Brandfolder custom templates step 2: lock configurations

Template locking helps define which project elements cannot be changed by the template's end users.

Who can use this?

Plans:

  • Brandfolder

Permissions:

  • Owners
  • Administrator
  • Collaborator

Find out if this capability is included in Smartsheet Regions or Smartsheet Gov.

Locking a template is the second step in creating Brandfolder templates.

Template locking allows template creators to maintain brand integrity while allowing users the freedom to customize designs.

Set up locking settings

Once you have finished building out your project, you can apply template locking settings. These settings can be applied to any project prior to publishing.

  1. On the right-hand side, expand the menu and select Locking.
  2. Toggle the switch to turn it on.

In the Locking Mode dropdown, there are three options:

  1. Design Mode takes you out of your locking settings and lets you adjust the design on the canvas.
  2. Configuration Mode allows you to set your actual locking settings.
  3. User Preview Mode lets you see what your users will experience with the locking settings applied.

Configuration Mode

In the Configuration Mode, you can apply options to the entire template. In the Lock Controls section, you can lock (and unlock) text, images, shapes, and the background.

In the Paging section, you can lock (and unlock) the ability to add, clone, or delete pages.

Brandfolder Image
Brandfolder custom templates step 2: lock configurations

Once you finish setting up your locking, select Save Locking Config.

Individual element locking settings

You can set locking settings based on each element in the template.

  1. Select the element (Text, Images/Media, Shapes, Lines, and more).
  2. In the left menu, you find the options to lock properties of the element you selected, for example:
    • Fill, Stroke Controls, Font, Font Size, and Hyperlink for Text.
    • Vector, raster, and uploading sources for images.
    • Weight, resize dimensions, and transparency for shapes.
    • Color, photo, and size for the background. 
Brandfolder Image
Brandfolder custom templates step 2: lock configurations
  1. You can find the option to Lock All Attributes in the right menu.

If you want to lock most attributes but leave some unlocked, select Lock All Attributes and then unlock the specific attribute by selecting the icon next to it.

  1. The right menu typically has two sections for locking: Position and Context Menu. The Context Menu is the menu of options (WYSIWYG) shown to the end-user when they select the object. For text, there is also an option to lock the Text Content. 
Brandfolder Image
Brandfolder custom templates step 2: lock configurations

If you want the same locking settings for all the same element types, select one, apply the desired locking settings, and select Apply As [element type] Default.

  1. Select Save Locking Config.

Auto fit and Force to Front

Autofit automatically adjusts the height and width of the text so that it's contained within the designated size of the textbox. Height is maintained by the line count provided in the sample text you set.

Force to Front keeps the selected element in the design's foreground, even if other elements are added. This ensures that the end user can never cover a required element.

Both of these settings are available in the right-side menu. Once you have selected these options, select the back button and then the Save Locking Config button.


Lock zones

  1. Select the zone.
  2. On the left-hand menu, choose the Select button to pick which elements can be uploaded into the zone.
  3. Lock the options you don’t want available. You can optionally choose to allow uploads of only vector images instead of raster images.
  4. Select Raster or Vector to adjust locking for what the user can edit on specific elements added to the zone. Vector images aren't available if you choose to mask them.

All zones are displayed by default with a placeholder button for your end users.


Next steps

After you have set up locking configurations, you will save your project and generate a template