Documents

# Design a document template

Place text, tables, images, barcodes and fields on the page, bind them to order or trip data, preview with sample data, or let AI build the design.

Updated October 4, 2026

**Who can do this:** Permission for document templates.

The designer is where you build a document template. The page is in the middle, the toolbar is at the top and the sidebar has four tabs: **Elements**, **Properties**, **Data** and **Layers**.

## The toolbar

* **Template Name**, **Document Type** and **Entity Type** of the template.
* **Undo** and **Redo**.
* **Zoom Out** and **Zoom In**, from 25% to 200%.
* **Grid** shows a grid on the page, **Snap** makes elements snap to it.
* **Generate with AI**, **Preview** and **Save**. Saving closes the designer.

## Set up the page

1. Click an empty part of the page so that no element is selected.
2. Open the **Properties** tab.
3. Under **Page Settings**, choose the **Page Size** (A4, A5 or Letter) and the **Orientation** (**Portrait** or **Landscape**).
4. Set the **Margins** in millimeters.
5. Optionally enter the address of a background image, for example a scanned CMR form to place your fields on.

## Add elements

1. Open the **Elements** tab.
2. Click an element type, or drag it onto the page.
3. Drag the element to its place and drag its edges to resize it.
4. With the element selected, open **Properties** to set its position, style, border, opacity and the settings of that type.

| Element                  | Use                                                                                                          |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Text**                 | Fixed or data-driven text, with font, size, weight, style, color and alignment.                              |
| **Input Field**          | A field that stays fillable in the downloaded PDF. You can set a placeholder, required and a maximum length. |
| **Link**                 | A clickable web address, which can contain data.                                                             |
| **Image**                | A logo or picture.                                                                                           |
| **Shape**, **Line**      | Rectangles, circles, ellipses and horizontal or vertical lines for boxes and dividers.                       |
| **Table**                | Rows and columns, for example the goods of a shipment.                                                       |
| **Barcode**, **QR Code** | A code built from a value such as the order number.                                                          |
| **Container**            | Groups elements that belong together.                                                                        |
| **Repeater**             | Repeats its contents for every item in a list, such as each shipment or stop.                                |
| **Conditional**          | Shows its contents only when a condition is true.                                                            |

When a **Container**, **Repeater** or **Conditional** is selected, new elements are added inside it. Use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V (Cmd on a Mac) to copy and paste an element, and Ctrl+D to duplicate it.

## Connect elements to data

1. Select the element and open the **Data** tab.
2. Choose **Static** for fixed text, **Variable** for one data field, or **Expression** for text that mixes data, loops and conditions.
3. Under **Available Fields**, use **Search fields...** and click a field to bind it. The fields depend on the template's entity type.
4. For a list, such as shipments or goods, click a field marked (loop). This sets up a loop over that list, for example on a **Repeater**.

**Syntax Help** in the same tab shows the notation:

* **Variables**: `{{field.path}}`
* **Loops**: `{% for item in items %}...{% endfor %}`
* **Conditionals**: `{% if condition %}...{% endif %}`
* **Formatting**: `{{value | format:"date"}}`
* **Fallbacks**: `{{field.path ?? other.path ?? "default"}}`

## Arrange layers

The **Layers** tab lists every element. Click one to select it, or use the icons to duplicate or delete it. Elements inside a container, repeater or conditional are shown below their parent.

## Preview the result

1. Click **Preview**.
2. Check the page, filled with sample data.
3. Click **Edit Data** to change the **Sample Data** (JSON) and see how the template reacts, for example to long names or many goods.
4. Click **Download PDF** to test the actual PDF.

## Generate a design with AI

1. Click **Generate with AI**. The panel **Generate document template with AI** opens.
2. Optionally upload a picture or PDF of an existing document.
3. Describe what you need in **Description**, for example "Recreate this CMR waybill and bind the sender and consignee to the customer details".
4. Leave **Modify the current design (unchecked: start over)** on to change the current design, or switch it off to start over.
5. Click **Generate template** and wait while it shows **Generating...**.
6. Review the design. It is not saved yet. Fix any bindings the panel lists as not matching a field, because they would print empty.
7. Click **Save**.

## Related articles

* [Create and manage document templates](/en-us/help/document-templates)
* [Download a document from a template](/en-us/help/download-document-from-template)
* [Print CMR documents](/en-us/help/cmr-documents)

## Still need help?

Our support team is happy to answer any question about Transportial.

[Contact support](/en-us/contact)[Report an issue](/en-us/report-issue)

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Canonical page: https://transportial.com/en-us/help/document-designer