Common Template Issues

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When used correctly, templates are a powerful feature in Lotus Notes.  However there are a number of issues that typically arise over time, which can leave the design of your databases disconnected and out of synch with your templates.

Master Template names can be changed, and this change does not flow on to databases and design elements that inherit from that template.
Multiple templates can have the same Master Template name.
Individual design elements can inherit from a different template from the database itself.
Design inheritance can be nested i.e. a template itself can inherit some or all of its design from another template.
Individual design elements can inherit individually from a specific template even though the database itself does not inherit from any template.  These elements can be especially difficult to identify.
The Prohibit design refresh, or replace to modify setting can prohibit a design element from ever being updated.  This is commonly set and then forgotten about.
The Propagate this prohibition of design change setting is widely misunderstood and can cause problems when misused.