Provisioning is the systematic process of creating new Microsoft 365 workspaces or enriching existing ones, based on predefined templates. This guide focuses on the direct provisioning method available within the BindTuning App, designed for individual users who need to create a new site or apply template content without formal request processes.
Installing a template from the BindTuning app
Direct template provisioning via the BindTuning App offers a fast and efficient method for on-demand deployment of pre-made templates or custom templates.
This approach provides admins (or teammates with App access) immediate control over the deployment process. This is particularly useful for testing, one-time deployments, or urgent site creation/updates.
To start the installation process:
Log in to the BindTuning App.
Navigate to Templates, then select the template catalog:
Pre-made templates (BindTuning gallery of pre-built templates)
Created by me (your own templates)
Shared with me (templates in your workspace, shared with you by others)
Hover your mouse over the template you wish to provision, then click the 'Install'.
New to Automate365 catalogs? Before diving into managing your templates, get a comprehensive overview of all catalog types and their common features in our article: Understanding Template Catalogs.
Create new vs. Install on existing
After starting the installation, you select where the template will be applied. This decision dictates the next steps of the provisioning process.
In any case, the provisioning steps will vary based on each template's specific definition.
Create a new workspace
This option creates an entirely new Microsoft 365 workspace based on your selected template. Automate365 handles the workspace creation automatically through a guided installation wizard.
If the template includes dynamic content, you will be prompted to enter specific information for each variable token, which will automatically be replaced during the provisioning process.
For templates that provision a site, you will also be prompted to set the landing page.
Complete all required steps and review your selections before clicking "Start Installation."
Heads up! To successfully provision a new workspace, the user must possess SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator permissions to create new site collections.
Install on an existing workspace
This option applies the template's content to an already existing Microsoft 365 workspace. During the process, you can control how the new structure and content are added to the destination workspace: Append or Overwrite.
Append content
When you choose to 'Append' content, think of it as gently adding new features and elements from your template onto an existing site. Instead of wiping anything away, Automate365 carefully layers the template's structure and content, merging it with what's already there.
'Append' is ideal when you want to update an existing workspace without risking data loss. Since Automate365 only adds new content and preserves existing data, you can safely enhance your workspace with new features and structure.
Append: When a suffix is added, if names collide
When an item from your template shares the exact same name as something already living in your destination workspace, Automate365 cleverly adds a numerical suffix to the template item's name. This ensures both items will exist without any conflicts.
Example: Home Page
Existing Site Page Name:
HomeTemplate Site Page Name:
HomeSuffix to be Added:
-1Site Pages after Deployment:
Home,Home-1
If Home-1 also happens to exist, the tool automatically keeps increasing the numerical suffix, so in this case, it would become Home-2, and so on.
Content types affected by this rule include:
Site pages
Site templates
Channels
Document templates
Content types
Append: When existing content is preserved, if names collide
For other content types, like Lists and Document Libraries, the 'Append' option always prioritizes your existing content. The template’s version of a duplicated item will not be installed, ensuring no changes are made to your live data.
Example: Standard SharePoint List
Existing Site List Name:
Site AnnouncementsTemplate List Name:
Site Announcements(contains default announcement entries for new sites)Result after Deployment: Your existing
Site Announcementslist remains completely untouched. The template's version will not be added or applied, ensuring your live announcements are perfectly preserved.
Content types affected by this rule include:
SharePoint Lists
Document Libraries
Notebooks
Content Types
Overwrite content
Overwriting content means that the template's content will replace existing content on the target site where names or identifiers match. Our system is designed to integrate the new structure and content smoothly while carefully managing the replacement of specific elements to minimize disruption.
Important considerations for Overwrite:
Always back up important content before applying a template with Overwrite. This is a critical best practice to prevent unintended data loss.
Review the template structure carefully to understand which elements might be replaced on the target site.
Overwrite is intended for controlled updates where consistency is paramount across environments or teams, or for updating specific sections with new template versions.
If you have any questions or require assistance applying a template safely, feel free to reach out to our support team at [email protected].
Content types implications
When you use the 'Overwrite Content' option, Automate365 updates your existing workspace to match the template. If the template includes an item (like a page or a file) that shares a name with something already in your workspace, the existing item will be entirely replaced by the template's version.
The following content types are affected by this:
Pages / Page Templates
Microsoft Teams channels and Tabs
SharePoint Lists
Notebooks
Document Libraries
Document Templates
To understand exactly how this option affects existing assets, read our article: How "Overwrite" affects existing workspaces during Template installation.