Mega-confusion with templates

Question

jerry p. asked:

I want to import anatomy photos and do questions and answers regarding them. I've been using Supermemo since April and successfully made half a dozen collections or so for languages. Despite having graduated magna cum laude having received a law degree, and being a member of MENSA!!, I just do not get it! I am not exaggerating when I tell you I have spent 10 hours reading all about templates and just do not get it...

Here's what I'm doing (so you can tell me what's wrong):

1. Opened a new collection;
2. Put a box at the right to place the anatomy picture (Don't recall how I did that, but I got there);
3. Pasted in Picture1 to that box with Shift-Ins. Looks good--on the left I have my question box (still blank) and answer box (still blank).
4. Saved as a template--gave name of Anatomy Template.
5. Wrote in a question and an answer. Nice.
6. Clicked "Add New". But I see three blank boxes. Where did my picture go?

Let's try this:

1. Clicked "Apply Template" and selected Anatomy
2. Nothing. Three blank boxes. No picture.
3. Wept profusely.
4. Logged on here. (But not after doing the above a number of times--insanity being when you keep doing the same thing over and over, thinking that the results will change).

There needs to be a video showing the process. It has been my intention to make a series of videos and upload to YouTube just as soon as I "get it". I've learned a lot about SuperMemo over the last 4-5 months and love the program--even though learning to do new things takes ten times what it should.

With templates, I am at a total loss. Where have I gone wrong? Obviously, many people have been able to figure this out.

I'm not able to. Absolutely not able to without help...

Thanks in advance.

Answer

Unfortunately, your pain is not unusual. Template and categories are considered hardest part of SuperMemo. You can easily trip on the name of template option. In your case, understanding the difference between 3 options would help:

1. Save as template - saves the template
2. Save as default - saves the template and makes it a default template that will be used each time you add items to a category
3. Save with object - saves the template and includes in the template all pictures, texts and other objects that normally are not part of the template

You have only saved the template. To save with pictures as default you would need one of the two:

1. Save as default and then overwrite the default template with Save with object using the same template name
2. Save with objects and set the template as default in current category

You can also use Duplicate as in the video below to greatly simplify the process.

If possible, try to peek at the documentation again and try to answer 2 questions:

• how could the documents be improved (esp. http://www.supermemo.com/help/templates.htm)
• how could future SuperMemo make your life easier (perhaps Save as default with objects?) or new terminology, or a totally new paradigm for templates

With your Mensa credentials, you will certainly be able to excellently diagnose where we have gone wrong in the process. Thank you in advance.

This video was produced for you to show the recommended pathway (note the use of Duplicate instead of Save with objects:

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