[Feature Request]: Migrate Node Templates to Workflows
#4,056 opened on Jun 2, 2025
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Description
Is there an existing issue for this?
- I have searched the existing issues and checked the recent builds/commits
What would your feature do ?
This feature would remove the legacy "Node Templates" functionality and integrate it with the modern Workflows system. Currently, Node Templates allows users to save node/group selections as reusable templates (stored as JSON files), but this functionality has become obsolete since the introduction of the "workflow insert" feature.
The proposed changes would:
- Remove "Node Templates >" from the canvas right-click menu
- Change "Save Selected as Template" to "Save Selected as Workflow..."
- Save the selection as a workflow that appears in the workflows sidebar
- Provide automatic migration for existing template JSON files to workflows
This consolidation would simplify the UI and provide a more consistent user experience by having a single system for saving and reusing node configurations.
Proposed workflow
- User selects multiple nodes on the canvas
- Right-click → "Save Selected as Workflow..."
- Enter a name for the workflow
- The selection is saved as a workflow and appears in the Workflows sidebar
- User can insert it later by:
- Right-clicking the workflow in the sidebar → "Insert"
- ... maybe there should be a better way for user to do this or discover how to do it
For existing users with saved templates:
- On first launch after the update, detect existing
comfy.templates.jsonfile - Automatically migrate each template to a workflow (optionally in a "Migrated Templates" folder)
- Notify user of the migration with option to review
Additional information
Related Issues: This consolidates and builds upon existing feature requests:
- #1801 - Manage node templates in workflow sidebar tab
- #1012 - Add the node templates manager to the sidebar
Technical Details:
- Node templates are currently stored in
comfy.templates.jsonvia the user data API - Implementation is in
src/extensions/core/nodeTemplates.ts - Templates include node data and group node configurations
- The feature supports import/export of template collections
Benefits:
- Reduces UI complexity by removing redundant functionality
- Provides better discoverability (workflows sidebar is more visible than buried menu option)
- Leverages existing workflow management features (folders, search, etc.)
- Maintains backward compatibility through automatic migration
Implementation Notes:
- Migration should convert existing templates to workflow format
- Templates folder in workflows sidebar should have distinct styling
- Preserve template naming and organization during migration
- Consider adding some default/example templates for new users (as suggested in #1012)
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