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Templates ​

Templates provide ready-made workbook layouts that can be inserted into the current Excel workbook as new worksheets. They are intended to give users a fast starting point for common reporting and planning tasks without needing to build the initial structure manually.

Templates are opened from the Home page of the task pane by selecting Discover Templates or Templates, depending on the current xpna layout.

What templates are for ​

  • Starting a new report with a proven layout rather than beginning from a blank workbook.
  • Exploring example worksheet designs for board packs, P&L review, cash flow, variance analysis, and similar reporting patterns.
  • Inserting a template into the current workbook without overwriting the worksheets that are already present.

Open the templates dialog ​

  • Open the xpna task pane in Excel.
  • Go to Home.
  • Select Discover Templates or Templates, depending on the current xpna layout.

The templates dialog opens in a dedicated view titled Discover Templates.

Choose how to browse ​

Templates can be viewed in two modes.

The Recommended view is designed for first-time or infrequent users who want a guided starting point.

  • A featured template is shown prominently with a larger preview and description.
  • A Starter label is shown on templates that are intended to be suitable starting points.
  • A short recommendation may be shown to explain why a template is a good first choice.
  • Additional starter templates are shown alongside the main recommendation so users can compare a small number of likely options quickly.

This view is best when the user wants xpna to suggest where to begin.

Browse all ​

The Browse all view is intended for users who want to compare the full template library.

  • Templates are shown in a grid for faster scanning.
  • Selecting a template shows a larger detail panel.
  • The detail panel shows the selected template before it is inserted.

This view is best when the user already knows the type of report they want to insert.

Search for templates ​

The search field filters templates as text is entered.

Search can match:

  • Template name
  • Template description
  • Template tags or keywords

This makes it possible to search for terms such as cashflow, board, variance, or starter to narrow the available results.

Insert a template ​

When a suitable template has been chosen:

  • Select the template in either Recommended or Browse all.
  • Review the preview and description.
  • Select Insert Template.

Inserted templates are added to the current workbook as new worksheets.

Note:

Templates do not replace the current worksheet. Some templates may insert more than one worksheet depending on the design of that template.

Tips for choosing a template ​

  • Start with Recommended if the goal is to get a usable report into Excel quickly.
  • Use Browse all when comparing several report styles side by side.
  • Look for Starter templates when learning how xpna workbooks are typically structured.
  • Use built-in templates to understand effective worksheet layouts, summary levels, and drill-down patterns.

Manage templates ​

Some users will also see a Manage action inside the templates dialog.

If template management is available for the current user, templates can be maintained from the same dialog.

The management view adapts to the level the current user can administer.

  • If more than one template level is available, the toolbar shows scope filter buttons so the list can be narrowed.
  • If only one level is available, xpna hides those scope filters because there is nothing to switch between.
  • Workspace-only management also hides the scope column in the list because every visible template is already at workspace level.

Management features can include:

  • Creating a new template
  • Editing the name, description, thumbnail, workbook file, and search tags
  • Marking a template as a Starter template
  • Setting the recommendation text and starter priority used by the Recommended view
  • Deleting templates that are no longer needed

If the Manage action is not visible, template management is not available for the current user or environment.

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