Let Use without changes from a template collect identity instead of the full questionnaire.

Direct catalog picks walk name, description, and photo, then stakeholders; leftover drafts no longer skip that path. In-flow template picks keep community identity. Exit on a direct template preview leaves immediately because nothing has been collected yet.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

app/(app)/create/CreateFlowLayoutClient.tsx

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   getNextStep,
   parseReviewReturnSearchParam,
   shouldOfferCreateFlowSaveAndExit,
+  isDirectTemplateReviewEntry,
   createFlowStepUsesSelectSplitScroll,
   TEMPLATES_FACET_RECOMMEND_QUERY,
   TEMPLATES_FACET_RECOMMEND_VALUE,
@@ -155,9 +156,9 @@ function CreateFlowLayoutContent({
   const {
     currentStep,
     nextStep,
-    previousStep,
     goToNextStep,
     goToPreviousStep,
+    canGoBack,
     templateReviewFooterBackToCreateReview,
   } = useCreateFlowNavigation(
     skipCommunitySave ? { skipCommunitySave: true } : undefined,
@@ -281,6 +282,9 @@ function CreateFlowLayoutContent({
     },
   });
 
+  const fromCreateWizard =
+    searchParams.get(TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_QUERY) ===
+    TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_VALUE;
   const {
     isTemplateReviewRoute,
     templateReviewSlug,
@@ -295,6 +299,8 @@ function CreateFlowLayoutContent({
     updateState,
     replaceState,
     router,
+    fromCreateWizard,
+    markCreateFlowInteraction,
   });
 
   const runAuthenticatedExit = useCreateFlowExit({
@@ -308,6 +314,14 @@ function CreateFlowLayoutContent({
   });
 
   const handleExit = async (opts?: { saveDraft?: boolean }) => {
+    // Direct template preview: browsing a catalog card, nothing collected yet.
+    // In-flow (`?fromFlow=1`) still has community progress — keep save / confirm.
+    if (isDirectTemplateReviewEntry(pathname, searchParams)) {
+      clearState();
+      router.push(CREATE_ROUTES.root);
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (!sessionResolved) return;
 
     // Completed is post-publish. Guests still need Save & Exit → keep-this-rule
@@ -979,7 +993,7 @@ function CreateFlowLayoutContent({
                       ),
                     );
                   }
-                : previousStep
+                : canGoBack()
                   ? goToPreviousStep
                   : undefined
           }

app/(app)/create/SignedInDraftHydration.tsx

@@ -102,6 +102,18 @@ export function SignedInDraftHydration({
     if (urlStep === "completed") {
       return;
     }
+    /**
+     * Direct template preview is a new-rule entry, not “continue draft”.
+     * Applying a saved `currentStep` here is what yanked Use without changes
+     * past name / description / photo to stakeholders.
+     */
+    if (pathname?.includes("/create/review-template/")) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (touchedRef.current) {
+      finishedUserIdRef.current = userId;
+      return;
+    }
 
     let cancelled = false;
     setLoadingHydration(true);

app/(app)/create/hooks/useCreateFlowNavigation.ts

@@ -34,9 +34,12 @@ const blurActiveElement = (): void => {
  *
  * Resolves the active step from `/create/{screenId}` via
  * {@link parseCreateFlowScreenFromPathname} (flowSteps). Footer Back uses
- * {@link resolveCreateFlowBackTarget} so template **Use without changes**
+ * {@link resolveCreateFlowBackTarget}: template **Use without changes** that
- * (which skips the custom-rule segment) returns to `/create/review-template/{slug}`
+ * still needs identity (direct from a template) walks name / description /
- * from `confirm-stakeholders` instead of `conflict-management`.
+ * photo, then Back from `community-name` returns to
+ * `/create/review-template/{slug}`. In-flow picks (`?fromFlow=1`) skip
+ * identity and land on `confirm-stakeholders`; Back from that step returns
+ * to the template instead of `conflict-management`.
  *
  * Template review footer Back uses {@link buildTemplateReviewHref}’s
  * `?fromFlow=1` marker (and persisted `templateReviewEntryFromCreateFlow`) so
@@ -83,17 +86,27 @@ export function useCreateFlowNavigation(
     updateState,
   ]);
 
-  const nextStep = getNextStep(validStep, options);
+  const identityOnly =
-  const previousStep = getPreviousStep(validStep, options);
+    state.pendingTemplateAction?.mode === "useWithoutChanges";
+  const navigationOptions = useMemo(
+    (): CreateFlowNavigationOptions => ({
+      skipCommunitySave: options?.skipCommunitySave,
+      useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly: identityOnly,
+    }),
+    [options?.skipCommunitySave, identityOnly],
+  );
+
+  const nextStep = getNextStep(validStep, navigationOptions);
+  const previousStep = getPreviousStep(validStep, navigationOptions);
 
   const backTarget = useMemo(
     () =>
       resolveCreateFlowBackTarget(
         validStep,
-        options,
+        navigationOptions,
         state.templateReviewBackSlug,
       ),
-    [validStep, options?.skipCommunitySave, state.templateReviewBackSlug],
+    [validStep, navigationOptions, state.templateReviewBackSlug],
   );
 
