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Edit and Preview Narrative Templates

KEY TOPICS:

  • About Narrative Templates
    • Template Editing and Master Plans
  • Select a Section (and Include or Exclude it)
  • Compose the Narrative Section
    • Upload a Read-only File
    • Import Narrative Content for Editing
  • Use the Text Editor to Edit Content
    • Edit Narrative Content and Formatting
    • Insert a Tag into the Narrative
    • Access Tag Editing
    • Export a Narrative Section for Review
  • Revert to the Default Narrative Template
  • View the Published Narrative
  • RETURN TO: Narrative Settings

Customize and Review AAP Narratives

About Narrative Templates

Access the Templates tab to view and build narratives by Section. This task area offers default language, options for composing each Section, and a text editor for revising the content. While changes affect only the current plan, Templates can be carried over from year to year, making subsequent plan development more stream-lined.

Template Editing and Master Plans

balanceAAP supports the cascading of Master Plan content to sub plans so that content can be applied universally (and updated, as necessary). Once the universal elements are in place, the narrative for a particular sub plan may be edited for location-based needs.

Cross-references to related Narrative Settings:

Select a Section (and Include or Exclude it)

Select a Templates sub-tab from the upper ribbon:

  • Minorities/Women
  • IWD
  • Veterans

Then, using the drop-down, choose the Section you wish to compose or edit. All available Sections are included by default.

To exclude a particular Section from the narrative, uncheck the box for: Include this section in the Narrative.

Compose the Narrative Section

Upload a Read-only File

Although balanceAAP will display the uploaded file as a PDF, both Word and PDF file formats can be imported. This option is useful for attaching an exhibit to the AAP (e.g., Self-Identification form). When a file is uploaded in this manner, the text editor will not be available. Therefore, upload a read-only file when:

  • The Section will not contain tags.
  • No further editing is required.

Quick Tip: Revert to the default template text editor at any time by selecting: Enter the template text.

Import Narrative Content for Editing

When a file is imported in this manner, the content may be further edited (as described below). The following file types are supported:

  • Word 2007
  • Word 97-2003
  • HTML
  • Plain Text
  • Rich Text

From the Section menu, click: Enter the template text.

Navigate down to the Import/Export menu. Click the [Import] button. [Browse] for a file, and bring the content in.

Use the Text Editor to Edit Content

BALANCEaap's text editor provides Word-like tools to perform the following, and more:

  • Format text
  • Add tags for merged content
  • Include external Web links
  • Insert page breaks

Important: Click [Save] after performing editing or other actions, described in this article.

Edit Narrative Content and Formatting

Review and edit the template, using the provided text editor and editing toolbar. Use this option when tags must be included in the Section (as described below).

Insert a Tag into the Narrative

Some default (and created) tags will already exist in the narrative template. To insert a tag, place your cursor in a location, and click [Insert Tag]. Select the desired tag from the drop-down, and click [Insert].

Quick Tip: Filter the drop-down by selecting:

  • User Defined Narrative Tags (insertions you defined, using the Tags and Values tab)
  • Calculated/Generated Tags (insertions the system calculates from plan data)
  • Report Tags (insertion of full plan reports)

Access Tag Editing

If a tag is shown in blue within the narrative template, a link is available to edit the tag. Click the tag to access the Edit Tags & Values screen for that tag.

Export a Narrative Section for Review

Using the Template Text menu header, first select a file type from the provided drop-down:

  • Word 2007 (default)
  • Word 97-2003
  • Plain Text
  • Rich Text
  • HTML
  • PDF

Then, select, the [Export] button, and follow the Windows or other prompts.

Revert to the Default Narrative Template

At any time, you can change the narrative template back to balanceAAP’s default by clicking [Revert to Default], a button located at the bottom of the page.


View the Published Narrative

The Published Narrative tab displays a final preview of the narrative sections.

To edit the narrative locally without changing the template, select a narrative Section from the drop-down, and click the [Edit] button. Confirm by clicking [Edit] again. The Published Narrative will appear in a text editor. Make the edits, and click [Save].

Important Caution: If you edit a plan narrative and then republish it due to updated calculations, all edits made on the Published Narrative tab will be lost. It is recommended that only the narrative Templates (described above) be edited.

Republish the Narrative

If calculations or merged information has been updated, return to the Published Narrative tab. Click the [Edit] button. From the Edit pop-up window, click the [Republish this section now] button. (The Republish alert will also display on the Select Reports page, if the system detects changes to plan data.)

Important Caution: Any edits made on the published Narrative since the Section was last published will be lost.