How to create file templates on your mac from the finder

Make use of document templates on your Mac It is a good way to save time and avoid disappointment in your regular workflow. This traditional feature found in the Finder what it does, in essence, is tell the app with which we open a file to open a copy by default, in this way, we make sure that the original file remains unedited. Let's see how to do it.

Keep the original file safe using templates on macOS

The “Template” feature is one of those functions that today goes largely unnoticed by the vast majority of users, but it is of great value because it allows us to edit templates repeatedly without having to use the “Save as…” command., thus avoiding to overwrite the original file, and saving valuable time.

Virtually any file type can be defined as a template with this feature: it can be used to simplify common Photoshop work, or help create invoices with Word, and much more. To use the Templates function, first you must create the file you want to use as a template, then, you just have to follow the following steps:

1. Find the file you want to use as a template in the Finder.

2. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) the file and select the "Get Info" option from the pop-up menu. Alternatively, you can also click on the file to select it and use the Command + I (Get Info) keyboard shortcut to get information.

In the "General" section of "Get information", check the Template box.

Now click on the red traffic light button to close the Get Info window.

The next time you double-click the template file, Finder will create and open a copy, leaving the original file intact. When you want to stop using a file as a template, simply follow the same process described and uncheck the checkbox in the "Get information" window for the file in question.