Amending a letter template

Alto uses a word processor to create and edit letter templates. As part of this process, you can permanently make changes to a template by editing the main letter template in your Letter & Stationery Templates library, for example to update the wording or switch to new stationery.

Once a letter template is edited, everyone who has access to the letter will see the changes. If you'd rather keep the original and change a copy, see Copying a letter template.

Amending a template

1. Click Tools (the cog) on the main navigation bar
2. In the dropdown menu, click Templates and admin
3. On the side menu, under App Tools, click Letter & Stationery Templates
4. Click the relevant Letter Template that you wish to permanently change
5. The Letter Template opens. You can change any of the following:
   1. Name - At the top of the letter template editor, you can amend the name of your letter template
   2. Branch - Within the Template Config, in the dropdown menu, you can amend whether this template will be available to individual branches, or to All Branches
   3. Brand - Within the Template Config, if your agency operates under two different brands, in the dropdown menu, you can amend the relevant brand option
   4. Stationery - Within the Template Config, in the dropdown menu, you can amend which stationery design is best suited to the template
      (Stationery refers to the templates that are set up with your header, logo and footer, i.e. the letterhead design)
   5. Sale or Rent - Within the Template Config, in the dropdown menu, you can amend if the template is specific to one or the other, or All
   6. Edit the contents of your letter template (Insert text from Microsoft Word and other document editors, add formatting, tables etc). For more information, see Letter editor features
   7. Add a merge code, if required. For more information, see Adding merge codes to a letter template and List of merge codes for letter templates
   8. Add an attachment, if required. For more information, see Adding an attachment to a letter template
6. By default, the Preview function will be active allowing you to view a side by side preview of the layout on your chosen stationery. Make sure you're happy with its appearance, i.e. where page breaks fall, how text wraps, your logo positioning etc. Click Refresh to update the preview, or view it in Full screen
7. Click Save
8. Click Close

FAQs

• Can I edit the works order template?

Yes. Works orders sent to suppliers are produced from the Work Order Supplier Instruction Template. By default it's quite simple: a contact block, a Works Order heading, and the #worksorder_instruction_block# and #worksorder_instruction_footer# merge codes, which generate the job, access and contact details. You can't change the wording those merge codes produce, but the rest of the template edits like any other letter template. You can add as much of your own content around them as you need, from a single extra line to full instructions for your suppliers, and change settings such as Stationery.

To add your own text:

1. Click Tools (the cog) on the main navigation bar
2. In the dropdown menu, click Templates and admin
3. On the side menu, under App Tools, click Letter & Stationery Templates
4. Scroll down and click Work Order Supplier Instruction Template
5. Click where you want your text to appear, for example after the last table and merge codes if you're only adding a line, and type it
6. Click Save

Your text appears on the next works orders you generate.

• Related Help Centre articles that you may find useful.

  Copying a letter template

  Letter editor features

  Adding an image into a letter template