# Templates

You can create templates in Outline to allow creating consistent documentation, or setup documents that often need to contain repeating information such as a set of tasks.

# Creating a template

A template can be created from an existing document through the “…” menu, select the option to `Templatize` to create a new template from the document. The existing will be left in place. You can also create a new blank template directly from **Settings → Templates.**

Templates can “live” either in a collection, or at the workspace. This setting will decide which templates appear as options when creating a new document. You can change the location of a template through the **Move** option.

# Placeholders

When editing a template an additional option appears in the formatting toolbar to convert the selected text into a “placeholder”. A placeholder acts like an input on a form, when users create a document from the template and type into a placeholder it will be replaced and can act as instructions for how to fill out the template.

# Variables

There are a few preset variables that are possible with templates, they will be replaced when a document is created:

* `{datetime}` – Will be replaced with a formatted date and time in the current locale.
* `{date}` – Will be replaced with just the current date
* `{time}` – Will be replaced with a timestamp
* `{author}` – Will be replaced with the user’s name that created the document

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**Documents**

- [Getting started](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/getting-started-CB6Ipl9Cdc)
- [Documents](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/documents-UiH1h0aQFQ)
- [Integrations](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/integrations-eUbAF2WAjF)
- [AI](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/ai-IFCYbrK7EU)
- [Administration](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/administration-GmaueCNdk1)
- [Import data](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/import-data-D2ZvLqz411)
- [Export data](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/export-data-Da6C7HqL8M)
- [Cloud hosting](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/guide/doc/cloud-hosting-CxJbubIhje)