diff --git a/public/template/assets/.keep b/public/template/assets/.keep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/public/template/assets/previousInterview.json b/public/template/assets/previousInterview.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3af6b2124
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/template/assets/previousInterview.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+  "nodes": [
+    {
+      "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
+      "attributes": {
+        "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Anita",
+        "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Annie",
+        "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "21"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
+      "attributes": {
+        "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Barry",
+        "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Baz",
+        "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "28"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
+      "attributes": {
+        "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Carlito",
+        "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Carl",
+        "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "23"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
+      "attributes": {
+        "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Dee",
+        "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Dee",
+        "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "40"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
+      "attributes": {
+        "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Eugine",
+        "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Eu",
+        "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "18"
+      }
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/src/other/protocols/template.json b/public/template/protocol.json
similarity index 66%
rename from src/other/protocols/template.json
rename to public/template/protocol.json
index 3d1d82c2c..f80132ef6 100644
--- a/src/other/protocols/template.json
+++ b/public/template/protocol.json
@@ -81,50 +81,11 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "externalData": {
+  "assetManifest": {
     "previousInterview": {
-      "nodes": [
-        {
-          "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
-          "attributes": {
-            "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Anita",
-            "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Annie",
-            "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "21"
-          }
-        },
-        {
-          "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
-          "attributes": {
-            "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Barry",
-            "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Baz",
-            "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "28"
-          }
-        },
-        {
-          "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
-          "attributes": {
-            "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Carlito",
-            "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Carl",
-            "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "23"
-          }
-        },
-        {
-          "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
-          "attributes": {
-            "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Dee",
-            "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Dee",
-            "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "40"
-          }
-        },
-        {
-          "type": "d39a47507bbe27c2a7948861847f3607eda8e1be",
-          "attributes": {
-            "6ae999552a0d2dca14d62e2bc8b764d377b1dd6c": "Eugine",
-            "7428c4145a49b9d07e4f88033b7fc97aa98b6b99": "Eu",
-            "5dc56b9aab61867257a3c1bd7c786c9410d38cd2": "18"
-          }
-        }
-      ]
+      "type": "network",
+      "name": "Previous Interview",
+      "source": "previousInterview.json"
     }
   },
   "forms": {
diff --git a/src/other/protocols/createProtocol.js b/src/other/protocols/createProtocol.js
index bbbc914a5..53ee62af1 100644
--- a/src/other/protocols/createProtocol.js
+++ b/src/other/protocols/createProtocol.js
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import { remote } from 'electron';
-import fs from 'fs';
-import mkdirp from 'mkdirp';
+import fse from 'fs-extra';
 import path from 'path';
 import { getLocalDirectoryFromArchivePath } from './utils';
-import template from './template.json';
+// import template from './template/protocol.json';
 
 const saveDialogOptions = {
   buttonLabel: 'Create',
@@ -25,20 +24,36 @@ const saveDialog = () =>
 
 /**
  * Creates an blank protocol directory at destinationPath, with correct directory structure.
- * Expects a valid protocol object as input.
  * @param {string} destinationPath - destination for skeleton protocol.
- * @param {object} protocol - protocol object, probably a template.
  */
-const createProtocolWorkingPath = (destinationPath, protocol) =>
+const createProtocolWorkingPath = destinationPath =>
   new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const assetsPath = path.join(destinationPath, 'assets');
-    const protocolPath = path.join(destinationPath, 'protocol.json');
-    mkdirp.sync(destinationPath);
-    fs.mkdirSync(assetsPath);
-    fs.writeFileSync(protocolPath, JSON.stringify(protocol, null, 2));
-    resolve();
+    const appPath = remote.app.getAppPath();
+    const templatePath = path.join(appPath, 'template');
+    fse.copySync(templatePath, destinationPath);
+    resolve(destinationPath);
   });
 
+/**
+ * Updates protocol at protocolWorkingPath, merges with existing protocol.
+ * Expects a valid protocol object as input.
+ * @param {string} protocolWorkingPath - location of protocol
+ * @param {object} protocol - protocol object, probably a template.
+ */
+const updateProtocol = (protocolWorkingPath, protocol) => {
+  const protocolPath = path.join(protocolWorkingPath, 'protocol.json');
+
+  return fse.readJson(protocolPath)
+    .then((protocolTemplate) => {
+      const updatedProtocol = {
+        ...protocolTemplate,
+        ...protocol,
+      };
+
+      return fse.writeJson(protocolPath, updatedProtocol);
+    });
+};
+
 /**
  * Creates a blank protocol in a tempory path
  * Expects a valid protocol object as input.
@@ -48,7 +63,8 @@ const createProtocolWorkingPath = (destinationPath, protocol) =>
 export const createProtocolFiles = (destinationPath, protocol) => {
   const tempPath = getLocalDirectoryFromArchivePath(destinationPath);
 
-  return createProtocolWorkingPath(tempPath, protocol)
+  return createProtocolWorkingPath(tempPath)
+    .then(protocolWorkingPath => updateProtocol(protocolWorkingPath, protocol))
     .then(() => tempPath);
 };
 
@@ -59,7 +75,6 @@ const createProtocol = () =>
   saveDialog()
     .then((filePath) => {
       const protocol = {
-        ...template,
         name: path.basename(filePath, '.netcanvas'),
       };