Introduction to Project Templates

You've built the perfect workflow, now what?

Share it, of course!
Layer's new Project Templates feature is an awesome way to create process standards and libraries that your entire team or company can use.

A Project Template is a set of one or more Layer categories that are saved as a group to be applied (copied into) another Layer project. There are two different types of Project Templates that can be applied to new and existing Layer projects:

• Best Practice Templates: These are pre-designed templates for popular AEC workflows authored by Layer experts. Intended to be a solid foundation for any project, Best Practice templates are completely customizable after being applied. Explore the Best Practice Template Gallery →
• Company Templates: Save any of your Layer projects as a Template for use by your entire company. Apply to new and existing projects in just a few clicks. Keep reading to learn how to create, save, and apply these templates.

How do I create a Company Template?

So, you just created a super cool workflow, document standard, or product library that you want to share with your team? No problem. Watch the quick video below or click here for step-by-step instructions for creating shareable Company Templates.

Here's a quick rundown of what is included when you save a Template:

For each category, the following items are always included in a template:

• The category fields
• The category’s saved views (the saved view configuration/filters/sorting)
• Any automations (Revit sync parameters) that are set up for the category
• The Currency & Date configuration for the project

If the checkbox is selected to Include Elements & Data when creating a new template, then the following items are included:

• The elements in the category, which include:
  • Any files associated with each element
  • Any notes associated with each element
  • Any tasks associated with each element

The following items are NEVER included in templates:

• Files that are not associated with any elements in the project
• Notes that are not associated with any elements in the project
• Tasks that are not associated with any elements in the project
• Activity log items
• Revit model files or the elements from a Revit model(Tip: the category fields from a Revit category can be included in a template, but never the actual Revit elements)

How do I apply a Template to a new project?

Alright, so you're starting a brand new project and want to use the super cool workflow template from your other project. Watch the video below or click here for step-by-step directions to learn how to create a new project from an existing Company template.

Note that you can also follow these directions for using Layer's Best Practice Project Templates. Access the full list of available Best Practice Templates when after you click the Create a Project + button on your Home Dashboard.

How do I apply a Template to an existing project?

Your project is evolving. You've documented the existing conditions for a project. You're heading into Schematic Design and want to start the Room Data Sheet and FF&E design process. Do you need to start from scratch?

Nope. You can simply apply an existing template (or several!) from your Company Template roster or one of Layer's pre-designed Best Practice Project Templates. Watch this video to see how to apply templates to existing Layer projects or check out the step-by-step instructions here (scroll down to #2).

What else do I need to know about Templates?

We invite you to check out our awesome Help Center which is chock full of articles to help you get Project Templates up and running, including:

• The Fundamentals of Project Templates
• Permissions for Project Templates
• Step-by-Step Guide for Creating a Project Template
• Step-by-Step Guide for Applying Project Templates to Projects
• How to Edit and Update Existing Project Templates

As always, if you get stuck or want a quick demo of Project Templates, just contact us at help@layer.team and we'll be glad to help!

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