--- title: "Data Designer and Design Pattern Overview" slug: "data-designer-overview" updated: 2025-10-15T18:41:14Z published: 2025-10-15T18:41:14Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Data Designer and Design Pattern Overview ## Overview The **Data****Designer**creates pre-configured sets of **Input/Output** **Data**via a drag and drop method that may be reused from **Flow**to Flow. This, in turn, allows users to define data more efficiently and consistently each time. In the Data Designer, both **Simple** and **Composite Data****Types**may be referenced and defined by moving them from the **Toolbox**into the workspace to comprise a **Design****Pattern**. Once the configuration is saved, selecting the CREATE EXAMPLE DESIGN PATTERN button and choosing an element will automatically preload the **Example****Design****Pattern**with data from the new Design Pattern. The following document demonstrates how to utilize the Data Designer to create a Design Pattern for use in future Flows. --- ## Data Designer Interface 1. Select the vertical three-dot icon next to the name of any **Designer****Project**in the FOLDERS list. 2. When the Action Menu appears for the Designer Project, select **Create Design Pattern**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h42_13.png) 3. Provide a name for the **Design****Pattern**then select CREATE 4. Click and drag **Data****Types**from the **Toolbox**tab as desired into the workspace. Then, provide a desired **Input****Name**in the **Set Input Name** box (for this example, use a **String**with the name "Name", and an **Int32**called "Age". 5. User-defined composite data types can be added to the Design Pattern using the same method. The **Vehicle** structure was moved into the workspace from **User Defined Types** > **Folder Extensions** in the Toolbox. If desired, provide a configuration for the **Output Data** view the OUTPUT DATA tab. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h43_23.png) 6. **Save**and close the **Design Pattern Designer**. 7. Back in the **Designer Project**, select**[NAME OF DESIGN PATTERN]**, then select the desired **Designer Element**; in this case, select **Flow**. Then CREATE a new Flow. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h44_42.png) 8. Design the **Flow**as desired via the **Flow****Designer**and access the **Data**from the **Data Explorer** tab and if desired, use it to configure values on Flow steps; this concept would still apply if the **Design****Pattern**were used for a **Form**, **Rule**, **Truth****Table**, etc. Then **Save**and close the **Flow****Designer**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_13h01_52.png) ### Design Pattern View Mode Data Designer View Mode is a new enhancement added in v9.16 that allows users to open and review Design Patterns without making changes or breaking active user session locks. When one user is editing a Design Pattern, other users can still open the same Design Pattern in View Mode to examine its configuration in real time without interrupting the editing session. The feature allows safe, read-only access to Design Patterns, preventing lock conflicts and enabling seamless collaboration. It streamlines reviews and approvals by allowing multiple users to view Design Patterns concurrently without risking unintended changes. #### Accessing Design Pattern View Mode Users can access Design Pattern View Mode in two ways: 1. **User Action**: Right-click on any of the Design Pattern > Open in View Mode. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1759935886217.png) 2. **Lock Entity Dialog**: A Design Pattern can be opened in View Mode when it is locked by an active user session (i.e., another user is currently editing it). When a user opens a Design Pattern, a lock icon appears to indicate its status. Clicking on a locked Design Pattern will display a prompt with a newly added option to open it in View Mode. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1759936103504.png) --- ## Create Other Selecting CREATE OTHER allows the ability to CREATE an object that isn't based upon the current **Design****Pattern**. This may be another Design Pattern, a **Flow**, a **Rule**, a **Form**, a **Report**, or a **DataType/Integration**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h47_29.png) Upon selecting any option that isn't a **Design****Pattern**, users are provided the option to either select to **Create****New**to create the object without a Design Pattern, or**Use Default Design Pattern** which uses the **Folder's****Default****Design****Pattern**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h48_27.png) --- ## Hide Create Other Actions 1. From the **Designer****Project**and navigate to **Manage > Set Look and Feel**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h49_51.png) 2. Toggle the **Hide****Create****Other****Actions**option, then click SAVE. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h50_29.png) 3. Verfiy that the CREATE OTHER option has been removed from the **Global Action Bar**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_10h50_55.png) --- ## Removing Design Patterns To remove a **Design****Pattern**or edit **Input**/**Output**data from a **Flow**that was created with a Design Pattern: 1. Open a **Flow**/**Form**/**Rule**etc. that utilizes a **Design****Pattern**. 2. From the corresponding **Designer**, under the **Top****Action****Bar**, click the VIEW button.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_13h07_11.png) 3. From the**Flow Input Data** window, on the right-hand side, click **Define**. Changing Design PatternsIf desired, users may switch **Design****Patterns**by selecting the CHOOSE DIFFERENT PATTERN button and then selecting the desired Design Pattern. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_13h04_37.png)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_13h05_36.png) ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_13h05_56.png) 4. From the **Edit****Input****Data**pop up, confirm the removal by select REMOVE DESIGN PATTERN. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_13h06_27.png) 5. From the **Input****Data**window, reconfigure the **Data**to the desired specifications, or click **Pick****Design****Pattern**and select a different **Design Pattern**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1760553528475.png) --- ## Feature Changes | Description | Version | Release Date | Developer Task | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Added View Mode to Design Patterns. | v9.16 | October 2025 | [DT-045586] | For further information on Data Structures, visit the [Decisions Forum](https://community.decisions.com/categories/Datastructures).