Configure a group template

Use Template Properties to edit a group template's name, add or delete searchable tags, show or hide construction tools, change the primary template, and add feature templates and configure builders.

Group template are authored manually by adding existing feature templates as components templates. The drawing symbol reflects settings in the Symbology pane for the primary template and can't be configured.

The Association tab appears dynamically when the primary template creates utility network features.

For steps to create a group template, see Create a group template.

Tip:

To configure more than one group template with the same source feature templates, use Duplicate to copy the template and configure the duplicate template with a unique template name.

Show template properties

The manage templates pane

Use the Manage Templates pane to show all templates defined for the current project.

1. On the Edit tab in the Features group, click the Manage Templates dialog box launcher .
2. In the pane, expand Map layers .
3. Click the source layer for the template you want to configure.

   Feature templates defined for the layer appear in the template view.

4. In the template view, click the template.
5. Show Template Properties using one of the following methods:
   • On the toolbar, click Properties .
   • Right-click the template and click Properties .

The create features pane

Use the Create Features pane to show all templates defined for the current map.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
2. Show Template Properties using one of the following methods:
   • Right-click the template and click Properties .
   • Click the forward arrow , click Active Template Options , and click Properties .

Configure the tool palette

Use the Tools tab to set a default construction tool and show or hide tools that appear on the tool palette.

1. Click Tools.
2. Click the tool arrow and choose a toolset:
   • Point tools are available with primary templates that create point features.
   • Polygon tools are available with primary templates that create polygon features.
   • Line tools and Radial tools are available with primary templates that create point and polyline features.

     Note:

     Point feature templates create temporary construction lines that are automatically deleted after the builders use them to locate the component features.

3. To set the default construction tool, click and enable Click to set as default tool.

   The default tool runs automatically when the template is selected

4. To show a tool in the tool palette, check Toggle tool visibility.

Add templates and builders

Use the Builders tab to add feature templates and configure their builders. The templates and feature builders available to a group template appear dynamically based on the primary template geometry type and the preselected primary template toolset.

It is common practice is to use the primary template to sketch primary feature geometry and use builders to automate the creation of component features. Some builders include definable parameters, such as a distance from an endpoint or an offset from a polyline feature.

For example, if the primary template is a water service line feature, then a fitting and valve template may appear as valid choices with builders that generate features at specified locations and distances along a line feature.

Note:

Primary templates for line and polygon allow builders, however they are limited in scope and operate independently of the component feature templates and builders you add to the group.

To learn more about builders, see Feature builder reference.

1. Click Builders.
2. Click Add , click the drop-down arrow, and choose a template.

   Parameter settings for the active builder appear in the pane. All builders available for the template appear in the builder drop-down list.

3. Click Choose a feature template and click a feature template.
4. Click Choose a builder and click a builder.
   • If the builder includes parameters, specify how you want the features created.
5. To add the template and builder to the group template, click Add.
   • To cancel the template, click Cancel.
6. To delete a template, Hover over the template name and click Delete .
7. To change a template or builder, hover over the template name, click Edit ,
8. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Utility network associations

Use the Association tab to choose which applicable associations are created when using the template. Group template associations are limited to group features only and do not extend to the contents of preset templates assigned to the group.

To learn more about editing tools and the utility network, see Utility Network reference for editing.

Note:

The Association tab is available only when the primary feature template creates a utility network feature.

1. Click Association.
2. To generate associations, check Add associations when creating new assets.
3. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.