> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.atconseil.info/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Generation & templates

> The generate flow with progress and cancel, plus reusable templates and saved views.

## The generate flow

The **Generate report** button follows a clear state machine:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Generate report">Idle — click to start.</Step>
  <Step title="Starting…">The button disables synchronously on click.</Step>
  <Step title="Generating N%">A progress bar updates as data is fetched from Azure DevOps.</Step>
  <Step title="Done / Error">The report is displayed, or an error message is shown.</Step>
</Steps>

A **Cancel** button appears during generation. Clicking it aborts every in-flight Azure DevOps request — **no partial file is produced** — and the button returns to idle.

<Note>The plan list uses **stale-while-revalidate**: the last known plans appear instantly with a "Refreshing" badge while fresh data loads.</Note>

## Templates and saved views

**Save as template** — saves the **metadata only** (form fields, environment, tester, approver…) under a custom name. Load it to pre-fill the form instantly.

**Save as view** — saves the **plan, the selected suites *and* all metadata** in one action. Loading a view:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Re-select the plan">The saved plan is re-selected and its suites load.</Step>
  <Step title="Restore the suites">The saved suite selection is checked — suites deleted since the save are skipped silently.</Step>
  <Step title="Restore the fields">All metadata fields are restored.</Step>
</Steps>

<Note>Use **views** for recurring campaigns where the same plan, suites and metadata are reused — for example a weekly regression on a fixed perimeter.</Note>

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Generate a report" icon="file-text" href="/en/reports/generate-a-report">Plan selection, fields, validation.</Card>
  <Card title="Cover page" icon="file-badge" href="/en/reports/cover-page">Layout and field selection.</Card>
</CardGroup>