Overview
This article is a field reference companion to the published System Settings - Templates article, which covers the step-by-step process for updating and creating templates. If you are looking for how to edit a template or create a Marketing Email, start there.
This article explains what each field on the template form does, how fields conditionally appear based on the selected Type, and how the content editor tools work. For the full list of template types with descriptions, and for how templates link together via the Detail Template field, see System Settings - Template Types and Hierarchy Reference.
Templates are found at System Settings → Templates.
Template List Page
The template list shows all templates with two columns: Name and Type. Use the Type filter dropdown at the top of the list to narrow results to a specific template category. Each row has the following actions:
Edit — Opens the template form.
Three-dot menu → Copy — Opens a new unsaved template form pre-filled with the selected template's content and settings. Enter a new Name and save to create a separate copy.
Three-dot menu → Delete — Permanently removes the template. Templates currently assigned to an active document type or product cannot be deleted until unassigned.
Template Form Fields
The fields available on the template form depend on the selected Type. The table below lists every field and when it appears.
Field | When It Appears | Description |
Name | Always | Internal label used to identify this template in lists and in Detail Template dropdowns. Use a descriptive name — e.g. "Invoice - Standard" or "Reservation Email - Marina." |
Type | Always | Defines what this template is used for. Controls which additional fields appear, which merge variable buttons appear in the toolbar, and whether this template is selectable as a Detail Template. See System Settings - Template Types and Hierarchy Reference for what each type does. |
Detail Template | Conditional — only on types that support repeating line-item rows | Links this template to a child template that renders each repeating row. The dropdown shows only compatible child types. If this field does not appear, the selected Type does not use a Detail Template. See System Settings - Template Types and Hierarchy Reference for the full parent-child map. |
Email Subject | Email types only | Subject line of the outgoing email. Merge variables can be used here — for example, including the customer name or invoice number. |
Email From | Email types only | Sender address for the email, selected from addresses configured in System Settings. If left blank, Sharper falls back to the system-level default sender. |
Email BCC | Email types only | Comma-separated list of internal addresses that receive a blind copy of every email sent using this template. Useful for audit trails or shared inboxes. |
Content | Always | The body of the template — the full document or email layout. Supports Content Editor (visual) and Raw Editor (HTML) modes. |
Content Editor Modes
Content Editor (default) — Rich text editor with a formatting toolbar. Includes two template-specific toolbars:
Variables — Buttons that insert merge variable tags at the cursor position. Each variable is replaced with live data from the relevant Sharper record when the document is generated. Available variables change based on the selected template Type — only variables applicable to that document type appear. When inserting a hyperlink using the link tool, URL-type variables (such as the outlet portal URL and social media links) are selectable from a dropdown in the link dialog.
Inputs — Interactive form elements for contract and e-sign templates: signature boxes, blank text lines, and checkboxes.
Raw Editor — Switches the Content field to a plain HTML view. Use when pasting HTML from an external source or troubleshooting rendering issues. Click Content Editor to return to the visual mode.
Print Preview (footer button) — Renders the template in a print-formatted view so you can check how the document will appear on paper or as a PDF before saving.
Merge Variables vs. Inputs
The existing System Settings - Templates article introduces Variables and Inputs with screenshots. Here is the distinction for reference:
Variables are read-only data placeholders. At document generation time, Sharper substitutes each variable tag with the actual field value from the relevant record. The set of available variables is scoped to the template Type — an Invoice template exposes invoice and customer variables, a Reservation Email exposes reservation and product variables.
Inputs are write-capable form elements embedded in the document for customer interaction during contract acknowledgment or e-sign. They create fillable spaces — signature capture boxes, blank underlines for handwritten text, and checkboxes for terms acceptance.
Using Multiple Templates of the Same Type
Multiple templates of the same Type can coexist in the system. Only the one actively assigned in the relevant settings location is used for document generation. This is useful for maintaining separate layouts — for example, an Invoice template with marina-specific footer text and another with campground-specific content — and toggling between them without deleting either version.
Outlet URL Template Variables
The following URL-type variables are available in email and outlet templates. They are also selectable from the link dialog dropdown when inserting hyperlinks in the Content Editor. Enter values in Company Settings → Outlet. If no value is set, the variable resolves to an empty string.
Variable | Output |
outlet_portal_site_url | The online booking portal URL configured for the outlet |
outlet_instagram | The outlet's Instagram profile URL |
outlet_facebook | The outlet's Facebook page URL |
outlet_youtube | The outlet's YouTube channel URL |