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FAQ & Troubleshooting

Common questions and solutions for working with Design Studio.

Looking for how to build a template?

See the Design Studio Workflow for a step-by-step guide.

Quick Troubleshooting​

PROBLEM                           →     LIKELY FIX
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Design Studio button missing      →     Enable ProtrakEnableDesignStudio
Template not showing on client    →     Check visibility roles + browser cache
Widget validation error on save   →     Set Type Name + Widget Name on widget
Widget missing on Mobile          →     Check device-specific layout
Widgets overlapping               →     Adjust per-device in editor
Page shows "no template"          →     Create a template for that page type
Relation widget won't save        →     Attach a Relation Query first

Frequently Asked Questions​

General​

Q: Do I need to redeploy the application to enable Design Studio?

No. Design Studio is controlled by a runtime API setting (ProtrakEnableDesignStudio). It takes effect on the next browser refresh — no redeployment or server restart is needed.

Q: How many templates can I create per page type?

There is no hard limit. You can create as many templates as needed. Users can switch between available templates using a dropdown.

Q: What happens if I do not create any template for a page type?

The page will display an appropriate message indicating that no template is configured. It is recommended to create at least one template for each page type that users will access.

Templates​

Q: What is the difference between Grid and Classic layout modes?

  • Grid Layout: A modern drag-and-drop canvas with free-form widget positioning. Supports responsive design for Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile. Recommended for new templates.
  • Classic Layout: A structured layout with pre-defined widget slots. Simpler to configure but less flexible. Best for types that require a traditional layout structure.

Q: Can I change a template's layout mode (Grid ↔ Classic) after creating it?

No. Currently, Home templates only support Grid layout, while other template types only support Classic layout. There is no option to switch between modes.

Q: What does "Save As" do?

"Save As" creates a new copy of the current template with a new name. The original template is not modified. This is useful for creating variations or backup copies before making changes.

Q: How does undo/redo work?

The editor maintains a history of up to 10 changes. Each widget add, remove, move, resize, or property change is captured. Click Undo to revert or Redo to re-apply. The history is session-based — it resets when you leave the editor.

Widgets​

Q: Why is my Dashboard or Report widget showing a validation error?

Dashboard and Report widgets require two mandatory fields:

  1. Type Name — The Protrak type the widget is associated with
  2. Widget Name — A Type Widget previously created in the Type Widgets module

Ensure both fields are configured in the widget's settings panel.

Q: Can I use the same widget on multiple templates?

Yes. Standard widgets (Tasks, Messages, etc.) can be added to any number of templates. Type Widgets (Dashboard, Report) can also be referenced from multiple templates of the same instance type — the widget definition is shared.

Q: Why does my widget appear on Desktop but not on Mobile?

Check two things:

  1. Widget visibility per device — A widget may have been removed from a specific device. Use the device selector to check each layout independently.

Q: How do Display Conditions work?

Display Conditions are available on Create, Edit, and View templates. They allow widgets to show or hide based on form field values:

  • Define rules: [Field] [Operator] [Value]
  • Combine with AND (all must match) or OR (any must match)
  • Evaluated in real time as users interact with forms
  • Example: Show "Shipping Address" widget only when "Delivery Method" equals "Ship"

Visibility & Roles​

Q: How do template visibility and widget visibility work together?

User → Template roles match? ── NO ─► Template hidden
              │
             YES
              │
              ▼
        Widget roles match? ── NO ─► Widget hidden (space redistributed)
              │
             YES
              │
              ▼
         Widget visible ✓

Q: What does "Everyone" visibility mean?

When visibility is set to "Everyone", all users who have access to the page can see the template or widget — no role restriction is applied.

Q: What happens when widgets are hidden due to role restrictions?

The remaining visible widgets automatically expand to fill the gaps. Partial rows redistribute column width, and empty rows are collapsed. Users see a clean layout with no empty spaces.

Forms​

Q: How is the Form Builder different from the Page Template Editor?

  • The Form Builder is for designing data entry forms with type-specific fields (text inputs, dropdowns, date pickers, etc.), standard widgets & custom widgets which is rendered as 1st tab of the template (Details tab)
  • The Page Template Editor is for arranging widgets (including form widgets) on a page layout

Forms built in the Form Builder can be embedded as widgets in Page Templates.

Q: Can I use a form on multiple page templates?

Yes. A form is defined once in the Forms module and can be referenced by any number of Create, Edit, or View templates as a Form Widget depending on form mode & instance type.

Troubleshooting​

Design Studio Button Not Visible in Admin​

Most common issue

Cause: ProtrakEnableDesignStudio not enabled or not present.

Fix:

  1. Verify: ProtrakEnableDesignStudio attribute is configured in Platform Settings
  2. Clear browser cache + refresh Admin panel
  3. If setting doesn’t exist, follow Enabling Design Studio

Template Not Rendering on the Client​

Possible Causes:

CauseSolution
No template created for the page typeCreate a template in Design Studio for the required page type and type name
Template visibility restricts the user's roleCheck template visibility settings; ensure the user's role is included
Browser cache showing stale dataClear localStorage or hard-refresh the page
API not returning templatesVerify the template was saved successfully and the API endpoint is accessible

Widgets Overlapping or Mispositioned​

Cause: Layout data may be inconsistent across devices.

Solution:

  1. Open the template in the editor
  2. Switch to each device (Desktop, Tablet, Mobile)
  3. Verify widget positions on each device
  4. Adjust any overlapping widgets manually
  5. Save the template

Save Fails with Validation Error​

Check all widgets

Dashboard and Report widgets require Type Name and Widget Name to be set. The editor highlights widgets with issues.

  1. Click on highlighted widgets to see specific validation messages
  2. Ensure all required fields are filled

Need More Help?​