Save any bulk action as a reusable template so you can repeat the same outreach, event creation, or assignment workflow without rebuilding filters and settings from scratch.

### Overview

Bulk action templates capture the complete configuration of a bulk action, including client filters, message content, action type, and processing settings. Once saved, a template lets you launch a new bulk action with one click, pre-populated with all of your original settings. This is especially useful for government agencies that run the same communication or workflow on a regular basis, such as monthly jury summons reminders, quarterly compliance check-ins, or weekly hearing notifications.

- **What it does:** Saves a bulk action's full configuration as a named template that you can reuse and update over time.
- **Why it matters:** Eliminates repetitive setup work, ensures consistency across runs, and reduces the chance of misconfigured actions.
- **Who should use it:** Court clerks, administrators, probation officers, and any staff member who runs the same bulk action more than once.
- **Expected outcome:** A library of ready-to-use templates that your team can launch quickly, with a run history for each template to track past executions.

### Prerequisites

Before saving and reusing bulk action templates, make sure you have:

- An active eCourtDate staging or production agency account
- Super Admin role or both the **Create Bulk Actions** and **Update Bulk Actions** permissions
- At least one bulk action that has been configured and tested successfully
- Familiarity with the bulk action workflow (creating, filtering clients, and running actions)

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Create and Configure a Bulk Action

1. Click **Bulk Actions** in the top navigation bar.
2. Fill in the **Create Bulk Action** form on the left side of the page.
3. Select an **Action Type** (for example, **Send Messages**, **Create Events**, or **Assign Users**).
4. Click **Create** to generate the bulk action.
5. Configure all settings: message content, event details, or assignment options.
6. Set up your client filters in the **Search Clients** section and click **Search** to verify results.
7. Run the action once (using **Send Test** or **Live Run**) to confirm everything works as expected.

#### Step 2: Save the Bulk Action as a Template

1. Open the bulk action you want to save by clicking **Edit** from the bulk actions list.
2. Locate the **Save Template** button on the bulk action edit page.
3. Click **Save Template**.
4. Enter a descriptive name for the template (for example, "Monthly Jury Reminder - Division B").
5. Confirm the save. The template now appears in the **Bulk Templates** tab.

#### Step 3: View and Manage Your Templates

1. Click **Bulk Actions** in the top navigation bar.
2. Click the **Bulk Templates** tab to view all saved templates.
3. Review the list. Each template displays its name, action type, and creation date.
4. Use the **Search** field to find a specific template by name.

#### Step 4: Create a New Bulk Action from a Template

1. Navigate to **Bulk Actions** > **Bulk Templates**.
2. Locate the template you want to use.
3. Click the **Import** button next to the template.
4. You are redirected to a new bulk action pre-populated with all of the template's settings.
5. Review the client filters and message content. Make any adjustments needed for this specific run.
6. Click **Live Run** to execute immediately, or click **Schedule Run** to set a future date and time.

#### Step 5: Update an Existing Template

1. Create a new bulk action from the template by following Step 4 above.
2. Make the desired changes to filters, message content, or action settings.
3. Click **Save Template** to overwrite the existing template, or save it with a new name to create a separate version.
4. Confirm the update. Future imports of this template reflect the latest settings.

#### Step 6: Review Template Run History

1. Open a bulk action that was created from a template.
2. Scroll to the **Run History** section to view past executions tied to this action.
3. Compare results across multiple runs to identify trends, such as growing or shrinking client lists.
4. Use the run history to verify that each execution processed the expected number of records.

### What to Expect

After saving a template, it appears in the **Bulk Templates** tab and is available to all authorized staff in your agency. When you import a template, eCourtDate creates a new bulk action with all filters and settings pre-filled. The client list is re-evaluated at the time of the new run, so the results reflect your current data. Changes to a template do not affect bulk actions that were previously created from it.

### Best Practices

- **Use clear, descriptive names.** Include the purpose, audience, and frequency in the template name (for example, "Weekly Probation Check-In - Region East"). This helps your team find and select the right template quickly.
- **Test before saving.** Always run the bulk action at least once before saving it as a template. This confirms that filters, message content, and settings produce the correct results.
- **Create separate templates for different audiences.** Rather than modifying one template repeatedly, save distinct templates for each client population or workflow.
- **Review and update templates quarterly.** As your agency's workflows evolve, revisit your templates to ensure filters, message content, and settings still match current requirements.
- **Limit template creation to experienced staff.** Designate a small group of administrators to create and maintain templates, ensuring consistency and preventing duplicate or conflicting templates.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can other staff members in my agency use templates I created?**
A: Yes. All saved templates are visible to any user with **Bulk Actions** permissions within the same agency. Any authorized user can import and run a template.

**Q: Does importing a template modify the original template?**
A: No. Importing creates a new, independent bulk action. Changes to the imported action do not affect the original template unless you explicitly overwrite it by clicking **Save Template** again.

**Q: Can I delete a template I no longer need?**
A: Yes. Navigate to **Bulk Actions** > **Bulk Templates**, locate the template, and click the **Delete** or **Archive** option. Deleting a template does not affect bulk actions that were previously created from it.

**Q: Is there a limit to the number of templates I can save?**
A: There is no limit on the number of templates. However, keeping your template library organized with clear names and archiving outdated templates helps your team work efficiently.

**Q: Can I use a template from one agency in a different agency?**
A: Templates are specific to the agency where they were created. If you manage multiple agencies, you need to create templates separately in each one.

**Q: Will the client list be exactly the same each time I use a template?**
A: The client filters saved in the template are the same, but the actual client list may differ. Filters are re-evaluated when you run the new bulk action, so newly added or removed clients are reflected in the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** A template does not appear in the Bulk Templates tab after saving.
**Symptoms:** You clicked **Save Template** but cannot find the template in the list.
**Solution:**

1. Navigate to **Bulk Actions** > **Bulk Templates** and use the search field to look for the template name.
2. Refresh the page to ensure the latest data is loaded.
3. Verify that you saved the template in the correct agency (check the agency name in the top right corner).
4. If the template still does not appear, try saving it again from the original bulk action.

**Issue:** The imported bulk action has outdated filters or message content.
**Symptoms:** After importing a template, the client list or message does not match your expectations.
**Solution:**

1. Open the original template's source bulk action and review its settings.
2. Update the filters or message content as needed.
3. Click **Save Template** to update the template with the latest settings.
4. Import the template again to create a new bulk action with the corrected configuration.

### Related Articles

- [How to Schedule Recurring Bulk Actions](/how-to-schedule-recurring-bulk-actions)
- [How to Send a Mass Message Using Bulk Actions](/how-to-send-a-mass-message-using-bulk-actions)
- [How to Create Events via Bulk Actions](/how-to-create-events-via-bulk-actions)