   const goToNextStep = useCallback(() => {

app/(app)/create/hooks/useTemplateReviewActions.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import type {
   CreateFlowContextValue,
   CreateFlowState,
 } from "../types";
+import { createFlowStepPath } from "../utils/createFlowPaths";
 
 type AppRouterLike = { push: (_href: string) => void };
 type UpdateState = CreateFlowContextValue["updateState"];
@@ -36,9 +37,10 @@ export type UseTemplateReviewActionsResult = {
    * Use without changes: scrub any prior customize picks, seed core values +
    * method-card selections from the template body (same id mapping as
    * Customize) so drilling from final-review via + shows selected cards, drop
-   * the Values row from `state.sections`, and route to
+   * the Values row from `state.sections`. Direct template entry routes to
-   * `/create/confirm-stakeholders` (or `/create/informational` with a pin to
+   * `/create/community-name` with a pin so Next/Back collect only name →
-   * skip past `/create/review` to `/create/confirm-stakeholders` later).
+   * description → photo. In-flow (`?fromFlow=1`, community steps already done)
+   * routes to `/create/confirm-stakeholders`.
    */
   handleUseWithoutChanges: () => Promise<void>;
 };
@@ -59,7 +61,10 @@ export type UseTemplateReviewActionsResult = {
  *   setTemplateReviewApplyError,
  *   handleCustomize,
  *   handleUseWithoutChanges,
- * } = useTemplateReviewActions({ pathname, state, updateState, replaceState, router });
+ * } = useTemplateReviewActions({
+ *   pathname, state, updateState, replaceState, router,
+ *   fromCreateWizard, markCreateFlowInteraction,
+ * });
  */
 export function useTemplateReviewActions({
   pathname,
@@ -67,12 +72,21 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
   updateState,
   replaceState,
   router,
+  fromCreateWizard = false,
+  markCreateFlowInteraction,
 }: {
   pathname: string | null | undefined;
   state: CreateFlowState;
   updateState: UpdateState;
   replaceState: ReplaceStateFn;
   router: AppRouterLike;
+  /**
+   * True when this template-review URL was opened from the create wizard
+   * (`?fromFlow=1`). Direct catalog / marketing entry is false — a leftover
+   * draft title must not count as “community steps already done”.
+   */
+  fromCreateWizard?: boolean;
+  markCreateFlowInteraction: () => void;
 }): UseTemplateReviewActionsResult {
   const [isApplyingTemplate, setIsApplyingTemplate] = useState(false);
   const [templateReviewApplyError, setTemplateReviewApplyError] = useState<
@@ -90,6 +104,7 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
 
   const handleCustomize = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!templateReviewSlug) return;
+    markCreateFlowInteraction();
     setTemplateReviewApplyError(null);
     setIsApplyingTemplate(true);
     const loaded = await loadTemplateReviewBySlug(templateReviewSlug);
@@ -119,7 +134,9 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
           }),
     });
     router.push(
-      hasCommunityName ? "/create/core-values" : "/create/informational",
+      hasCommunityName
+        ? createFlowStepPath("core-values")
+        : createFlowStepPath("informational"),
     );
   }, [
     router,
@@ -127,10 +144,12 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
     state.title,
     templateReviewSlug,
     updateState,
+    markCreateFlowInteraction,
   ]);
 
   const handleUseWithoutChanges = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!templateReviewSlug) return;
+    markCreateFlowInteraction();
     setTemplateReviewApplyError(null);
     setIsApplyingTemplate(true);
     const loaded = await loadTemplateReviewBySlug(templateReviewSlug);
@@ -158,9 +177,6 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
       return;
     }
 
-    const hasCommunityName =
-      typeof state.title === "string" && state.title.trim().length > 0;
-
     // Atomic read-modify-write: strip prior custom-rule picks and merge template
     // body in one replaceState so method ids are never lost across React batching
     // (reset + update separately could leave selections undefined in Strict Mode).
@@ -179,13 +195,10 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
           })
         : sections;
 
-      const hasCommunityName =
-        typeof prev.title === "string" && prev.title.trim().length > 0;
-
       const pinPatch =
         methodSectionsPinsForHydratedSelections(customizePrefill);
 
