Power Platform Community Forum Thread Details

include: reference not found

I'm using a web template for my "Master" web template. Inside the master template, I call other sections. For example, a breadcrumb web template component. This is the code from the mater web template:

      {% block breadcrumbs %}
        {% include "Breadcrumbs" %}
      {% endblock %}
 

I'm getting this error message "include: reference not found : <name of missing web template>". When previewed, the web template is rendered. But in power pages design studio (PPDS), they do not render.

Here is an example. This is the result of the above call for a breadcrumb.

Interestingly, content snippets are rendered in the PPDS dev mode.

So, how to get web template components called from inside a 'master' web template to render in PPDS?

TIA,

GRAYbase

Categories:

General

@dgray304

This issue you're encountering—where include statements in a master web template render correctly in preview but not in Power Pages Design Studio (PPDS)—is a known limitation in the current Power Pages environment.

Root Cause

PPDS has limited support for rendering nested Liquid templates (like {% include %}) inside master templates. While the site preview uses the full rendering engine (as it would in production), the Design Studio preview mode does not fully evaluate all Liquid constructs, especially those involving:

{% include %} for other web templates
{% block %} and {% extends %} inheritance patterns
Complex Liquid logic or dynamic content loading

This is why content snippets render, but web template includes do not—snippets are simpler and directly supported in the studio UI.

Workarounds

Here are a few options to consider:

Use Content Snippets Instead of Web Templates
If possible, convert reusable components like breadcrumbs into content snippets. These are fully supported in PPDS and render correctly.
Preview in Browser Instead of Relying on PPDS
Use the site preview URL or publish to a test environment to see the actual rendering. This is the most accurate way to test complex Liquid logic.
Use Conditional Rendering for Studio Mode
You can detect if you're in design studio using a workaround like checking for a known variable or user role, and render fallback content:

{% if user.roles contains "Administrator" %}

{% include "Breadcrumbs" %}

{% else %}

[Breadcrumbs will render here]

{% endif %}

Raise Feedback to Microsoft
This is a known limitation, and Microsoft is actively improving PPDS. You can upvote or submit feedback via the Power Pages Ideas portal.

🏷️ Tag me if you have any further questions or if the issue persists.

✅ Click "Accept as Solution" if my post helped resolve your issue—it helps others facing similar problems.

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