Creating Projects Based on Stationery

Writers use Stationery created by a Stationery designer to generate output. When you create a project based on Stationery, you specify the Stationery you want the project to use and the source documents you want to include in the project. The Stationery file uses a .wxsp file extension and contains information and settings for the project to use, such as style or format information, variable values, condition settings, cross-reference definitions, and more. The source documents contain the content for which you want to generate output. The project uses the settings specified in the Stationery file and the content and formatting in the source documents to generate output. A project file created from Stationery uses the .wrp file extension.

Note: Since 2026.1, both ePublisher Express and ePublisher Designer create, open, build, and synchronize projects based on Stationery. Express is the seat writers normally work in, and a Designer seat can do everything an Express seat can, so a designer does not need a second installation to work in a writer's project. The two products still differ in what only Designer offers: Style Designer, the Preview window, Stationery design projects, and saving Stationery.

You can also start this procedure from the Stationery itself. Since 2026.1, opening a Stationery file begins the same flow with that Stationery already selected, so you only need to supply the project name, location, and source documents. For more information, see Opening a Stationery File.

To create a project based on Stationery

1. Open the New Project wizard:

   • If you are using ePublisher Express, on the File menu, click New Project.

   • If you are using ePublisher Designer, on the File menu, click New Project from Stationery.... In ePublisher Designer, New Project creates a Stationery design project, so the separate command is what creates a project based on Stationery.

2. In the Project Name field, type a name for your project.

3. In the Location field, specify the location where you want to save your ePublisher project by clicking on the folder icon and browsing to the location where you want to save your project.

   Note: Ensure you consider the length of the full path you specify for the project name and location. If you specify long names and paths for project, Windows may not be able to support the length of the full path.

   By default, ePublisher stores projects in the Documents\ePublisher Express Projects folder.

4. In the Stationery or Designer project field, specify the Stationery you want to use to create your project by clicking on the folder icon and browsing to the location of the Stationery file.

5. Select a Stationery file (.wxsp file), and then click Open.

   Note: This field also accepts an ePublisher Designer project (a .wep file). Selecting one creates a project linked to that design project rather than to Stationery, and the new project synchronizes with it the same way it would with Stationery. For more information, see Creating a Linked Project from a Design Project.

6. Click Next.

7. Click Add.

8. Browse to the location of the source documents you want to include in your project, select the source documents, and then click Open.

   Note: You can add source documents when you create your project or you can add source documents after you create your project. For more information about adding source documents to projects, see Adding Source Documents to Projects.

9. Click Finish to create the project. ePublisher creates the project and gathers information about the structure of your source documents.

After you create your project, add targets to your projects as needed and then generate output. For more information, see Adding Targets to Projects Based on Stationery and Generating Output.