Every new crash query starts with your organization's defaults: the default date range, any default filters, the default metrics, and the default Raw Table columns. Crash Query doesn't let you change those defaults for yourself. If you set up the same date range, filters, metrics, and columns every time, save them once in a query and use that query as a template.
This article explains what a template keeps, how to build one, and how to use and share it.
What a Saved Query Keeps
A saved query keeps your setup, so the template opens the same way every time:
Date range: The date range you selected.
Filters: The filters you added. If your organization has default filters and you removed them, they stay removed in the template.
Metrics: The metrics you added in the Metrics tab, in the order you set.
Raw Table columns: The columns you chose to show, in the order you set.
Charts: Any charts you saved in Chart Builder.
Uploaded shapes: A shapefile you uploaded and used as a location filter. The shape is saved only in the query you use it in.
ℹ️ Note: Your metric and column choices are saved with that query only. Any query you start with + New Crash Query still opens with your organization's defaults.
Build a Template
Set the Date Range
Click the date range in the header, select your desired date range, and click Apply.
(The Date Range options)
💡 Tip: Select Most Recent 5 Years (your organization may show a different number of years) instead of your own dates. It moves forward automatically when new data is loaded, so your template always shows the latest years.
Add Your Filters
Add the filters you use most, and remove any default filters you don't want.
Choose Your Metrics
Click the gear icon (Manage Metrics) in the top-right corner of the Metrics tab. Add, remove, and reorder metrics, and then click Apply.
(The Manage Metrics window)
Choose Your Raw Table Columns
In the Raw Table tab, click Hide/Show Columns at the bottom of the table. Show, hide, and reorder columns, and then click Apply.
(The Hide/Show Columns window)
Add Charts (Optional)
Save any charts you want every time in the Chart Builder tab.
Save the Template
Click Save in the top-right corner.
Give the query a name that says it's a template, such as "Template - Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes."
Select a category, or create one such as "Templates," so you can easily find your templates.
Click Save.
(The Save window)
💡 Tip: Click Add to Favorites (the star) in the toolbar to keep the template at the top of your Favorites list in the library.
How to Use a Template
Click the Home icon in the top-left corner and open the template from your library. Look under Favorites or its category to find it quickly.
Click Make a Copy in the toolbar before you change anything. Name the copy and click Save.
Work in the copy. Your date range, filters, metrics, columns, and charts are already set.
(The Make a Copy icon in the toolbar)
ℹ️ Note: Always Make a Copy to preserve your original template for future use.
Update a Template
Changes to a saved query aren't saved automatically. To change the template itself, open it, make your changes, and click Save.
⚠️ Warning: Clicking Save while you work in the template replaces the template with your changes. To keep the template as it is, make a copy first.
Share a Template With Your Team
Share a template so everyone on your team starts from the same setup.
In your library, click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the template, and then select Share.
Click + Add a User and enter each person's email address, or type "everyone" to share with your whole organization.
Select Can View for each person, and then click Done.
(Choosing Can View or Can Edit access)
With Can View access, people can open the template and work in it, but their changes aren't saved to it. To keep their work, they click Make a Copy and save their own copy.
⚠️ Warning: People with Can Edit access change the template for everyone it's shared with. Give Can Edit only to the people who maintain the template.