Instantiating template entities refers to the process of creating linked model entities.
When instantiating a template entity, one is creating a model entity that is a copy (or, "instance") of the template. One may instantiate multiple instances of a template entity.
Each instance will be configured with the same configuration and property values as its template, and where properties are locked, one will not be able to make changes to the instantiated entity.
Instantiation is a drag + drop process. To instantiate a template, drag the Template Folder or Template Metric that you wish to instantiate from the Templates tree to the Model tree and drop it onto the Model Folder that you want to become the parent.
If you drop the template onto the root level of the Model tree, then the Template Folder or Template Metric will be instantiated at the root level.
One must drag the template entity that requires instantiation from the Templates tab to the Model tab. Upon dropping the template entity in the Model tab, the instantiation process will commence.
Any children will also be instantiated with the selected entity. For example, when a template metric folder is instantiated, an associated model metric folder is created, and any metrics and measures within the template metric folder will also be instantiated at the same time.
The instantiation process includes locating and linking any dependencies (e.g. dependant measures, limits, model attributes, etc). The progress of the instantiation is indicated in the toolstrip at the bottom left of the Config tool.