Editing a component template

When you create a component template using the Create New Component Template wizard, you typically define the parts that make up the template. Later, you refine the component template during an editing process.

While editing you can add additional parts, define a signature for the template, define compliance rules, and add local properties. Usually editing a component template is essential because you can only develop signatures and compliance rules during the editing process. You cannot perform these vital procedures while using the wizard to initially create the component template.

If components based on a component template already exist and you modify the definition of that component template, your changes to the component template are automatically applied to the existing component. However, if you change the signature of a component template, you could invalidate existing components if their configuration does not satisfy the revised signature. Running a Component Discovery Job flags any existing components that are invalid. If necessary, you can re-validate individual components against the new signature (as described in Validating a component).

To edit a component template

1. In the Component Templates folder, navigate to the component template that you want to edit. Right-click the component template and select Open.
   The content editor displays a new tab bearing the name of the selected component template. At the bottom of the content editor, a series of tabs show the different categories of information that you can edit for the component template.

   Note

   If you open a component template that references a custom configuration object and a more recent version of that object exists, a tab called Version Warnings appears when the component template cannot be automatically upgraded to refer to the new object. In cases where the component template is automatically upgraded to the new version, the console displays a message informing you of that fact. When you save the component template, the upgrade to the new version of the custom configuration object is finalized.

2. Edit the component template by clicking a tab in the content editor that represents a category of information, as described in the following topics:
   • General tab for a component template
   • Parts tab for a component template
   • Discover tab for a component template
   • Browse tab for a component template
   • Snapshot Audit tab for a component template
   • Compliance tab for a component template
   • Local properties for a component template
   • Local Configuration Objects tab for a component template
   • Install Uninstall tab for a component template
3. After editing the component template, click Save to save your changes.