I'm not sure what to do to save the layout with the date only and not the inital print.
Jim,
This is a little tricky.
When you save your layout, you don't need any image. You should be using the template thumbnail (the last of the thumbs) as if it was one of your images.
Then you save your layout clicking FILE and then the "L" button, and then name your layout, and save.
Here's the tricky part.
To use your layout, (retrieve) you *do not* use FILE RECALL and Layout.
You are supposed to use the CUSTOM, from print properties, and then put a dot in pre-defined layout. Find yours, and OK out.
This should work just fine.
Fred