Canvas templates

Applies to:9.2 and later

Canvas templates enable authorized users to create and manage reusable templates that can be used as starting points when creating new canvases in OpenPages®. Templates allow organizations to standardize canvas configuration such as selected object types, descendant relationships, filters, fields, and visual styling.

All users can create canvases from existing templates, but only users with the appropriate permissions can create or administer templates.

When creating a new canvas, users can choose Copy from a template. Selecting a template automatically pre‑populates the new canvas configuration with values defined in the template, such as:
  • Object and descendant relationships.
  • Predefined filters.
  • Selected fields.
  • Consistent colors for object types.
This helps reduce repetitive setup and encourages consistent canvas design across users and teams.

Roles and permissions

Canvas templates are governed by role‑based permissions.

Standard users

By default, users cannot create, edit, or save templates unless explicitly granted permission.

All users can:
  • Create canvases from available templates.
  • Use templates created by administrators or other authorized users.
Authorized users

Users with the All Permissions/SOX/Administration/Canvases permission can create and manage Canvas templates.

Users with Canvas templates administration permission can:
  • Create new canvas templates.
  • Create a template from another template.
  • Configure object types, descendant types, filters, fields, and visual properties.
  • Manage templates from the Canvas templates page.

Ways to create a canvas template

Canvas templates can be created in two primary ways.

Saving a new canvas as a template

When you're creating a new canvas and have the required permission, you can save that canvas as a template once it contains meaningful configuration. The Save as template option becomes available only after descendants are added, that is, at least one descendant object type is selected.

A new canvas with the associated primary object that contains only a name, but no descendant object types, cannot be saved as a template.

Creating a template from the Canvas templates page
Authorized users can create templates directly from the Canvas templates page. This approach allows you to:
  • Select the primary object type
  • Define additional object types as descendant types.
  • Configure filters and fields.
  • Apply visual styling to object types using color palettes.
  • Create a new template using an existing template as a starting point.

Template visibility and access control

Template visibility is affected by user permissions and profiles.
  • Templates created by authorized users are visible to all users.
  • Any user only sees templates or parts of templates that they have permission to access.
  • If a template includes objects, fields, or filters that a user does not have access to, those elements are not shown to that user.

Filtering templates in the Canvas templates page

The Canvas templates page supports filtering to help locate templates.
Filter by object type
You can filter templates by their primary object type to narrow the list.
Include descendant types
When filtering by object type, you can optionally include templates that reference the selected object type as a descendant through the Include descendant types option. This expands the filter to include all templates where the object is a primary object or appears in descendant relationships.
Note: Note that the primary object type must be selected before selecting the Include descendant types option.

Visual styling in templates

Templates support visual configuration to promote consistency across canvases.

For example, administrators can assign specific colors to object types within a template. When a canvas is created from that template, objects of the same type appear using the configured color palette. This helps users visually recognize object types and maintain a consistent look and feel.

Object limits and practical considerations

To maintain usability, canvases have an enforced limit on the number of objects that can be added automatically through templates. Large hierarchies can result in canvases that are difficult to navigate due to the need for excessive zooming and panning by users.

Templates are most effective when they define a focused starting structure rather than attempting to prepopulate entire hierarchies.

Key points to remember

  • Templates help promote consistency in configuration and visual design across canvases.
  • Everyone can use templates, but not everyone can create them.
  • Templates are intended to pre‑populate configuration, not to fully define every canvas.
  • Users only see template elements they have permission to access.
  • When creating a new Canvas on the Task view, in the side panel the Save as template option is only available when the Canvas contains meaningful template data.