-      return {
+      const seeded: CreateFlowState = {
         ...base,
         ...(hasValuesSeed
           ? {
@@ -221,22 +234,40 @@ export function useTemplateReviewActions({
         sections: sectionsWithoutValues,
         methodSectionsPinCommitted: pinPatch,
         templateReviewBackSlug: templateReviewSlug,
-        ...(hasCommunityName
+      };
-          ? { pendingTemplateAction: undefined }
+
-          : {
+      if (fromCreateWizard) {
-              pendingTemplateAction: {
+        return {
-                slug: templateReviewSlug,
+          ...seeded,
-                mode: "useWithoutChanges",
+          pendingTemplateAction: undefined,
-              },
+        };
-            }),
+      }
+
+      return {
+        ...seeded,
+        title: undefined,
+        communityContext: undefined,
+        communityAvatarUrl: undefined,
+        currentStep: undefined,
+        templateReviewEntryFromCreateFlow: undefined,
+        pendingTemplateAction: {
+          slug: templateReviewSlug,
+          mode: "useWithoutChanges",
+        },
       };
     });
     router.push(
-      hasCommunityName
+      fromCreateWizard
-        ? "/create/confirm-stakeholders"
+        ? createFlowStepPath("confirm-stakeholders")
-        : "/create/informational",
+        : createFlowStepPath("community-name"),
     );
-  }, [replaceState, router, state.title, templateReviewSlug]);
+  }, [
+    fromCreateWizard,
+    markCreateFlowInteraction,
+    replaceState,
+    router,
+    templateReviewSlug,
+  ]);
 
   return {
     isTemplateReviewRoute,

app/(app)/create/screens/review/CommunityReviewScreen.tsx

@@ -27,14 +27,11 @@ export function CommunityReviewScreen() {
   const { state, updateState } = useCreateFlow();
 
   /**
-   * If the user picked "Customize" or "Use without changes" from a template
+   * If the user picked **Customize** from a template before finishing community
-   * before entering community stage, we pinned `pendingTemplateAction` so
+   * stage, we pinned `pendingTemplateAction` so this screen can skip itself
-   * this screen can skip itself — they already expressed their intent, no
+   * and `replace` to `core-values`. **Use without changes** does not skip
-   * reason to make them re-pick from the review footer. We `replace` (not
+   * identity: if they land here with that pin, send them to `community-name`
-   * `push`) so Back from the destination goes to `community-save` instead of
+   * and leave the pin so name → description → photo stay in the skip list.
-   * bouncing through here again. The action is cleared synchronously via
-   * `updateState` to guarantee the redirect only fires once: later visits to
-   * `/create/review` (e.g. navigating here directly) render normally.
    *
    * Ref guard covers React 18 StrictMode's double-mount in dev so we don't
    * fire `router.replace` twice on the same transition.
@@ -44,20 +41,19 @@ export function CommunityReviewScreen() {
     if (firedRedirectRef.current) return;
     const pending = state.pendingTemplateAction;
     if (!pending) return;
-    const target =
+    if (pending.mode !== "customize") {
-      pending.mode === "customize"
+      firedRedirectRef.current = true;
-        ? createFlowStepPath("core-values")
+      router.replace(createFlowStepPath("community-name"));
-        : createFlowStepPath("confirm-stakeholders");
+      return;
+    }
+    const target = createFlowStepPath("core-values");
     firedRedirectRef.current = true;
-    const pinMerge =
+    const pinMerge = {
-      pending.mode === "customize"
+      methodSectionsPinCommitted: {
-        ? {
+        ...state.methodSectionsPinCommitted,
-            methodSectionsPinCommitted: {
+        ...methodSectionsPinsForHydratedSelections(state),
-              ...state.methodSectionsPinCommitted,
+      },
-              ...methodSectionsPinsForHydratedSelections(state),
+    };
-            },
-          }
-        : {};
     updateState({ pendingTemplateAction: undefined, ...pinMerge });
     router.replace(target);
   }, [

app/(app)/create/types.ts

@@ -194,11 +194,13 @@ export interface CreateFlowState {
   customMethodCardFieldBlocksById?: Record<string, CustomMethodCardFieldBlock[]>;
   /**
    * Set when a user picks a template (Customize or Use without changes) before
-   * completing the community stage. The community-review screen consumes this
+   * completing the community stage. Customize: the community-review screen
-   * to `router.replace` past `/create/review` to the correct downstream step
+   * `router.replace`s past `/create/review` to `core-values`. Use without
-   * (`core-values` for customize; `confirm-stakeholders` for use-without-changes)
+   * changes: navigation skips to name → description → optional photo, then
-   * once community data is captured. Cleared the moment the redirect fires, so
+   * `confirm-stakeholders` (the pin keeps that skip list active). Set only for
-   * later visits to `/create/review` render normally.
+   * **direct** template entry, not when community identity was already collected
+   * in-flow. Cleared when community-review consumes a customize pin, or when
+   * the flow is reset.
    */
   pendingTemplateAction?: {
     slug: string;
@@ -206,12 +208,9 @@ export interface CreateFlowState {
   };
   /**
    * Set when the user chooses **Use without changes** on a template-review
-   * page. The custom-rule segment (`core-values` … `conflict-management`) is
+   * page. Used so Back from `community-name` (identity-only path) returns to
-   * skipped, so linear `getPreviousStep("confirm-stakeholders")` would wrongly
+   * `/create/review-template/{slug}` instead of the intro. Cleared when the user
-   * point at `conflict-management`. Navigation uses this slug so Back from
+   * picks **Customize** from template review or when the flow state is cleared.
-   * `confirm-stakeholders` returns to `/create/review-template/{slug}`.
-   * Cleared when the user picks **Customize** from template review (normal
-   * linear back applies) or when the flow state is cleared.
    */
   templateReviewBackSlug?: string;
   /**

