Template Graphs

Grapher Template files (GRTs) don't contain any references to actual data, either embedded or linked. Instead, GRTs include internal placeholder data – essentially dummy data – to demonstrate how a visualization will look. You can not directly edit this placeholder data, as its sole purpose is to provide a visual representation of the plots.

Opening a template file automatically opens 'template' mode, this is visualized and displayed via the Template ribbon tab and new icons in the Object Manager indicating which objects need data loaded.

Legacy GRT files will automatically open using the new template system, allowing you to easily load your data into the graphs via the 'Populate Template' dialog. However, please be aware that if a legacy GRT file contains multiple pages, only the first page will be retained when opened in this new version. To avoid losing data from subsequent pages, we recommend saving each page of your multi-page legacy GRT files as separate files in the older version they were created in.

Create a new template

In the plot window, design the graph exactly the way you want the final graph to appear. Create any plot type, set the axes properties, add titles, format legends, import images, add borders, or customize the graph in any way you prefer.
Click the Home | Templates | Convert to Template command
The converted template file will open in a new tab

Open an Installed Template

To open an installed template:

Click the Home | Templates | Template Gallery command
Select the desired template in the Template Gallery window.
Click the Open Project button.

Saving a Template

To save a template:

Open or create a template.
Click the File | Save As command.
In the Save As dialog, specify the directory and a File name.
Set the Save as type to Grapher Template (*.grt).
Click the Save button and the file is saved as a complete template file.

Converting a file to a template

To convert a file to a template:

Open the project that you want to convert and set the options as desired.
Click the File | Convert to Template command.
A new tab will open in the Plot window with [Template] appended to the end of the name.

Please note that only the currently active page of your document will be converted into a template. If you have a project with multiple pages that you wish to save as templates, each page will need to be converted individually.

Creating a New Plot from a Template

To create a new plot from a template open the template file or have the converted template tab selected in the Plot window. Use the Template | Populate Template command to load new data into your template.

First, load your data files. Grapher will automatically populate fields based on the original data format. For the best results, use a worksheet with the same data structure as your original data. Supported data files include worksheets and grid files. When you select different loaded data files, a preview will appear in the worksheet preview section at the bottom of the dialog.

Next, review and adjust the variable settings for your objects. This may involve changing the assigned columns, modifying the data arrangement, or selecting a different data source.

When you have finished making your adjustments, click Complete. If the button says Close instead, it means there are still necessary worksheet references that haven't been loaded. Clicking Close at this point will result in an incomplete process, and you will receive a warning.

Convert to Project & Restore Template

These features help manage templates where some, but not all, data has been loaded. 'Convert to Project' finalizes the template with the data that's currently loaded. 'Restore Template' removes any loaded data, returning the template to its original, empty state.

Submit to Golden Gallery

<This feature is undergoing active development.> | Open the website form to allow you to easily share your valuable template with the Golden Gallery. By submitting it to this online library for the Grapher community, you can contribute to a shared resource and help other users benefit from your work.

Add to Template Gallery

<This feature is undergoing active development.> | Adding a template document to your computer's local template collection saves you valuable time and effort each time you start a new document. With a pre-formatted structure readily available, you can focus on creating content immediately instead of repeatedly setting up layouts, styles, and other common elements.

Tips About Templates

There are few restrictions on data types that can be used in a template. The axes limits change to accommodate the new data set if the Auto box is checked for axis minimum and maximum. If the data set cannot be used with the template, i.e., log axis with negative data, an error message appears.
Privacy concerns. Before submitting or sharing your template,please be aware that template files may retain information such as original worksheet names, custom object names, and any text manually entered into the document (not linked to a worksheet). We recommend reviewing these elements before sharing your template.
If an empty plot appears after the data set is selected, check the plot's plot properties on the Plot page of the Property Manager. Make sure the selected data columns contain numeric data. Also, check the axes limits to see if they have been set beyond the data range.
To save the file with a reference to a specific worksheet, click the File | Save As command and set the Save as type to Grapher File (*.grf).
To save the file with the worksheet data embedded in the file, click the File | Save As command and set the Save as type to Grapher Project (*.gpj).
Templates can use multiple data files or multiple data columns. To use one worksheet for all plots, check the Use this worksheet for remaining items box when selecting data files. When using the Open method in automation, the template only uses one worksheet or grid file.
Check the Set columns box to display the Select Columns dialog and select the data columns to use in the graph. If you have more than one plot in the template, make sure Use this worksheet for remaining items is not enabled so you can select the columns for each plot separately.
When opening a template, all references to worksheets, including linked text, will cause a prompt to select the data file. If all worksheet references are to the same worksheet, check the Use this worksheet for remaining items box.

Template Alternatives

Click the File | Options command to set default settings such as line, fill, symbol, and font properties.
Click the File | Defaults command to set default settings for basic objects, graphs, plots, maps, axes, and legends.
If a graph is saved as a Grapher File (*.grf) or Grapher Project (*.gpj), you can still use it as a "template." To do so, open the graph as normal using the File | Open command. Then, Select the plot and click the Plot tab in the Property Manager. Change the columns used to create the plot or click the Worksheet button to change the data used to create the plot.