Working with Templates

Templates in Termboard provide pre-configured schemas and starting points for specific types of models. A template configures the necessary XFields (custom fields), Visual Styling Mappings, Document Settings (such as relation cardinalities and legends), and optional Sample Content.

Accessing Templates

You can access templates at any time — whether starting a brand-new diagram or upgrading an existing model:

• Navigate to File > New from Template, or
• Open Settings > DOCUMENT > EXTRA FIELDS and click Apply Template Schema.

Template Modes: Apply Schema vs. Start New

The Templates dialog supports two modes at the top of the window:

1. Apply Schema to Current Model (automatically selected when your canvas already has terms):
   • Non-destructively merges the template's custom fields (XFields), visual styling rules (shape, border color, line color), and document settings (such as cardinality display) into your active model.
   • Keeps all your existing terms, relations, positions, and business rules intact.
   • Applies smart node defaults: for example, when applying the Conceptual Data Model schema to an existing graph, nodes with type Property or leaf targets of Attributive relations are automatically tagged as Element Type = Attribute (with Key Type = None and Data Type = Text), while all other domain terms are tagged as Element Type = Entity.
2. Start New with Sample Data (automatically selected when the canvas is empty):
   • Clears the current canvas and loads the complete template including example terms and relations.

Available Templates

Termboard offers the following specialized templates:

Conceptual Data Model

Designed for entity-relationship modeling, database design, and software engineering handoff.

• Pre-configured XFields:
  • Element Type: Distinguishes Entity (rendered as rounded rectangles) from Attribute (rendered as ellipses).
  • Key Type: Marks attributes as Primary Key (blue border), Foreign Key (orange border), or None.
  • Data Type: Specifies primitive types (Text, Number, Date, Boolean, JSON) for TypeScript and ER generation.
  • Relationship Type: Classifies edges as Identifying, Non-Identifying, or Optional.
• Document Settings: Enables source and target cardinalities (1, 1..*, 0..1, 0..*) and color legends.
• Best for: Designing conceptual/logical data schemas and generating Developer Handoff bundles.

User Story Map

Designed for agile product management and user story mapping.

• Pre-configured XFields:
  • Release: Dropdown to track which release a story belongs to (MVP, Release 1.0, etc.).
  • Status: Tracks implementation progress (To Do, In Progress, Blocked, Done).
  • Effort: Captures story points or estimation effort.
• Best for: Visualizing product backlogs and planning releases.

Mind Map

Designed for hierarchical brainstorming and idea organization.

• Pre-configured XFields:
  • Priority: Dropdown (High, Medium, Low) that colors nodes automatically.
  • Status: Tracks idea maturity (Idea, Researching, Drafted, Complete).
• Best for: Brainstorming sessions, organizing thoughts, and planning projects.

Process Flow

Designed for creating flowcharts and business processes.

• Pre-configured XFields:
  • Step Type: Changes node shape and color based on step role (Start, Activity, Decision, End).
  • Owner: Defines who is responsible for each step.
• Best for: Mapping out workflows, user journeys, and decision trees.

Crime Investigation

Designed for intelligence link analysis and network investigations.

• Pre-configured XFields:
  • Category: Classifies nodes (person, event, location, object, organization) with distinct shapes and colors.
  • Status, Relation Type, Priority, Reliability, Validity, and Suspected (dashed border styling).
• Best for: Link analysis and network mapping.

Why Use Templates?

1. Speed: No need to manually create and map the same custom fields every time.
2. Non-Destructive Upgrade: Start brainstorming freely on a blank canvas, then apply a template schema (like Conceptual Data Model) once your concepts solidify.
3. Best Practices: Templates configure recommended visual encodings and settings (such as cardinality for data models).

Customizing Templates

Once you load a template, it behaves like any other Termboard document. You can:

• Add more XFields
• Change the colors and shapes of existing categories
• Modify document settings in the Settings sidebar

If you find yourself frequently customizing a template in the same way, remember that you can save your customized version as a JSON file and load it later to use as your own personal template.