app/(app)/create/utils/flowSteps.ts

@@ -47,8 +47,44 @@ export const FIRST_STEP: CreateFlowStep = FLOW_STEP_ORDER[0];
 /** Options for navigation when the email / magic-link save step is not shown (signed-in users). */
 export type CreateFlowNavigationOptions = {
   skipCommunitySave?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Template **Use without changes**: collect community name, description, and
+   * optional photo only. Skips intro, structure, size, save, community review,
+   * and the custom-rule authoring segment.
+   */
+  useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly?: boolean;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Community + custom-rule steps skipped when
+ * {@link CreateFlowNavigationOptions.useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly} is set.
+ * Remaining identity steps: `community-name` → `community-context` →
+ * `community-upload`, then `confirm-stakeholders`.
+ */
+const USE_WITHOUT_CHANGES_IDENTITY_SKIP = new Set<CreateFlowStep>([
+  "informational",
+  "community-structure",
+  "community-size",
+  "community-save",
+  "review",
+  "core-values",
+  "communication-methods",
+  "membership-methods",
+  "decision-approaches",
+  "conflict-management",
+]);
+
+function shouldSkipStep(
+  step: CreateFlowStep,
+  options?: CreateFlowNavigationOptions,
+): boolean {
+  if (options?.skipCommunitySave && step === "community-save") return true;
+  return Boolean(
+    options?.useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly &&
+      USE_WITHOUT_CHANGES_IDENTITY_SKIP.has(step),
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns the next step in the flow, or null if current is last/invalid
  */
@@ -57,13 +93,14 @@ export function getNextStep(
   options?: CreateFlowNavigationOptions,
 ): CreateFlowStep | null {
   if (!currentStep) return null;
-  const index = FLOW_STEP_ORDER.indexOf(currentStep);
+  let index = FLOW_STEP_ORDER.indexOf(currentStep);
-  if (index === -1 || index === FLOW_STEP_ORDER.length - 1) return null;
+  if (index === -1) return null;
-  const next = FLOW_STEP_ORDER[index + 1] as CreateFlowStep;
+  while (index < FLOW_STEP_ORDER.length - 1) {
-  if (options?.skipCommunitySave && next === "community-save") {
+    index += 1;
-    return getNextStep("community-save", options);
+    const next = FLOW_STEP_ORDER[index] as CreateFlowStep;
+    if (!shouldSkipStep(next, options)) return next;
   }
-  return next;
+  return null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -74,20 +111,27 @@ export function getPreviousStep(
   options?: CreateFlowNavigationOptions,
 ): CreateFlowStep | null {
   if (!currentStep) return null;
-  const index = FLOW_STEP_ORDER.indexOf(currentStep);
+  let index = FLOW_STEP_ORDER.indexOf(currentStep);
   if (index <= 0) return null;
-  const prev = FLOW_STEP_ORDER[index - 1] as CreateFlowStep;
+  while (index > 0) {
-  if (options?.skipCommunitySave && prev === "community-save") {
+    index -= 1;
-    return getPreviousStep("community-save", options);
+    const prev = FLOW_STEP_ORDER[index] as CreateFlowStep;
+    if (!shouldSkipStep(prev, options)) return prev;
   }
-  return prev;
+  return null;
 }
 
 /**
  * Where the create-flow footer Back action should go. Usually the previous
- * step in {@link FLOW_STEP_ORDER}; when the user reached `confirm-stakeholders`
+ * step in {@link FLOW_STEP_ORDER}.
- * via template **Use without changes**, Back returns to template review instead
+ *
- * of `conflict-management` (that segment was skipped).
+ * Template **Use without changes** exceptions:
+ * - Direct from a template (`useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly`): Back from
+ *   `community-name` returns to template review; Back from
+ *   `confirm-stakeholders` is `community-upload`.
+ * - In-flow (`?fromFlow=1`, community identity already collected): Back
+ *   from `confirm-stakeholders` returns to template review instead of
+ *   `conflict-management`.
  */
 export type CreateFlowBackTarget =
   | { kind: "step"; step: CreateFlowStep }
@@ -102,7 +146,18 @@ export function resolveCreateFlowBackTarget(
     typeof templateReviewBackSlug === "string"
       ? templateReviewBackSlug.trim()
       : "";
-  if (currentStep === "confirm-stakeholders" && slug.length > 0) {
+  if (
+    currentStep === "community-name" &&
+    options?.useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly &&
+    slug.length > 0
+  ) {
+    return { kind: "templateReview", slug };
+  }
+  if (
+    currentStep === "confirm-stakeholders" &&
+    slug.length > 0 &&
+    !options?.useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly
+  ) {
     return { kind: "templateReview", slug };
   }
   const prev = getPreviousStep(currentStep, options);
@@ -194,6 +249,22 @@ export function parseCreateFlowScreenFromPathname(
 export const TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_QUERY = "fromFlow" as const;
 export const TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_VALUE = "1" as const;
 
