SAP BI/BW REFERENCE Vs TEMPLATE INFOOBJECTS

While creating the Characteristic Infoobject we have two options
1.Reference.
2.Template.

Both the infoobjects are used in development projects as for the requirement.

InfoObject                   Data type                Length 
 zcustomer                     CHAR                     20

Reference InfoObject :

When we create the infoobject using the existing infoobject as Reference then...

• Master data attributes,Compounding attributes,Technical properties(data type,length) are copied into new infoobjects.  
• We cannot change the data type,length,compounding attributes and master data attributes.
• Maintainig of master data is not possible.
• It has the same master data tables as reference infoobject.It doesn't contain its own tables.
• Loading of data is not possible because it doesn't support transformations.
• We cannot use this as a data target (Insert Characteristic As InfoProvider).

Template InfoObject :

When we create the infoobject using the existing infoobject as Template then...

• Master data attributes,Compounding attributes,Technical properties(data type,length) are copied into new infoobjects.  
• We can able to  change the data type,length,compounding attributes and master data attributes.
• Maintainig of master data is  possible.
• It has the master data tables as reference infoobject and also maintains its own tables.
• Loading of data is possible because it support transformations.
• We can use this as a data target (Insert Characteristic As InfoProvider).