or create) the custom template (for help see here).

[2] Place the cursor where you wish to begin typing.

[3] Click Tools, Bookmark, Create and give the new bookmark a name (e.g., Start or Text, etc.). (Don't check the box, "Selected Bookmark," under the name in the Create Bookmark dialog; that option creates a paired bookmark. Here, you just want a single bookmark code.) Click OK, then Close, to return to the template document you are editing.

[4] Next, create a template macro by recording it while the template document is still on screen. Here's how:

[4a] Click Tools, Template Macro, Record. In the Record Template Macro dialog that appears, give the new macro a name (e.g., Start Typing) and click the Record button.

[4b] Immediately go to Tools, Bookmark (and select the bookmark if it is not already selected), then click the Go To button. [In the macro itself, this adds the command, BookmarkFind(<name of bookmark>).]

[4c] Stop the macro recording with the button on the Macro toolbar (the one with a black square on it) or by de-selecting the menu choice, Tools, Template Macro, Record.

[5] Now, you need to associate this macro with a trigger (for more on triggers see  https://wptoolbox.com/tips/Triggers.html):

[5a] On the Template Toolbar (the one with the "Build Prompts" button), click on Associate to bring up the Associate dialog. Click on the Triggers radio button and choose "Post New" in the left-hand drop list. This sets the macro to play when you open a new document based on that template.

[5b] In the Macros drop list on the Associate dialog, choose the name of your new macro.

[5c]  Click OK to return to the template document.

[6] Save the template document.

[7] Test the effects of the new macro by loading a new blank document based on that template (File, New...).

Done!

[For a much more comprehensive explanation on automating templates, see the PDF file Automating WordPerfect Templates on the main Tips page here.)

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