+/**
+ * Catalog / marketing template preview (`/create/review-template/[slug]`
+ * without `?fromFlow=1`). There is nothing to save yet; top-nav Exit should
+ * leave immediately. In-flow picks keep the usual save / leave-confirm path.
+ */
+export function isDirectTemplateReviewEntry(
+  pathname: string | null | undefined,
+  searchParams?: { get: (name: string) => string | null } | null,
+): boolean {
+  if (!pathname?.includes("/create/review-template/")) return false;
+  return (
+    searchParams?.get(TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_QUERY) !==
+    TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_VALUE
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Only set from `/create/review` “Create from template” with `fromFlow=1`.
  * Enables facet-ranked `GET /api/templates` + “RECOMMENDED” on the grid; omit

app/(marketing)/templates/TemplatesPageClient.tsx

@@ -102,7 +102,9 @@ function TemplatesGrid({
       entries={entries}
       onTemplateClick={(slug) => {
         if (!fromFlow) {
-          prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+          // Marketing /templates has no session in hand; DELETE is
+          // best-effort and the sentinel blocks stale-draft hydration.
+          prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync({ signedIn: true });
         }
         router.push(
           buildTemplateReviewHref(slug, { fromCreateWizard: fromFlow }),

app/components/sections/RuleStack/RuleStack.container.tsx

@@ -97,9 +97,10 @@ const RuleStackContainer = memo<RuleStackProps>(
       }
     }
     logger.debug(`${slug} template clicked`);
-    // Marketing home “Popular templates”: same fresh start as Top “Create rule”
+    // Marketing home “Popular templates”: same fresh start as Top “Create rule”.
-    // (local + server draft when sync) so stale state cannot break template apply.
+    // `signedIn: true` because this surface has no session in hand; DELETE is
-    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync();
+    // best-effort and the sentinel blocks stale-draft hydration.
+    prepareFreshCreateFlowEntrySync({ signedIn: true });
     router.push(`/create/review-template/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}`);
   };
 

docs/create-flow.md

@@ -79,9 +79,17 @@ Call sites for **`prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry`**: [`Top.container.tsx`](../app/c
 
 From that page, **Customize** pre-fills the custom-rule selections on the current `CreateFlowState` (via [`buildTemplateCustomizePrefill`](../lib/create/applyTemplatePrefill.ts)) and routes to **`/create/core-values`** when the community name (`state.title`) is already set, otherwise to **`/create/informational`**. Name-only is the gate because other community-stage fields (e.g. `communityStructureChipSnapshots`) are sticky once the user lands on those screens; a non-empty title is also the minimum bar [`buildPublishPayload`](../lib/create/buildPublishPayload.ts) enforces, so the two checks stay aligned. No query-param plumbing: state persists via the usual anonymous/server-draft mirrors.
 
-**Use without changes** writes the template's `body.sections` into `state.sections` (chip titles only; bodies are empty in seeded templates), resets any prior Customize chip selections so they don't bleed into `document.coreValues`, and routes to **`/create/confirm-stakeholders`**. It does **not** copy the template catalog `description` into `state.summary` — the published rule summary comes from **`communityContext` first**, then `summary`, when the user publishes. At publish, [`buildPublishPayload`](../lib/create/buildPublishPayload.ts) derives `methodSelections` from those section titles, merges preset copy into `document.sections`, and emits structured `methodSelections`. The user then exits via the normal **`final-review → handleFinalize → publishRule`** pipeline. Guests can publish without signing in (`POST /api/rules` with `userId` null); stakeholder invites are sent only when a session exists.
+**Exit on template preview.** Direct catalog / marketing entry (`/create/review-template/[slug]` without `?fromFlow=1`) has nothing to save — top-nav **Exit** clears client state and goes home, with no save-progress modal and no leave confirm. In-flow (`?fromFlow=1`) still has community progress, so Exit keeps the usual save / leave-confirm path.
 
