
	Applies To

	Product(s):	gINT Logs, gINT Professional, gINT Professional Plus
	Version(s):	N/A
	Environment:	N/A
	Area:	Project Database
	Subarea:
	Original Author:	Kathleen Holcomb, Bentley Technical Support Group

What is a Data Template (.GDT) file?

Data Templates store the structure and input formatting of project databases. They are simply empty projects with a different extension. You use these to create new projects through the cloning process, and reports use them to display the database structure.

The default folder is specified in the Data Templates property of the FileSystem PropertiesFile Location Defaults menu item. However, they can be located anywhere.

All our projects should have the same tabs and fields in Input. How is this best accomplished?

One way is to have everyone clone their projects from the same project. However, we recommend cloning from a Data Template. As a Data Template is just an empty project, this amounts to the same thing.

I've modified the structure of a project (e.g. added new tab/field and/or deleted tab or field). How do I update the Data Template?

The way we recommend working with database structure changes is to modify the project file, not the Data Template. When you are finished with the changes, open the modified project in INPUT and then select the Tools►Make Data Template menu item. Select the Data Template that was used to create this project. It will have the same structure as the current project. Click Yes to overwrite it. Alternatively, you can specify a new Data Template name. Then you will have one Data Template with the "old" database structure and one Data Template with the "new" database structure.

If you changed a Data Template and want to restructure numerous, existing projects to the new structure, you would use the UtiltiesConvert Projects application.

If I update our Data Template will all my existing project files also be updated?

No, the Data Template and individual project databases are separate files that know nothing about each other. This is a fundamental design decision made to protect your data. It is easy for someone to delete a field or table in a Data Template. If the projects were tied to changes in the Data Template, you could lose a lot of data.