Today, we’re introducing templates for software map styles. The Aplas style system can be challenging to master, but it can also be rewarding when done right. Our new style templating system provides a starting point for many common use-cases and can be a great way to build your understanding through example.
![Aplas application cost template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682ce0090ddb475c6ca6e6_style-template-app-cost-light.png)
Who is it for?
Anyone seeking to tell stories upon a software landscape. This might be to inform or persuade an audience upon anything related to software architecture. You may be seeking to use an out-of-the-box style using the best visualisation practices, or looking for a starting point for your own bespoke style.
The new templates
In our initial release, we’ve included 9 unique templates, covering a wide range of business use-cases. Each template uses our best-practices for building clear, functional styles based on common industry use-cases.
Starter
Includes base layers that are a good place to start for most styles.
![Aplas starter style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63681f1766665070f5ec0ce4_style-template-starter-light.png)
App Risk Rating
Template that highlights the risk rating of each app.
![Aplas risk rating style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63681f5085ecb400aca6dd2d_style-template-app-risk-rating-light.png)
App Business Criticality
Use for enterprise architects looking to colour applications based on their business criticality attribute.
![Aplas business criticality style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682a96befaed3b38ff6fd0_style-template-app-bus-criticality-light.png)
App Functional Fit
Useful for enterprise architecturs looking to colour applications based on their functional fit attribute.
![Aplas functional fit style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682c9dbefaed5d6cffa029_style-template-app-func-fit-light.png)
App Technical Fit
Useful for enterprise architects looking to colour applications based on their technical fit attribute.
![Aplas technical fit style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682caa85ecb48616a7f097_style-template-app-tech-fit-light.png)
App Alignment
Brings together LeanIX attributes of functional/technical fit with criticality. Read more about software mapping with LeanIX.
![Aplas app alignment style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682abd5d85912a5b8d04ab_style-template-app-alignment-light.png)
App Completeness
Review the completion % and quality seal of LeanIX application fact sheets.
![Aplas app completeness style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682ccaf31a187b1243bcc4_style-template-app-completion-dark.png)
App Cost
Financial view that extrude application cylinders to show cost in 3D.
![Aplas app cost style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682e32c4f0de75bb83f0fb_style-template-app-cost-dark.png)
App Hosting Location
Infrastructure template that highlights the hosting location of each app.
![Aplas app hosting location style template](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ff91241a3981b508cc2e2c8/63682cee666650d83ced34be_style-template-app-hosting-location-dark.png)
How it works
Create a new style using a template, then customise using the style designer.
- Open studio style area and click to create a new style.
- Enter the basics, name and index.
- Select your template from the list.
- Select light or dark theme.
- (Optional) map custom fields. Hint: if you're using our sample index data, fields will map automatically.
- Open the style designer and review for any mapping issues. For example, if you have a different set of risk severity levels to our sample data, you will need to track down the layer that maps value to colour to make the appropriate updates.
- Publish our stylemap inteface to share with your organization.