Templates: Template Library Management: Search, Save, Insert, Import, Export, and Delete
This section covers every user action in the Template library opened from the Templates ribbon button: search, insert, create, update, edit metadata, import, export, and delete.
Open the library and find a template
Click Templates on the HQ VISU ribbon. Type a template name, group name, or recognizable keyword in Search. Results update after typing stops, and cards remain organized by Group. Confirm the card name and preview before acting on it.
- No result: clear Search and confirm the template exists in the current user's local library.
- Many groups: scroll the library area to the required Group.
- After selecting a card, Export and Delete enable or disable according to the template type.
Insert by double-click, drag, or context menu
Double-click a template card, drag it onto the current slide, or choose Insert Template from the card menu. After insertion, confirm that the new instance is selected, then use Template Edit to fill instance variables and position.
- Fast insertion on the current slide: double-click.
- Control the drop position: drag the card onto the slide.
- Menu operation: choose Insert Template.
- After insertion, verify Instance, Template, and Group.
Save selected PowerPoint content as a new template
Select one or more reusable objects on the slide and click Save in the library. In Save as template, fill Template name, Group, and Sort order; review Captured variables and their order; then choose Save template. A new template cannot be created with no selected content.
- Template name: required; use a name that identifies the device or purpose.
- Group: choose an existing group or type a new one; blank becomes Ungrouped.
- Sort order: an integer from 1 to 99999; lower values appear first.
- Captured variables: confirm every <variable> and its letter case.
- After saving, search by name and confirm that the card appears.
Update an existing template source
When the current presentation is the source file for an existing template, Save updates that template in place instead of creating an unrelated copy. The template ID and sort order are retained. Reopen the library and verify the preview, name, group, and variables after updating.
- Update the original template: edit and save from its source presentation.
- Keep the old template as a version: save the presentation separately and use a new template name.
- Insert a new instance after the update and test it.
Reorder Captured variables
Variable order controls the field order in Template Edit. Drag rows, use the up and down arrow buttons, or press Ctrl+Up / Ctrl+Down. Put the values users fill most often first, such as PLC, equipment code, run tag, and alarm tag.
- Drag the row handle to a new position.
- Use the up or down arrow to move one place.
- Use Ctrl+Up or Ctrl+Down from the keyboard.
- Resolve variable-case warnings in the source objects before saving.
- A template with no variables can still be saved; use <Title> style placeholders for editable text.
Import and export .hqtpl files
Select a custom template and click Export to create a .hqtpl file. On another computer, click Import and choose that file. If the template contains behavior scripts, review the script warning and choose whether to trust the scripts or import without them.
- Select the target before Export; built-in templates normally cannot be exported.
- Include template name and version in the exported file name.
- After Import, search by name, insert one instance, and test it.
- For an untrusted source, choose Import without scripts and review behaviors manually.
Edit fields, edit behavior, or delete
The card menu provides Edit Template Behavior and Edit fields.... Use Edit fields... for name, group, sort order, and variable order. Use Edit Template Behavior for behaviors inside the template. Delete removes the selected custom template; built-in templates are normally protected.
- Metadata only: Edit fields....
- Behavior inside the template: Edit Template Behavior.
- Current inserted instance position or type-specific fields: use the ribbon Template Edit command.
- Export a .hqtpl archive before deleting a template that may be needed later.
