Edit a Template
You can open a template for editing by double-clicking on it in the Project Browser, or by double-clicking any instance of that template within a window. You design your template the same way you design windows: by adding components to it, and configuring those components using property bindings and scripting.
There are a few differences between templates and windows from an editing perspective. Templates, unlike windows, have a transparent background by default. This can be changed simply by editing the background color of the template. Templates also do not have the concept of the "Root Container" - the template itself acts like a container.
Once you change the master template, all the instances of that template are updated.
Templates are a project resource. As such they can be copied, duplicated, protected and more. There are several actions available with a right click menu.

Action | Description |
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| Places the selected template on the current window. |
Scripting |
The following feature is new in Ignition version 8.0.11
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Opens the Component Scripting Window where you can set scripting on this template. For more information, see Script Builders in Vision. |
Notes | Opens a popup window where you can make notes about the template. |
Duplicate | Duplicates the template in the Templates folder. |
Rename | Renames the template. |
Cut | Cuts the template, but leaves it on the clipboard. |
Copy | Makes a copy of the template on the clipboard. |
Copy Path | Copies the path to the template and places it on the clipboard. |
Paste | Pastes a template that's currently on the clipboard. |
Delete | Deletes the selected template. |
Protect | Once a project resource protected, it cannot be changed except by someone that has the permission to unprotect it, and modify it. For more information, see Project Security in Designer. |
Send To | Sends this template to another project on this Gateway. |
Export | Opens export Project Resources window. where you can export this template and other resources. For more information, see Project Export and Import. |
Example - Send a Template to a Different Project
You can share Templates with other projects.
To send a Template to a different project, right click on the template name and choose Send to.

- A list of existing projects is displayed. Choose a specific project, or select All other projects if you want to send the template to all projects.
- A confirmation message is displayed. Click Yes to confirm.

Template Custom Properties
Templates have the capability to incorporate custom properties. In this way, they are the same as any other Ignition components. The main difference between the custom properties for an Ignition component and a template is that the template has internal properties and template parameters.
- Internal Properties - Internal properties help facilitate the bindings within a template in the same way that a window's root container will help facilitate bindings between components that make up the template. When a template is deployed onto a window the internal custom properties are not exposed to the world outside the template.
- Template Parameters - The template parameters are the template's custom properties that are exposed to the outside world. In other words, when a template is deployed onto the root container of a window, the template parameters are available for binding with the objects on that window or to Tags.
Creating the Template Instances
Once you've made your template, you can use it on any of the windows in your project by doing any one of the following steps:
- You can drag the template from the Project Browser into an open window just like you can drag components into the window for display.
- You can right-click on the template in the Project Browser and choose Use In Window, which will let you place the template inside a window with another click.
- You can drag a Tag from the Tag Browser to a window and from the pop-up menu, which is displayed, you can choose a template. This only works if the template has a configured Template Parameter that been enabled as a drop target.
The template instance can then be moved and resized like any other component.