# Building templates

> Author the templates everyone collects against, in Design mode.

Templates are where Calc's power lives. In **Design mode** you decide what data
a template pulls, how it is laid out, which charts it draws and which project
values it stamps in - so that anyone can open it in
[Use mode](/calc/collecting-data) and Collect a finished workbook.

<Callout type="note" title="Design mode needs permission">
  Creating and editing templates depends on your role, and is unavailable on the
  **Go** tier. If the Build and Save groups do not appear, see
  [modes and permissions](/calc/concepts#modes-and-permissions).
</Callout>

## Open a template to edit

Click **Templates**, then choose:

- **Edit** to open an existing template in Design mode,
- **New** for a blank template,
- **Import** to start from a local `.xlsx` or `.xlsm` file.

The ribbon shows the **Build**, **Macros**, **Sheets** and **Save** groups.

## The build workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add tables">
    Use **Tables** to add the data blocks the template collects, and choose each
    one's columns, filters, sorting, grouping and start cell.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Lay out and chart">
    Arrange the template sheet, insert charts, and use **Charts** to map their
    series to data columns.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Stamp project values">
    Use **Constants** to place project values (Project Name, Client, ...) that
    fill in on Collect.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Automate (optional)">
    Use **Macros** to choose workbook macros that run automatically after a
    Collect.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Pick sheets and save">
    Use **Sheets** to choose which worksheets the template keeps, then **Save**
    back to the template or **Save As** a new one.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## In this section

<Cards>
  <Card title="Tables, columns and filters" href="/calc/building-templates/tables">
    Add tables and choose their columns, filters, sorting, grouping and start cell.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Charts" href="/calc/building-templates/charts">
    Map chart series to data columns so charts draw on Collect.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Constants" href="/calc/building-templates/constants">
    Stamp project metadata onto template cells.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Macros" href="/calc/building-templates/macros">
    Run workbook macros automatically after Collect.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Sheets" href="/calc/building-templates/sheets">
    Choose which worksheets are kept when the template is saved.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Saving templates" href="/calc/building-templates/saving">
    Save and Save As, and macro-enabled workbooks.
  </Card>
</Cards>