# Save and share a favorite

<details>

<summary>Database and user permissions in Flex Mode favorites</summary>

All **database permissions and restrictions** are applied in Flex Modes, regardless of whether you're viewing a favorite or not, and regardless of who created the favorite you're viewing.

The standard Favorites **user permissions** don't yet apply and all **profile** settings are ignored.&#x20;

Here's how the user permission model works regarding favorites:

* There are two categories of user: The owner (the person who created the favorite) and viewers (the people with whom the favorite has been shared).&#x20;
* The owner can view, update, delete, share, and create a new favorite from the existing favorite.&#x20;
* Viewers can view and create new favorites from an existing favorite, but they can't update, delete or share that favorite.

</details>

[Favorites](https://app.gitbook.com/s/7pj8v25BOyqZTdG5mdD1/favorites) are a key features of Phocas, available across several modules. However, they work a little differently in [Flex Modes](https://docs.phocassoftware.com/analytics/flex-modes/take-a-tour-of-flex-modes).&#x20;

When you change your view of the grid, filter the data, or create a chart during your analysis, you can save that view as a favorite. You can save multiple favorites and easily switch from one to another for quick and easy access to the information that you need. When you save a favorite, you can share it with users in your organization.

## Save a favorite

Either start from scratch and save a brand-new favorite or use an existing Flex mode favorite as a starting point. When you save a favorite, you become its owner and other actions become available, as shown in the image below.&#x20;

When you make changes to your favorite, a pink badge appears at the top right of the Favorite button to remind you to save.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3905307611-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FitAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7%2Fuploads%2FKO984HGQURAYbLvJAT0f%2FScreenshot%202025-08-13%20at%2013.34.11.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cf8b109b-95c2-4f18-ba63-26e5b3e21eb7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
When you save a favorite in a mode that has dynamic periods, then open the favorite later, the data automatically updates according to that period. For example, if Period 1 is *Last month* and today is December, you'll see November's data. If you save a favorite, when you open it next month (January), Period 1 will still be the *Last month*, but you'll see the data for December.
{% endhint %}

### Save a new favorite <a href="#save-a-favorite" id="save-a-favorite"></a>

After carrying out your analysis (you can be in the grid or chart view), there are two ways to save the your view as a favorite:&#x20;

* Use the traditional method via the blue arrow next to the database name.
* Click the **Save as favorite** button (heart outline icon) on the toolbar.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/5RhG7SVi6mV3vkAY9Zk5/image.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Either way, enter a name for the favorite and click **Save**.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3905307611-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FitAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7%2Fuploads%2FAjP0ymrQ7w89pj8DRpF7%2FScreenshot%202025-08-13%20at%2014.14.29.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5e3d413b-ce59-4184-a81b-a592c9694cf0" alt="" width="305"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

The favorite name displays next to the database name and the favorite button changes to a full heart icon to make it clear you're now looking at a favorite.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/LvEXy81hUt81Iz8r8c0h/image.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Save a favorite based on an existing favorite <a href="#save-as-a-new-favorite" id="save-as-a-new-favorite"></a>

This method becomes available immediately after you save a new favorite and when you open an existing favorite. It's suitable when you want to change something in a favorite that has been shared with you, as it doesn't affect the original favorite.

Either click the blue arrow next to the favorite name or click the **Favorite controls** button (heart icon) on the toolbar, then click **Save as new favorite**.  Enter a name for the new favorite and click **Save**.

## Share a favorite

{% hint style="warning" %}
As Flex Modes has a basic permissions model, be careful when sharing favorites.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

You can share the favorites you own (save) with selected users.&#x20;

Here's how the sharing works:

* Those users can only view the favorite, not edit, share, or delete it.&#x20;
* If you later update the favorite, those users will see the updated version.&#x20;
* If you delete the favorite, those users will no longer have access to it.

Click the **Favorite controls** button (heart icon) on the toolbar, then click **Share favorite**. Select the users with whom you want to share, then click **Save**.

## Update a favorite

You can update (edit or overwrite) the name and/or contents of the favorites you own. You can't overwrite a favorite shared with you, unless you use the **Save as new favorite** method described above.&#x20;

Either click the blue arrow next to the favorite name or click the **Favorite controls** button (heart icon) on the toolbar, then click **Update favorite**. Change the existing name if required, then click **Save**.

## Delete a favorite

There are two places from which you can delete the favorites you own:

* Within the favorite, either click the blue arrow next to the favorite name or click the **Favorite controls** button (heart icon) on the toolbar, then click **Delete favorite** > **Delete**.
* On your homepage, locate the favorite, click its menu button, and then click **Delete** > **Delete**.