Choosing a document type and template
How the New document picker works (types, layouts and looks) and how to pick the right starting point.
Every document starts from a document type. The type decides the built-in structure. A Certificate of Conformance and a Sell Sheet begin life very differently. The New document picker helps you find the right one.
Browsing the picker
Open New document from the sidebar. The picker shows:
- Your templates: any templates you've saved yourself (shown first, if you have any).
- Start here: a Blank document plus the most popular types, to get going quickly.
- One section per family: all the types, grouped into Product & Sales, Instructions & Support, Quality, Engineering & Change Management, Compliance & Regulatory, and Manufacturing & Process.
You can search by name ("Search document types…"), jump to a type with the family dropdown, or filter with the family chips across the top.
Types, layouts and looks
Three related ideas shape a new document:
| Concept | What it is |
|---|---|
| Type | The kind of document (e.g. Technical Data Sheet). Sets the built-in sections. |
| Layout (variant) | An arrangement of that type. Most types have one "Standard" layout; some offer alternatives (for example, a more compact or a more visual arrangement). |
| Look | The visual style: spacing, type and accents. Seven looks, and you can change the look any time in the editor. |
For the full picture, see Templates, layouts and looks explained.
Preview before you commit
- Click a type to open its detail view.
- Pick a Look from the chips (some looks are hidden for controlled documents, and that's expected).
- On a layout card, click Preview for a full-size view, or Use template to create the document.
What your plan includes
The number of types you can use depends on your plan: Free includes two, Starter includes the Product & Sales and Instructions & Support families, and Pro and above include all 66. If some are locked, the picker shows how many you have and a link to upgrade. See Feature limits and locked features.