Articles on: Create, publish & manage

Convert a project into a template

A template project is a project your colleagues can use as a starting point: either the whole project when they create a new project, or its individual pages when they add a page. You turn a project into a template project in the Template preset tab of its project settings.


Creating template projects needs a role that has permission to do so. By default, the Super admin, Team leader and Designer roles have this permission, and the Editor, Contributor, Mailer, Statistics and Presenter roles don't. If you don't see the Template preset tab, your role or your plan doesn't include it.


Converting a project into a template project


To convert a project into a template project, set a template type in the Template preset tab of the project's settings.


Converting a project makes it inactive and removes it from its domain, so it can no longer be live. To keep a live project, duplicate it first and convert the copy.


  1. In the project overview, hover over the project's tile, then hover over the ... button and click Settings in the menu that opens. You can also open the project and click Project settings.
  2. Click the Template preset tab.


Image: template preset settings in Maglr


  1. Select Freeform template project.
  2. Tick Example project to offer the whole project as a starting point for new projects, Pre-filled freeform pages to offer its pages when someone adds a page, or both.
  3. Click Save.


Image: converting a project and its pages into a freeform template


If you tick neither Example project nor Pre-filled freeform pages, the project isn't saved as a template.


To add more pages to a template project later, open its page overview and click Add page. Choose Freeform page to design a new page, or Duplicate a page to copy a page from another project.


Template preset options


The Template preset tab of a project's settings offers these options:


  • Non-template project: the project is a regular project, not a template. Select this to turn a template project back into a regular project.
  • Freeform template project: the project is a template. Choose how it is offered with one or both of these checkboxes:
    • Example project: users can choose this project when they create a new freeform publication of the same publication type.
    • Pre-filled freeform pages: users can choose individual pages from this project when they add a new freeform page to a project of a matching publication type.


The Freeform template project option isn't available for projects of the type "Publication with an alternative PDF". Accounts that also use the Block editor see a Block template project option in this tab as well.


Where template projects appear


After conversion, a template project moves out of the regular categories in the project overview. You find it in the Templates category in the left sidebar of the project overview, under its publication type. The Templates category appears for a publication type once it holds at least one template project, and only for users whose role can create templates.


The tile of a template project shows a "Template project" bar, with the template type below the project name, for example "Freeform - example pages" or "Freeform - start project". Publishing, analytics and archiving aren't available for template projects.


Image: template project in the dashboard project overview


Starting a new project from an example project


A template project with Example project ticked appears as a pre-filled example when someone creates a new project of the same publication type.


  1. Create a new project and choose its publication type.
  2. Under "Start new or choose a prefilled example", select the template project by its name.


Image: starting a new project in Maglr


Image: starting a new project now contains an additional project to choose from.


Adding a page from a template project


The pages of a template project with Pre-filled freeform pages ticked can be added as new freeform pages to projects of a matching publication type. For example, pages from a Website template project aren't offered when you add a page to an interactive publication. In the "Choose a page" dialog, the left menu lists Maglr's ready-made pages (by default) and each of these template projects by name, with its number of pages.


  1. Open the project's page overview.
  2. Click Add page.
  3. Click Freeform page.
  4. In the left menu of the "Choose a page" dialog, click the name of the template project.
  5. Select a page.
  6. Click Select page.


Image: freeform page examples in Maglr


Image: adding a new page now contains an additional category with pages via the side menu.


Limiting template projects per team


A Super admin can limit which template projects the users in a team see. Go to Settings > Teams, click the edit button on the team and open the Template tab ("Choose the template projects suitable for users within this team."). Select a template project, click Add, and save. When a team has template projects of a type linked (example projects or pre-filled pages), its users see only those linked template projects of that type. Super admins aren't limited by the team's linked templates.


Turning a template project back into a regular project


To turn a template project back into a regular project, select Non-template project in its Template preset tab.


  1. In the project overview, open the Templates category in the left sidebar.
  2. Open the template project and click Project settings.
  3. Click the Template preset tab.
  4. Select Non-template project.
  5. Click Save.


Frequently asked questions


Why can't my colleagues see my template project?


Check these three things:


  • Template type: the project needs Example project, Pre-filled freeform pages or both ticked in its Template preset tab. An example project appears only when a colleague creates a new project, and pre-filled pages only when they add a freeform page.
  • Publication type: an example project appears only for new projects of the same publication type as the template project, and pre-filled pages only in projects of a matching publication type.
  • Team: if your colleague's team has template projects of the same type linked in the Template tab of its team settings, they see only those. A Super admin can link your template project to that team under Settings > Teams.


Why don't I see the Template preset tab?


The Template preset tab in a project's settings only appears when your role has permission to create template projects and your plan includes the feature. By default, the Super admin, Team leader and Designer roles have this permission. Ask a Super admin in your account to check your role.


Can I publish a template project?


No. A template project is inactive and isn't linked to a domain, so it can't be live. To publish the content, duplicate the original project before you convert it, or turn the template project back into a regular project by selecting Non-template project in its Template preset tab, and then publish it.

Updated on: 20/10/2026