User Manual - Project Templates

From DotProjectWiki

Jump to: navigation, search

PROJECT MANUAL LINKS

Project Templates is the ability to either:

create template projects of tasks for re-use

the ability to copy / import / export tasks around projects.

1 Importing Tasks via Project Edit Screen
2 Exporting Tasks via Task Edit Screen
3 Organize Tasks
4 Outstanding Tasks for this Page
5 Return to...
6 Footnotes

[edit]

1 Importing Tasks via Project Edit Screen

Importing tasks allows you to copy (or move in some cases) task from one project to another. You can do this from the Project Add / Edit Screen, from View Project Detail Screen > Organize Tasks and in a very limited way from the Task Add/Edit screen as well.

We purposely did not carry user assignments and dates forward when copying tasks between projects. As of 3.x the list of options will be expanded to allow optional carrying forward of resources, forums, attached files etc.

Dates are imported as is across from the previous project. As a result of that they are imported in relation to the start date of the project. If the tasks imported had start dates, for example, 5 days from the start date of the original project, then they will be imported into the new project 5 days from its intended starting date. Again, dates are imported as an accident of history more than anything else and ideally we're considering changing this so that no dates are imported, on the basis again, that the automatic generation of dates on import has the potential for a project to be incorrectly scheduled. Durations on the other hand are imported working on the assumption that if you have a template of tasks then the chances are that the durations can be carried forward, ideally these should be reconsidered at the same time as the dates are recalculated.

Importing tasks from the main project Add / Edit screen allows you to select a project from which all tasks will be copied into your current project automatically as the project header is saved.

To do this all you need to do is select the source project from the drop-down list. Once you save the project, the tasks will be copied in automatically. You can also repeat this option if you want to call in more sets of the same tasks by editing the project and selecting a source project before saving the original project again.

[edit]

2 Exporting Tasks via Task Edit Screen

Moving a task from within the task module is actually a very simple operation and whilst technically it is part of the Task Edit function, we will include it here in the manual to keep all like functions in the one place and therefore easier to find.

When you edit a task you will notice that there is a move option at the bottom of the main Default tab.

If you select the destination project for this task from the drop-down, the task (and any associated child tasks) will be immediately moved to that new project as soon as you complete the action.

[edit]

3 Organize Tasks

The organize tasks option is available from View Project Details > Organize Tasks. This facility has been designed as a type of "task clipboard" - designed as a management location for controlling tasks from within one particular project at a time.

The display shows a list of all the tasks that are associated with your current project. We have purposely not included the collapsible view options as the assumption is that you are considering all tasks within the project. The pertinent options within the clipboard are:

Select Boxes

To the right hand side of each task name, select boxes are used for you to mark which tasks you then wish to perform the selected “Action” on.

Actions

The action box at the bottom of the screen provides you with a range of options to perform. This currently includes:

Delete - to remove the marked tasks;
Mark as Finished - sets the % complete of the marked tasks to 100;
set priority sets the priority of the marked tasks to high / normal or low as selected;
Move - the marked tasks to another project or parent (removing them from the original location);
Copy – the marked tasks to another project or parent (leaving a copy at the original location).

The Project box is then used to nominate the project to which tasks can be moved. This is currently limited to projects that the current user has access / permission to see and use.

The Task Box is used to nominate the task that will become the parent of all the tasks that are moved - this allows you to move a group of tasks into a parent task either in the destination project or within the current project if you require.

Once you have selected the options required the Update Selected Tasks button is used to initiate the action you have established.

[edit]