Configure a group template

Group templates are customized in Template Properties. After a group template is created, you can edit the name, add or remove searchable tags, change the primary template, configure the tool palette, add feature templates, and configure feature builders.

To create a group template, choose a primary feature layer in Manage Templates. You can change the primary feature layer at any time. The layer symbol that appears with the template name is derived from the primary template layer symbology.

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 Launcher.
  2. In the pane, expand Map layers Map View.
  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 Properties.
    • Right-click the template and click Properties 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 Create Features.
  2. Show Template Properties using one of the following methods:
    • Right-click the template and click Properties Properties.
    • Click the forward arrow Forward, click Active Template Options Menu, and click Properties Properties.

Configure the tool palette

On the Tools tab, choose the toolset that creates the geometry you want to drive component feature templates and builders. After choosing a toolset, choose one tool to run automatically when the template is clicked and show or hide the other tools.

  1. Click Tools.
  2. Click the toolset arrow and choose a toolset that creates the geometry you want to drive component feature templates and builders.

    Point tools

    Available with primary templates that create point features

    Line tools

    Available with primary templates that create point or polyline features

    Radial tools

    Available with primary templates that create point or polyline features

    Polygon tools

    Available with primary templates that create polygon features

    Note:

    When the primary template creates point features, the line and radial toolsets create temporary construction geometry that is automatically deleted after the builders use them to place 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

On the Builders tab, add a component feature template and a builder for each feature layer on which you want to generate one or more features. The attribute values for each component feature are maintained on their respective origin source feature template.

The templates available to a group template are based on the primary template geometry and the specified toolset. For example, if the primary template is a water service line feature and the line toolset is specified, a valve template with corresponding builders may appear as a valid choice.

Note:

Builders available to the assigned primary template are limited in scope and operate independently of the component feature templates and builders you add to the group.

  1. Click Builders.
  2. Click Add 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 Delete.
  7. To change a template or builder, hover over the template name, click Edit Editable,
  8. Click OK.

    Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Utility network associations

The Association tab is available only when the primary feature template creates a utility network feature. On this tab you can choose which applicable utility network associations are created when the template creates a feature.

Note:

Group template associations are limited to group features only and do not extend to the contents of preset templates assigned to the group.

  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.