Create and Manage IPAWS Template Groups

  • Updated on Aug 8, 2025
  • 7 minute(s) read
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In IPAWS, templates are organized into groups, which streamlines the creation of new individual templates. This method alleviates the repetitive task of assigning permissions to users, making the management process more efficient. This article will show you how to create, edit, and delete IPAWS template groups.

Important Notes

  • A user must have the Manage Template Groups permission to see the Manage Template Groups option in the Admin (administrator) menu.

  • Template groups established before the introduction of this feature will automatically be accessible to all users.

Create a Template Group

  1. Log in to the IPAWS website if you have not already

    Note: You can navigate to the IPAWS website using the website URL, or you can sign in to the Mass Notification system and click the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options on the left-hand menu of the dashboard. If you do not see the Send IPAWS Alert option, you may not have permission to send alerts.The Mass Notification system dashboard and left menu with the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options highlighted.

  2. Navigate to the Admin (Administrator) tab, then select the Manage Template Groups option from the dropdown menu The IPAWS Admin tab with the Manage Template Groups option highlighted.

  3. Click the Create New Template Group link The Create New Template Group link on the Manage Template Groups page.

  4. Fill in the Template Group Information fields The Template Group information fields.

    • Created On: This field will automatically populate with the date and time you opened the Create Template Group form

    • Last Updated: This field will automatically populate with the date and time you opened the Create Template Group form

    • Template Group Name (required): Enter a name for the template group

    • Owner: Select an owner for the template group from the dropdown list (automatically defaults to the user creating the template group)

  5. Click the Create Template Group button The green, rectangular Create Template Group button at the bottom of the Create Template Group page.

  6. Scroll to the Associated Templates section and click the Add Templates to Group button The blue, rectangular Add Templates to Group button within the Associated Templates section.

  7. On the popup that appears, select the name of a template and click the Move button to add the template to the new template group The existing templates list and the green, rectangular Move button below it.

    Note: You can hold down the Control (Windows computers) or Command (Mac computers) key to select multiple options at the same time.

  8. Check the checkbox(es) to the left of any associated template(s) to make quick changes in bulk, if desired The checkbox next to an associated template.

    1. Click the Move Templates button to quickly move the selected template(s) to another template group The gray, rectangular Move Templates button that appears above the Associated Templates list when templates are checked.

      Note: A popup will prompt you to choose the group you wish to move the templates to. You can click the dropdown to select the desired destination template group, then click the Move button to execute the change.The Move Templates popup dropdown list and green, rectangular Move button.

    2. Click Delete Templates to quickly delete the selected templates from the template group The red, rectangular Delete Templates button that appears above the Associated Templates list when templates are checked.

  9. Click the Modify link to the right of an associated template to be redirected to the Public Message Template Editor where you can make changes to the template if desired The Modify link to the right of an associated template name.

  10. Scroll to the Access Control section The Access Control section.

  11. In the Everyone section, check the desired checkboxes to enable the associated permission for every user, if desired The Everyone section, which includes a table with checkboxes representing the various template group permissions.

    • View/Send Templates: All users can see and send templates inside this group when using the alert form

    • Create Templates: All users can create new templates and add them to this group

    • Edit Templates: All users can save changes to existing templates in this group

    • Delete Templates: All users can delete templates from this group. This action removes the template entirely from all users’ view

    • Manage Template Group: All Users can see management options for this group as if they had the Manage Group Templates permission

    Note: When a permission option is selected in the Everyone section, the corresponding permission in the Individual Users section will update to display "Enabled for All," clearly indicating the change.Two checkboxes selected within the Everyone section and those permissions being reflected for the first user in the Individual Users section.

  12. In the Individual Users section, check the desired checkboxes to enable permissions for specific users, if desired A row of checkboxes within the Individual Users section which can be checked to give the selected user various template group permissions.

    • View/Send Templates: The user can see and send templates inside this group when using the alert form

    • Create Templates: The user can create new templates and add them to this group

    • Edit Templates: The user can save changes to existing templates in this group

    • Delete Templates: The user can delete templates from this group. This action removes the template entirely from all users’ view

    • Manage Template Group: The user can see management options for this group as if they have the Manage Group Templates permission

    Note: For users who possess the Manage Template Groups permission, the permission checkboxes will be grayed out. This indicates that their higher-level permission takes precedence over any specific permissions assigned to individual groups on this page. This design choice helps to clarify any potential confusion regarding a user's access to particular template groups.A row of checkboxes within the Individual Users section that are all pre-selected and grayed out.

  13. Click the Update Template Group button The green, rectangular Update Template Group button at the bottom of the page.

  14. The template group has been created and configured An example template group on Manage Template Groups page.

Edit a Template Group

  1. Log in to the IPAWS website if you have not already

    Note: You can navigate to the IPAWS website using the website URL, or you can sign in to the Mass Notification system and click the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options on the left-hand menu of the dashboard. If you do not see the Send IPAWS Alert option, you may not have permission to send alerts.The Mass Notification system dashboard and left menu with the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options highlighted.

