Create a project template

Save a reusable project plan with phases and the tasks inside each phase, so a new project starts with its work already laid out instead of a blank page.

In the sidebar, open Settings, then choose Project Templates under Templates. The page address is /settings/org/templates/projects. A new template opens at /settings/org/templates/projects/new.

A project template is the plan a new project starts from: phases such as rough-in, finish and commissioning, and the tasks inside each phase with a default status and assignee. When someone creates a project and picks From template under Start point, Nova creates all of it at once.

Note: Templates built on this page are saved as drafts, and this page has no publish button. The quickest way to a published template is to open a project that already has the plan you want, choose Save as template from its menu, and pick Publish now in the Save project as template wizard. Use this page to review, duplicate or delete what you have.

Before you start

• Your role needs permission to read project templates to see the page and permission to create them to add one. Deleting needs its own permission.
• Sketch the phases first. Tasks that do not belong to a phase go under Ungrouped tasks.
• Already ran a project this way? Open that project and use Save as template from its menu instead of building from scratch.

Steps

1. Press New template. The New project template drawer opens.
2. Under Basics, type a Name and a Description.
3. Under Phase templates, press Add phase. Type the phase Name and a Sort order number.
4. A new phase starts with one blank task under Phase tasks. Type its Title, a Sort order, a Description, a Default status and, if the same person always does it, a Default assignee (otherwise leave Unassigned). Press Add task for the next one.
5. Repeat for every task and phase. Press Remove on a task or Remove phase on a phase to take it out.
6. Under Ungrouped tasks, press Add task for any task that does not sit in a phase.
7. Press Create template. The drawer stays open on the saved draft.

What you see

• The list shows each template under Template with its Description, how many Phases and Tasks it holds, and when it was Updated. Search it with Search project templates.
• Template route under Basics shows the template's own address once it is saved, handy for sharing with another admin.
• Duplicate makes a copy to change without touching the original. Delete removes the template from the project creation list; projects already created from it do not change.
• Portfolio templates bundle several project templates together. See Create a portfolio template.

If something looks different

• New template is missing: your role cannot create project templates. Ask your admin.
• Save changes is off: your role can view templates but not update them.
• Default assignee does not list the person you want: they are not an active team member yet.
• The template does not show up under From template when creating a project: it is still a draft. The picker lists published templates unless you change its Status filter to Draft, and a draft cannot be applied even when listed. Publish one through Save as template on a project, as described above.

Start a new project template