A structure template lets a group of users create pre-packaged products that can be easily used by another group of users. A structure template is mainly used to create a product that can then be accessed and used by sales people, but not edited by them, i.e., they cannot change the component instruments or locked fields.
It does not contain any deal configuration data, e.g., strikes, tenors, notionals, etc. Even if you do save a structure template with this data in it, when you next open it, all those fields will be empty.
Any portfolio can be saved as a structure template. A structure template can be saved in either the My Portfolios or Public Structures Templates folders. If you save it in the Public Structures Templates folder, other users can access and use it.
In the Portfolio Management window a structure template is indicated by an [ST].
Once you have opened an existing structure template, it can then be saved as either of the following:
As a structure template
To do this you must click the File menu and then the Save as Structure Template option.
As a structure (see What Is a Structure?).
Once a structure template has been created subsequently it will generally be accessed as a pre-packaged product for use by other users. That is, in most instances when someone accesses an existing structure template it is in order to enter data into it and then save it as a structure.
To do this you can click the File menu and then the Save as Structure option. However, bearing in mind that in most instances a user will be accessing a structure template to save it as a structure, when you save a structure template by clicking the Save button on the top toolbar or F12 on the keyboard the system automatically saves it as a structure—and not as a structure template.
However, in this situation it is important to note that because a structure is created by defining deal configuration data in a structure template, in order for the system to save a structure template as a structure it must include deal configuration data for each instrument. If there is none defined, the system displays an error message.