> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lightdash.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Saved Trees
> Build shareable diagrams that show how your metrics relate to each other, visualize hierarchies, and understand dependencies across your data model.
**Saved Trees** are persistent, shareable diagrams of how your metrics relate to each other. Each tree stores its full layout — every node position and every edge — so you can return to the same view next session and share the link with teammates.
Saved Trees are shared across your team: anyone with access to the project can view them, and users with the right permissions can create, edit, and delete them.
You build and view Saved Trees on a canvas: switch to the canvas view using the toggle in the top-right corner of the Metrics page. The **Saved Trees** sidebar on the left lists every tree in the project.
### Creating a Saved Tree
1. **Start a new tree**: In the **Saved Trees** sidebar, click **New** to enter edit mode, and type a name in the text input at the top of the canvas.
2. **Find your metrics**: Use the search bar, categories, or table filters to narrow down the metrics sidebar. Click **Load more** at the bottom to pull additional metrics from the catalog.
3. **Add metrics**: Drag metrics from the sidebar onto the canvas.
4. **Create connections**: Drag between node handles to draw edges representing relationships and dependencies. Metrics with [drivers](/guides/metrics-catalog/drivers) defined in `.yml` get their edges drawn automatically.
5. **Remove nodes**: Select a node and press **Backspace** to delete it.
6. **Save**: Click **Save**. The button is disabled until you provide a name and add at least one node.
When you save, the tree name, node positions, edges, and metric references are all persisted.
Click **Cancel** to discard your work. If you have unsaved changes, a confirmation dialog will appear.
[Driver edges](/guides/metrics-catalog/drivers) are not stored with the tree — they are injected automatically whenever matching nodes are present.
To make changes later, open the tree from the sidebar and enter edit mode. Viewers can see trees and connections but cannot make edits.
### Collaborative locking
Only one user can edit a Saved Tree at a time. When you start editing, the tree is locked to you. The lock stays active while you work — if you stop editing for more than 2 minutes, the lock is automatically released so others can make changes.
When a tree is locked by another user, you'll see an **"Editing by "** badge in the header, and the Edit and Delete options are disabled until the lock is released.
Your changes are automatically saved as a draft while you edit, so if you accidentally close the tab or refresh the page, your work-in-progress can be recovered when you return.
### Permissions
| Action | Admin | Developer | Editor | Interactive Viewer | Viewer |
| :------------------ | :-------------------------------------------: | :-------------------------------------------: | :-------------------------------------------: | :-------------------------------------------: | :-------------------------------------------: |
| View a Saved Tree | | | | | |
| Create a Saved Tree | | | | | |
| Edit a Saved Tree | | | | | |
| Delete a Saved Tree | | | | | |