-**Entering a template before community stage is done.** When `state.title` is empty, both handlers apply their side effects eagerly (prefill for Customize; `sections` for Use without changes) *and* pin a `pendingTemplateAction: { slug, mode }` on `CreateFlowState` before routing to `/create/informational`. Once the user reaches `/create/review`, [`CommunityReviewScreen`](../app/(app)/create/screens/review/CommunityReviewScreen.tsx) reads the action on mount, clears it via `updateState`, and `router.replace`s past itself — to `/create/core-values` for `customize`, `/create/confirm-stakeholders` for `useWithoutChanges`. The user never sees the community-review page in that flow because their intent was already expressed at the template-review step. `replace` (not `push`) keeps `community-save` as the Back-button target from the destination. The action is cleared on the first fire so later direct visits to `/create/review` render normally.
+**Use without changes** writes the template's `body.sections` into `state.sections` (chip titles only; bodies are empty in seeded templates), resets any prior Customize chip selections so they don't bleed into `document.coreValues`, and skips custom-rule authoring. It does **not** copy the template catalog `description` into `state.summary` — the published rule summary comes from **`communityContext` first**, then `summary`, when the user publishes. At publish, [`buildPublishPayload`](../lib/create/buildPublishPayload.ts) derives `methodSelections` from those section titles, merges preset copy into `document.sections`, and emits structured `methodSelections`. The user then exits via the normal **`final-review → handleFinalize → publishRule`** pipeline. Guests can publish without signing in (`POST /api/rules` with `userId` null); stakeholder invites are sent only when a session exists.
+
+**Entering a template before community stage is done.** Both handlers apply their side effects eagerly (prefill for Customize; `sections` for Use without changes) *and* pin a `pendingTemplateAction: { slug, mode }` when the community questionnaire still needs to run.
+
+- **Customize** routes to `/create/informational` and walks the full Create Community questionnaire. Once the user reaches `/create/review`, [`CommunityReviewScreen`](../app/(app)/create/screens/review/CommunityReviewScreen.tsx) reads the action on mount, clears it via `updateState`, and `router.replace`s to `/create/core-values`. `replace` (not `push`) keeps `community-save` as the Back-button target from that destination.
+- **Use without changes (direct from a template)** — home Popular templates, `/templates` without `fromFlow`, or a pasted review-template URL. Always routes to `/create/community-name` and walks **name → description → optional photo**, then `/create/confirm-stakeholders`. A leftover draft title is **not** “community already done”; those identity fields are cleared so cache cannot skip or pre-fill the path. Intro, structure, size, save, community review, and custom-rule authoring are skipped. Back from name returns to template review.
+- **Use without changes (in-flow)** — `/create/review` → `/templates?fromFlow=1` → template. Community identity is already collected, so this action seeds the template and routes to `/create/confirm-stakeholders`. Back returns to template review.
+
+The action for Customize is cleared on the first fire so later direct visits to `/create/review` render normally. The review screen is not part of the Use-without-changes identity path. If they land on `/create/review` with a leftover Use-without-changes pin, the screen `replace`s to `community-name`.
 
 **Direct entry vs in-flow template pick.** The same `/create/review-template/[slug]` URL is reached from two different origins. We disambiguate at the *click site*, not on the review-template page. **Direct** picks call [`prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry`](../app/(app)/create/utils/prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry.ts) **before** navigation (local + server draft when sync is on — see **Fresh start vs continue draft** above). **In-flow** picks skip that call so the user’s community-stage state survives the detour. Because `CreateFlowProvider` reads `localStorage` in its `useState` initializer, clearing **before** `push` means a direct entry mounts without stale anonymous keys; signed-in users also avoid a stale server draft overwriting the empty mirror.
 
@@ -89,9 +97,9 @@ From that page, **Customize** pre-fills the custom-rule selections on the curren
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | Home marketing "Popular templates" ([`RuleStack.container.tsx`](../app/components/sections/RuleStack/RuleStack.container.tsx)) | always `await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry()` then navigate | `/create/review-template/[slug]` |
 | `/templates` index ([`TemplatesPageClient.tsx`](../app/(marketing)/templates/TemplatesPageClient.tsx)) visited directly / via pasted URL | `fromFlow` absent → `await prepareFreshCreateFlowEntry()` then navigate | `/create/review-template/[slug]` |
-| In-flow: `/create/review` footer "Create from template" → `/templates?fromFlow=1` → template click | `fromFlow=1` → no fresh-entry prep | `/create/review-template/[slug]` |
+| In-flow: `/create/review` footer "Create from template" → `/templates?fromFlow=1` → template click | `fromFlow=1` → no fresh-entry prep | `/create/review-template/[slug]?fromFlow=1` |
 
-Only one `?fromFlow=1` marker exists, on one hop (`/create/review` → `/templates`). It is not forwarded onto the review-template URL. The review-template handlers branch solely on `state.title` — they don't need to know the origin.
+Only one `?fromFlow=1` marker exists on `/templates`. Template clicks forward it onto `/create/review-template/[slug]?fromFlow=1` so **Use without changes** can tell in-flow (skip identity) from a direct catalog start (collect name / description / photo). **Customize** still branches on `state.title` (full questionnaire vs `core-values`).
 
 **Resume from profile** remains explicit-only: **Continue** clears local mirrors then opens `/create/{step}` so [`SignedInDraftHydration`](../app/(app)/create/SignedInDraftHydration.tsx) can load `/api/drafts/me` when the client buffer is empty. There is no automatic “pick template from marketing → silently merge server draft” path.
 

docs/guides/template-recommendation-matrix.md

@@ -255,8 +255,13 @@ now prefills the custom-rule flow via
 [`buildTemplateCustomizePrefill`](../../lib/create/applyTemplatePrefill.ts)
 (applied in `CreateFlowLayoutClient.tsx`) and routes to `core-values`
 when Community already has input, else to `informational`. Template **Use
-without changes** writes `template.body.sections` into `state.sections`
+without changes** writes `template.body.sections` into `state.sections`.
-and routes to `confirm-stakeholders`, so the user exits via the normal
+Direct catalog / marketing entry routes to `community-name` and Next/Back
+collect only name, description, and optional photo, then
+`confirm-stakeholders`. A leftover draft title does not skip those
+identity steps. In-flow (`?fromFlow=1` after the community questionnaire)
+skips identity and opens `confirm-stakeholders`. The user
+exits via the normal
 `final-review → handleFinalize → publishRule` path and picks up the
 server-enforced 401 sign-in gate for free.
 
