Deploy Tech Support

What is the difference between duplicating a design and a template?

Duplicating and Templates can be used in different ways.

Templates: Templates are commonly used when the designer wants to create a re-usable design with unique modifications that don't match your companies preferred or default settings. An example:

• You create a template that uses a different mix of materials that don't match any material groups.
• You create a template that for one or more components, the default calculation that creates that style has been changed: Example: the default calculation for the Skids / Stringers on an LPO-101 is by the WOD ( Width of the Outside Dimension), but for your purposes you want that component to be 2" longer than the outside dimension. In the component field you can enter WOD +2 and Crate Pro 6 will calculate an extra 2" on the dimension. By making this design a template, that new formula will be retained and an extra 2" will be added to the WOD of the design when a user selects the template and changes the dimensions
• Unlocking /locking a new design will update the prices / weights and times if there has been a change.
  
• To create a new design from a template a user will go to Designs > NEW > Templates to select the template. A template can be for general use or can be customer specific by leaving blank or by entering a customer name when making it a template.
• Whenever you create a template and you modify a formula or material, we suggest that you add a note next to the component that has the change so users are aware of those changes when they create a design from that template. They can always delete your notes in the newly created design without affecting the template.
  
• The use of templates preserves unique changes a designer wants to make for re-use later

Duplicating a design creates a copy with no changes to pricing, weight or times unless you unlock/lock the copy.

• If you intend to use a design that has been previously used on a Project and want changes, its better to create a duplicate and make changes on the new design so you preserve your historical data. 
• No matter how small the change, material or dimensions, if a user unlocks and locks a design that has been previously used on a Project, you will lose the original information and if the customer who's design that was would like you to repeat an order, you run the risk that you're not repeating the same design because it's been modified. The modifications on the original design are lost. 

On both Templates and Duplicating, when you change the dimensions of the crate you'll need to run the rules for any lumber only panel to allow it to recalculate, Lumber rules are more complex based on international standards and depending on your settings may not automatically update. The panel tab will show a yellow light if you need to check it and there is an APPLY or RUN RULE on the tab to update the calculation.