You’ve got several clients that need the same (or very similar) key performance indicators (KPIs) in their report? Great! When you’ve found the integrations and types of visuals you need, there’s no need to create your new reports from scratch (again)!
Having a template available to you whenever you create a new report makes everything simpler! All you have to do is connect your new client’s different data sources, and your new report is created in an instant, with all the same KPIs you need in less time!
What is a Template?
A template is basically a blueprint or pre-configured storyboard that you can use over and over again with different data but with the same basic layout. When you create a template from an existing storyboard, the template will preserve the same types, parameters, and layout of all your visuals without carry over the underlying data or content.
How do you Create a New Template?
There are two ways for you to create your templates: Creating a Template Directly from an Existing Storyboard or Creating a template in the “Template” section of the Library.
1.) Creating a Template Directly from an Existing Storyboard
You’ve just created a storyboard with all the visuals you need with the perfect layout? You’re going to want to reuse this as a template for other clients? You can save it as a template immediately!
- In the Storyboard Manager screen, hover over the desired storyboard tile and click on the top left-hand “…” menu, then select the “Copy” option. You’ll see the following screen open: Type in your new template’s name, and include a description of the template if you’d like.
- Type in your new template’s name, and include a description of the template if you’d like.
- When you’re done click “Copy Into Template Library” and save.
Your new template will be available in the Library the next time you create a new storyboard!
2.) Creating a Template in the “Template” Section of the Library
If you’ve already have an idea about the storyboard you want to make a template out of, no need to go fishing through your reports to find it.
- Simply go into the left-hand menu open the “Library” menu and click “Templates” section at the upper left-hand side of your screen.
- When you are ready, click on “Create a Template”. A new screen will open, to select how you would like to create your template: Start from Scratch, Start from Template, and Start from Visual Library.
You’ll then be able to edit your layout and build the perfect template. When you’re done, your new template will be available the next time you look to create a new report!
How do you use Your Templates?
When you want to create a new storyboard using one of your templates, it’s simple. When you get to the Template section of the “Library” you’ll find every template (as well as the standard Optix templates) available to you.
Click on the one that you want, and you’re done!
Important Notes Regarding Your Templates:
- If you create a new storyboard with a template but don’t connect the same integrations as those that were in the template initially, visuals corresponding to the missing integrations won’t show up in your new storyboard or may require additional configuration or removal.
- If you create a template based on an existing storyboard that is linked to a CSV file, widgets corresponding to CSV data won’t show up in your new custom template, nor in any new dashboard you create with that template.
- Templates can be placed in an Unpublished and Published state. When published, the template name and description can be modified, but the visuals and layout may not be changed. In this case you must unpublish the template in order to modify it. Storyboards created using a template can modify or remove visuals in a storyboard without affecting the template. You may also delete a template whenever you’d like, which will not affect any storyboards created with the deleted template.
- Templates are only compatible with the same selected period type. For example, periodic templates can only ever create periodic storyboards. The same goes for comparison, rolling and custom storyboards.
