Jumpstart your project creation with templates
Overview
Many a times we repeat the same steps across several projects. For such projects, you can design a project template, which can be used whenever a new project comes in. With the new project Template Center feature, you can therefore convert existing projects into templates and organize them into categories.
Who can use this feature?
Members with the status of Project manager or higher can benefit from the project template feature.
Where can I find it?
The project templates are all grouped together in a new module called the Template Center that can be found from the application left side menu.
What elements of a project can be converted into a template?
Currently, the 3 following elements can be converted into templates:
The whole project itself
The project task lists
The task checklists
The task list workflow (statuses)
Understanding the project Template Center
All the project templates are stored into one convenient place called the Template Center. The template Center is the go-to place to manage your templates. From here you can edit, select or delete a project template, a task list template or a checklist template.
When you open a template, you will learn not only about its description, but also about the last person who modified the template.
Templates are ordered to display the most recent ones at the top of the list.
Template categories
You will notice that project templates are grouped and organized into categories. Categories are created when you convert a project into a template.
Each category is followed by an indicator that shows the number of templates included in that category.
Uncategorized templates
Since setting a category to a project template is not mandatory when creating a template, all the templates with no category associated with them are grouped under the Uncategorized section.
Categories that have no templates yet are greyed out.
How to modify or delete a category
To modify or delete a template category, click the souvlaki menu on the category right side and select the desired option.
Search templates
Use the search feature to either search a project template title or project template description.
1. How to create a project template from an existing project
You can save a lot of time by building on existing projects when setting up your new project. If your team has projects and work they repeat, you don’t need to recreate those tasks and projects in Nutcache every time. By creating your own custom templates, you don’t have to start from scratch or miss any steps.
To create a new project template from an existing project you can choose one of the following options:
The project list view
Start with an existing project. Open the project you want to use as the basis for the new project template. From the project list on the left side, click the project souvlaki menu and select the option Save as template.
From the project souvlaki menu:
You can also set a project as a template from the project page souvlaki menu:
From the grid view
When displaying your projects in a grid fashion, you can also save a project as a template from the project souvlaki menu:
Clicking Save as Template, will open a pop-up on your screen which will ask you for the template name, description, members, category and all the other parameters that can be set for a project. All the project detail can be changed or, if needed, these details may be changed or updated at a later time from the Template Center.
Once you have all fields filled and selections made, click Save.
After clicking Save you will see the project template appear in the Template Center under its category, if you defiend one.
Any changes you make on this template from the Template Center will not impact the "Host" project - you are only making changes to your template.
How to use a project template
Project templates allow you to create projects that are fully configured with task lists, tasks, members, etc., in a faster and easier way.
From the Template Center
Selecting a project template from the Template Center is really easy; simply locate the template you wish to use and click the Use this template link from the right side to create a new project based on this template.
From the create project popup
You can also base your project on an existing template when creating a new project.
From the Create New Project screen, click the drop-down list and select an existing template to base your project on. You will notice that Nutcache offers 2 templates (Regular or Scrum) for you to use.
How to modify/delete a project template
To modify, or delete, a project template, access the Template center and locate the template you wish to modify/delete. Then, click the souvlaki menu from the right side of the template and select the appropriate option.
2. How to convert a task list into a template
Just like a project, it is possible to convert a task list included in a project into a template. This is another way to speed up the creation of a project.
From the task list souvlaki menu
To convert a task list into a template, start with an existing project. Open the project that include a task list you want to use a template. From the task list souvlaki menu on the right side, select the option Save Task List as template.
Clicking Save Task List as template, will open a pop-up on your screen which will ask you for the template name, description, and all the other parameters that can be set for a task list. All the task list detail can also be changed or updated at a later time from the Template Center.
How to use a task list template
A task list template allows you to speed up the creation of a project by adding a predefined workflow with tasks already defined.
From the Template Center
Selecting a task list template from the Template Center is really easy; simply locate the template you wish to use and click the Use this template link. From the pop-up screen that will open, select the project where you want to use this task list template.
How to modify/delete a task list template
To modify, or delete, a task list template, access the Template center and locate the template you wish to modify/delete. Then, click the souvlaki menu from the right side of the template and select the appropriate option.
3. How to convert a checklist into a template
Just like for a project and a task list, it is possible to convert a checklist included on a task into a template.
To convert a checklist into a template, start with an existing task. Open the task and create a checklist or use an existing checklist that you want to use a template. From the checklist souvlaki menu on the right side, select the option Save as template.
A pop-up screen will prompt you to enter a name and description for the new checklist template, but you will also need to specify who will have access to it.
How to use a checklist template
From the task
After creating a checklist template, you can select it directly from a task by clicking the Apply template link:
From the Template Center
Selecting a checklist template from the Template Center is really easy; simply locate the template you need and click the Use this template link.
A pop-up screen will prompt you to specify the project, the task list and the task where you want to use the checklist template:
How to modify/delete a checklist template
As for the other templates, access the Template center and locate the template you wish to modify/delete. Then, click the souvlaki menu from the right side of the template and select the appropriate option.
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4. How to convert and use a workflow template
Converting a workflow into a template is just as easy as for other templates and the procedure is similar. To use the template, simply:
1. Select the project in which you want to use this workflow
2. Select the appropriate task list
3. Select a status organization method
a) Group all tasks into a single status
b) Map statuses individually
4. Once you have completed the configuration, click on Save. The project will automatically open with your new workflow.
How to modify/delete a workflow template
The procedure for modifying or deleting a workflow template is the same as for other templates.
IMPORTANT NOTE -- Deleting a template will remove it permanently from the Template Center, but will not delete any information in projects where the template is used.
Creating project templates for common and repetitive workflows allows to save time on future project setup and ensure that everyone is following the right process.