@@ -264,12 +269,13 @@ When the user picks a template **before** completing the community
 stage, both handlers still apply their side effects eagerly (prefill or
 `sections`/`summary`) and pin a
 `pendingTemplateAction: { slug, mode: "customize" | "useWithoutChanges" }`
-on `CreateFlowState`, then route to `informational`. Once the user
+on `CreateFlowState`. Customize then routes to `informational`. Direct
-reaches `/create/review`, `CommunityReviewScreen` consumes the pin and
+Use without changes routes to `community-name` (identity-only skip list
-`router.replace`s past itself — to `core-values` for `customize`, to
+while the pin is set). Once the user reaches `/create/review`, `CommunityReviewScreen`
-`confirm-stakeholders` for `useWithoutChanges`. The community-review
+consumes the pin and `router.replace`s past itself — to `core-values` for
-screen is therefore only shown when the user came from "Create Custom"
+`customize`, to `community-name` for `useWithoutChanges`. The
-(no template), matching the intent already expressed at the
+community-review screen is therefore only shown when the user came from
+"Create Custom" (no template), matching the intent already expressed at the
 template-review step.
 
 ---

tests/components/ReviewPage.test.tsx

@@ -104,12 +104,10 @@ describe("CommunityReviewScreen — pendingTemplateAction redirect", () => {
     expect(testRouter.push).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it("redirects to /create/confirm-stakeholders when mode === 'useWithoutChanges'", async () => {
+  it("redirects Use without changes to community-name so identity is not skipped", async () => {
     render(<ReviewWithPendingAction mode="useWithoutChanges" />);
     await waitFor(() => {
-      expect(testRouter.replace).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect(testRouter.replace).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/create/community-name");
-        "/create/confirm-stakeholders",
-      );
     });
     expect(testRouter.push).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });

tests/unit/flowSteps.test.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   parseReviewReturnSearchParam,
   resolveCreateFlowBackTarget,
   shouldOfferCreateFlowSaveAndExit,
+  isDirectTemplateReviewEntry,
   TEMPLATES_FACET_RECOMMEND_QUERY,
   TEMPLATES_FACET_RECOMMEND_VALUE,
   TEMPLATE_REVIEW_FROM_CREATE_FLOW_QUERY,
@@ -82,6 +83,31 @@ describe("flowSteps", () => {
     expect(getPreviousStep("communication-methods", opts)).toBe("core-values");
   });
 
+  it("useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly walks name → description → photo → stakeholders", () => {
+    const opts = { useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly: true } as const;
+    expect(getNextStep("community-name", opts)).toBe("community-context");
+    expect(getNextStep("community-context", opts)).toBe("community-upload");
+    expect(getNextStep("community-upload", opts)).toBe("confirm-stakeholders");
+    expect(getNextStep("confirm-stakeholders", opts)).toBe("final-review");
+    expect(getPreviousStep("community-context", opts)).toBe("community-name");
+    expect(getPreviousStep("community-upload", opts)).toBe("community-context");
+    expect(getPreviousStep("confirm-stakeholders", opts)).toBe(
+      "community-upload",
+    );
+    expect(getPreviousStep("community-name", opts)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly composes with skipCommunitySave", () => {
+    const opts = {
+      skipCommunitySave: true,
+      useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly: true,
+    } as const;
+    expect(getNextStep("community-upload", opts)).toBe("confirm-stakeholders");
+    expect(getPreviousStep("confirm-stakeholders", opts)).toBe(
+      "community-upload",
+    );
+  });
+
   it("resolveCreateFlowBackTarget returns template review when use-without slug is set on confirm-stakeholders", () => {
     expect(
       resolveCreateFlowBackTarget(
@@ -92,6 +118,26 @@ describe("flowSteps", () => {
     ).toEqual({ kind: "templateReview", slug: "mutual-aid-mondays" });
   });
 
