Unable to use a modified word template in RStudio knitr

Question

Unable to use a modified Word template from Rstudio using Knit Word from Rstudio. Rstudio and required packages were installed and updated this week. Running OS X 10.10.5 and using Word 2011. Simplified testing to Yihui Xie's 113-externalization.rmd and 113-foo.R and have followed his Vimeo video https://vimeo.com/110804387 on this subject. In all cases, knitting the RMD file uses the default formats and not the modified template stored as template.docx. I have tried putting copies in all locations in the project directory without success.

#113-externalization.Rmd
---
title: "Untitled"
output:
     word_document: 
     reference_doc: "template.docx"
---

# Code Externalization

```{r cache=FALSE}
knitr::read_chunk('113-foo.R')
```

The following two chunks are from the external R script `113-foo.R`:

```{r test-a}
```
```{r test-b}
```
#code for 113-foo.R
# ---- test-a ----
1 + 1
x = rnorm(10)

# ---- test-b ----
mean(x)
sd(x)

Search found Changing word template for knitr in Rmarkdown, but that failed to locate the modified template at any location in the project directory.

In the video he uses `reference_docx:`. Does that make the difference? — Martin Schmelzer, Sep 20 '16 at 18:34
Yes and No. I changed to reference_docx: and received a failure message. Entered the text as — user3838963, Sep 20 '16 at 19:30
Well for me it does work using `reference_docx: word-template.docx`. Make sure your indentation in the YAML header is correct (check the video again). — Martin Schmelzer, Sep 20 '16 at 19:42
I just tried it: doesnt matter if you use `reference_doc` or `reference_docx`. I guess it is the indentation then... — Martin Schmelzer, Sep 20 '16 at 19:50

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 20 '16 at 19:54

2

Pretty sure the indentation of the YAML header is the problem. Change it to:

---
title: "Untitled"
output:
  word_document: 
    reference_docx: "template.docx"
---

I also just found out for myself that it does not make a difference if you use reference_doc or reference_docx.

answered Sep 20 '16 at 19:54

Martin Schmelzer

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Many thanks. Can' find any documentation on this but it appears to be the solution. – user3838963 Sep 20 '16 at 20:03
The documentation is here: http://rmarkdown.rstudio.com/word_document_format.html#style_reference – CL. Sep 20 '16 at 20:04

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 30 '17 at 15:22

Tried changing the reference thanks to Martin Schmelzer's comment and accidentally hit upon the solution.
Working YAML HEADER

---
title: "Untitled"
output:
     word_document:
      reference_doc: "template.docx"
---

FAILING YAML HEADERS.

---
title: "Untitled"
output:
     word_document:
      reference_doc: "template.docx"
---

Putting everything in a single line also fails. I haven't found the documentation yet but it appears that a CR and or an indent is needed between the various entries in the output line.

Unable to use a modified word template in RStudio knitr

2 Answers2