Configure a group template

Group templates create interdependent features on multiple layers using builders in a semiautomated workflow. Configuring a group template includes assigning the primary template, showing, or hiding construction tools, and configuring secondary templates.

  • The group template symbol appearing in the pane is determined by the primary template feature layer.
  • Attributes values for all features created by a group template are determined by their origin source feature template.

Template property settings appear on the following tabs:

TabDescription

General

The template name and optional metadata for documenting, organizing, and searching.

Tools

Settings for tools that appear on the tool palette.

Builders

Primary and secondary (component) feature templates.

Note:

To change a template or to configure a builder, hover over the template name and click Edit Editable.

Select a template

In the Manage Templates pane, select a template and click Properties Properties.

  1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click the Manage Templates dialog box launcher Launcher.
    • Alternatively, in the Create Features pane, click Manage Templates Manage Templates.
  2. In the layer view, expand the Map layers Map View and click the layer to show its templates in the template view.
  3. In the template view, click the template.
  4. On the template view toolbar, click Properties Properties.
    • Alternatively, right-click the template and click Properties Properties.

    Tip:

    If you are in the Create Features pane, right-click the template and click Properties Properties. Alternatively, in the Active Template view, click Active Template Options Menu, and click Properties Properties.

Show or hide construction tools

Click the Tools tab to show or hide the construction tools that appear on the tool palette. Choose one tool to run automatically when the template is clicked. The tools available to a template depend on the template type and the feature type it creates.

  1. Click the Tools tab.
  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.