Templating channel contents

Use channel templates to create pre-existing content structures that content creators can use when creating new channel content. You should use channel templates in areas of your digital workplace that always display content in a similar format, such as standard operating procedures, newsletters, and request forms. 

Sections in this article:

• Considerations
• Blog, calendar, forum, and wiki channel templates
• Task channel templates

Considerations

• Supported channels: Blog, calendar, forum, task, and wiki channels support templates. Microblog and folder channels do not currently support templates.
• Template limits: The number of templates a channel can have depends on the channel type:
  • Blog, calendar, or wiki channels can only have one template per channel.
  • Forum channels can have one template for each topic type per channel.
  • Task channels do not limit the number of templates you can apply to them.
• Content creation via email: Emailing content into a channel bypasses the template and results in it not being used.
• What's included in channel templates: The content of templates depends on the channel:
  • Blog, calendar, forum, and wiki channel templates contain only the content added to the template's WYSIWYG editor.
  • Task channel templates contain a list of tasks from the templated channel and the following task properties: assignee, due dates, importance level, and private task status of tasks. You can ignore these additional properties when applying the template.

Blog, calendar, forum, and wiki channel templates

Edit blog, calendar, forum, and wiki channel templates

Enterprise, workplace, and space administrators and members with Edit or above access to the channel may edit a channel template. 

1. Go to the channel where you want to create, update, or remove a template.
2. Select  Actions followed by Channel Template.
3. In the WYSIWYG editor, enter or update the content of your template. 
   • (Optional) For forum channels: You can create, update, or remove templates for each topic type. Select the Forum Topic Type dropdown to cycle between topics.
   • (Optional) If your digital workplace supports multiple languages, you should select the language tabs above the editor to enter translated versions of the template.
4. (Optional) To remove the template, clear the editor's contents in each supported language tab.
5. Select Save .

Apply blog, calendar, forum, and wiki channel templates

Blog, calendar, forum, and wiki channel templates automatically apply when you begin creating new content on a channel. 

When creating a forum topic, select your topic type first to ensure that the correct template is applied. When you switch forum topics, your digital workplace will prompt you to use the new template or keep the existing one. Using the new template will remove your current content.

Task channel templates

Create task channel templates

You must create task channel templates from an already existing task channel. If you don't already have a task channel that can serve as a template, you must create one before being able to create a template. For instructions on how to create a task channel, see Task channel.

Enterprise, workplace, and space administrators and members with Edit or above access to the task channel to create a template. 

1. Go to the task channel that you want to template.
2. Select Actions and then Channel Template.
3. In the Channel Template dialog box's Save tab, configure the following: 
   • Title: Enter a short and descriptive name for this template.
   • Description: Enter the purpose of this template and any potential instructions on when others should use it.
4. Select Create.

After creating the template, you can delete the channel that you used to create it without affecting the template.

Edit task channel templates

You cannot edit existing task channel templates. To update a template, you must create a new one.

Delete task channel templates

Enterprise or workplace administrators can delete a task channel. When you delete a task channel template, you don't affect any task channels that use the template. 

1. Go to any task channel in your digital workplace.
2. Select  Actions followed by Channel Template.
3. In the Channel Template window, select the Manage tab and find the template you want to delete.
4. Select  Delete.
5. Select Cancel to close the Channel Template window.

Apply task channel templates

Applying a task channel template to a task channel adds the tasks from the template to the channel. Any tasks that existed before applying the template will remain after applying the template. 

Enterprise, workplace, and space administrators and members with Edit or above access to the task channel to apply a template to the task channel. 

1. Go to the task channel where you want to apply the template.
2. Select  Actions followed by Channel Template.
3. In the Channel Template dialog box, select the Load tab and then select a template.
4. After selecting the template, select whether the following task properties will be applied from the template:
   • Assignee
   • Due Date
   • Importance
   • Private Task
5. Select Apply.