Is it possible to use .cls files within a template?

[nadrojisk]

My work provides a custom .cls file for reports. I was trying to see if there was a way to integrate it. Online I found some documentation of just using the \documentclass{classFileName}. But was unsure if there was a different approach.

[jpcirrus]

What is wrong with using the existing documentclass variable?

[nadrojisk]

The moment I posted this I started getting things to work. I didn't go the documentclass variable. I just created a basic template and have it use \documentclass and passed my companys .cls file directly. There was quite a bit of error fixing for packages that needed to be used and stuff like that ... But I think I got it working. Is there any write-up on properly writing a template in LaTeX including packages needed? It could just be my lack of experience on my end, but I got a lot of things like ! LaTeX Error: Environment longtable undefined, eventually I found the correct packages and what not. But there could be more I'm missing, its just my markdown isn't needing them at the moment.

[jgm]

Your best bet is to start with our default template and modify it; then you'll be sure to have what pandoc presupposes.