  2. Navigate to the Admin (Administrator) tab, then select the Manage Template Groups option from the dropdown menu The IPAWS Admin tab with the Manage Template Groups option highlighted.

  3. Click the name of the template group you wish to edit Example template group in the Template Groups list.

  4. Update the Template Group Information fields as needed The Template Group information fields.

    • Created On: This field will automatically populate with the date and time you opened the Create Template Group form

    • Last Updated: This field will automatically populate with the date and time the Template Group was updated

    • Template Group Name (required): The name of the template group

    • Owner: Select an owner for the template group from the dropdown list

  5. Scroll to the Associated Templates section and click the Add Templates to Group button to add additional templates to the group, if desired The blue, rectangular Add Templates to Group button within the Associated Templates section.

    1. On the popup that appears, select the name of a template and click the Move button to add the template to the new template group The existing templates list and the green, rectangular Move button below it.

      Note: You can hold down the Control (Windows computers) or Command (Mac computers) key to select multiple options at the same time.

  6. Check the checkbox(es) to the left of any associated template(s) to make quick changes in bulk, if desired The checkbox next to an associated template.

    1. Click the Move Templates button to quickly move the selected template(s) to another template group The gray, rectangular Move Templates button that appears above the Associated Templates list when templates are checked.

      Note: A popup will prompt you to choose the group you wish to move the templates to. You can click the dropdown to select the desired destination template group, then click the Move button to execute the change.The Move Templates popup dropdown list and green, rectangular Move button.

    2. Click Delete Templates to quickly delete the selected templates from the template group The red, rectangular Delete Templates button that appears above the Associated Templates list when templates are checked.

  7. Click the Modify link to the right of an associated template to be redirected to the Public Message Template Editor where you can make changes to the template if desired The Modify link to the right of an associated template name.

  8. Scroll to the Access Control section The Access Control section.

  9. In the Everyone section, check the desired checkboxes to enable the associated permission for every user, if desired The Everyone section, which includes a table with checkboxes representing the various template group permissions.

    • View/Send Templates: All users can see and send templates inside this group when using the alert form

    • Create Templates: All users can create new templates and add them to this group

    • Edit Templates: All users can save changes to existing templates in this group

    • Delete Templates: All users can delete templates from this group. This action removes the template entirely from all users’ view

    • Manage Template Group: All Users can see management options for this group as if they had the Manage Group Templates permission

    Note: When a permission option is selected in the Everyone section, the corresponding permission in the Individual Users section will update to display "Enabled for All," clearly indicating the change.Two checkboxes selected within the Everyone section and those permissions being reflected for the first user in the Individual Users section.

  10. In the Individual Users section, check or uncheck the desired checkboxes to enable or disable permissions for specific users, if desired A row of checkboxes within the Individual Users section which can be checked to give the selected user various template group permissions.

    • View/Send Templates: The user can see and send templates inside this group when using the alert form

    • Create Templates: The user can create new templates and add them to this group

    • Edit Templates: The user can save changes to existing templates in this group

    • Delete Templates: The user can delete templates from this group. This action removes the template entirely from all users’ view

    • Manage Template Group: The user can see management options for this group as if they have the Manage Group Templates permission

    Note: For users who possess the Manage Template Groups permission, the permission checkboxes will be grayed out. This indicates that their higher-level permission takes precedence over any specific permissions assigned to individual groups on this page. This design choice helps to clarify any potential confusion regarding a user's access to particular template groups.A row of checkboxes within the Individual Users section that are all pre-selected and grayed out.

  11. Click the Update Template Group button The green, rectangular Update Template Group button at the bottom of the page.

  12. The template group has been updated An example template group on Manage Template Groups page.

Delete a Template Group

  1. Log in to the IPAWS website if you have not already

    Note: You can navigate to the IPAWS website using the website URL, or you can sign in to the Mass Notification system and click the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options on the left-hand menu of the dashboard. If you do not see the Send IPAWS Alert option, you may not have permission to send alerts.The Mass Notification system dashboard and left menu with the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options highlighted.

  2. Navigate to the Admin (Administrator) tab, then select the Manage Template Groups option from the dropdown menu The IPAWS Admin tab with the Manage Template Groups option highlighted.

  3. Click the name of the template group you wish to delete Example template group in the Template Groups list.

  4. Scroll to the bottom of the Edit Template Group page and click the Delete Template Group button The gray, rectangular Delete Template Group button at the bottom of the page.

  5. On the Delete Template Group page that appears, click the Confirm Delete Template Group button to confirm the deletion The Delete Template Group page and the green, rectangular Confirm Delete Template Group button below the confirmation question.

    Note: Deleting the group does not delete the templates within it.

  6. The template group has been deleted

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