+  it("resolveCreateFlowBackTarget sends identity-only community-name back to template review", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveCreateFlowBackTarget(
+        "community-name",
+        { useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly: true },
+        "mutual-aid-mondays",
+      ),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "templateReview", slug: "mutual-aid-mondays" });
+  });
+
+  it("resolveCreateFlowBackTarget uses photo step behind stakeholders on the identity-only path", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveCreateFlowBackTarget(
+        "confirm-stakeholders",
+        { useWithoutChangesIdentityOnly: true },
+        "mutual-aid-mondays",
+      ),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "step", step: "community-upload" });
+  });
+
   it("resolveCreateFlowBackTarget falls back to linear previous when slug is absent", () => {
     expect(
       resolveCreateFlowBackTarget("confirm-stakeholders", undefined, undefined),
@@ -150,4 +196,29 @@ describe("flowSteps", () => {
     expect(shouldOfferCreateFlowSaveAndExit("completed", null)).toBe(true);
     expect(shouldOfferCreateFlowSaveAndExit(null)).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("isDirectTemplateReviewEntry is true only on template preview without fromFlow", () => {
+    expect(
+      isDirectTemplateReviewEntry("/create/review-template/consensus"),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      isDirectTemplateReviewEntry(
+        "/create/review-template/consensus",
+        new URLSearchParams(),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      isDirectTemplateReviewEntry(
+        "/create/review-template/consensus",
+        new URLSearchParams("fromFlow=1"),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      isDirectTemplateReviewEntry(
+        "/create/community-name",
+        new URLSearchParams(),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(isDirectTemplateReviewEntry(null)).toBe(false);
+  });
 });

tests/unit/hooks/useTemplateReviewActions.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+import { renderHook, act } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from "vitest";
+import type { CreateFlowState } from "../../../app/(app)/create/types";
+import { useTemplateReviewActions } from "../../../app/(app)/create/hooks/useTemplateReviewActions";
+import { loadTemplateReviewBySlug } from "../../../lib/create/loadTemplateReviewBySlug";
+
+vi.mock("../../../lib/create/loadTemplateReviewBySlug", () => ({
+  loadTemplateReviewBySlug: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+const templateBody = {
+  sections: [
+    {
+      categoryName: "Communication",
+      entries: [{ title: "Signal" }],
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+const loadedTemplate = {
+  ok: true as const,
+  template: {
+    id: "t1",
+    slug: "mutual-aid-mondays",
+    title: "Mutual Aid Mondays",
+    category: null,
+    description: null,
+    body: templateBody,
+    sortOrder: 0,
+    featured: false,
+  },
+};
+
+describe("useTemplateReviewActions", () => {
+  const router = { push: vi.fn() };
+  const updateState = vi.fn();
+  const markCreateFlowInteraction = vi.fn();
+  let applied: CreateFlowState | undefined;
+  const replaceState = vi.fn(
+    (updater: (_prev: CreateFlowState) => CreateFlowState) => {
+      applied = updater({});
+    },
+  );
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.mocked(loadTemplateReviewBySlug).mockReset();
+    vi.mocked(loadTemplateReviewBySlug).mockResolvedValue(loadedTemplate);
+    router.push.mockReset();
+    updateState.mockReset();
+    markCreateFlowInteraction.mockReset();
+    replaceState.mockClear();
+    applied = undefined;
+  });
+
+  function renderActions(
+    state: CreateFlowState,
+    fromCreateWizard = false,
+  ) {
+    return renderHook(() =>
+      useTemplateReviewActions({
+        pathname: "/create/review-template/mutual-aid-mondays",
+        state,
+        updateState,
+        replaceState,
+        router,
+        fromCreateWizard,
+        markCreateFlowInteraction,
+      }),
+    );
+  }
+
+  it("direct Use without changes walks identity from community-name", async () => {
+    const { result } = renderActions({});
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.handleUseWithoutChanges();
+    });
+
+    expect(markCreateFlowInteraction).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(router.push).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/create/community-name");
+    expect(applied?.pendingTemplateAction).toEqual({
+      slug: "mutual-aid-mondays",
+      mode: "useWithoutChanges",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("direct Use without changes ignores a leftover draft title", async () => {
+    replaceState.mockImplementation(
+      (updater: (_prev: CreateFlowState) => CreateFlowState) => {
+        applied = updater({
+          title: "Neighborhood",
+          communityContext: "Stale description",
+          currentStep: "confirm-stakeholders",
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    const { result } = renderActions({ title: "Neighborhood" });
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.handleUseWithoutChanges();
+    });
+
+    expect(router.push).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/create/community-name");
+    expect(applied?.title).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(applied?.communityContext).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(applied?.currentStep).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(applied?.pendingTemplateAction?.mode).toBe("useWithoutChanges");
+  });
+
+  it("in-flow Use without changes skips identity and keeps the community name", async () => {
+    replaceState.mockImplementation(
+      (updater: (_prev: CreateFlowState) => CreateFlowState) => {
+        applied = updater({
+          title: "Neighborhood",
+          communityContext: "We meet weekly",
+          templateReviewEntryFromCreateFlow: true,
+        });
+      },
+    );
+    const { result } = renderActions(
+      { title: "Neighborhood", templateReviewEntryFromCreateFlow: true },
+      true,
+    );
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.handleUseWithoutChanges();
+    });
+
+    expect(router.push).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/create/confirm-stakeholders");
+    expect(applied?.title).toBe("Neighborhood");
+    expect(applied?.communityContext).toBe("We meet weekly");
+    expect(applied?.pendingTemplateAction).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(applied?.templateReviewBackSlug).toBe("mutual-aid-mondays");
+  });
+});