Entering Project Templates

This supporting function is used to create project templates, which can be used to:

  • Facilitate project entry
  • Facilitate making projects more uniform
  • Save and document information for future projects.

Before you start

Entering project templates can be done when the following prerequisites are met:

  • A project order type with settings set for a project template has been entered.
  • Project elements have been entered.

Follow these steps

The section below describes the activities in this process.

  1. Creating Project Template

    Project templates can be entered manually using project elements or copied from another project template.

    The project template ID is set either manually or automatically. The parameters set in the project order type for the project template regulate the ID when it is set automatically.

    • Project Elements

      First, one project element is entered as the main project element to function as the highest level in the project template. A project structure is then created by copying:

      • Single project elements
      • Project templates
      • Subtemplates
      • Projects
      • Project quotations.

      The resulting project template can be used when entering projects or project quotations.

      Project templates can contain connecting elements that connect subtemplates to the structure. Each subtemplate can have its own structure. For more information, refer to Entering sub-templates. Projects created from a project template then contain the elements from the subtemplate instead of the connecting element.

    • Copy Project Templates

      Another project template can be copied as a base structure and functionality. The new template can then be changed to meet different requirements.

  2. Project Template Functionality

    The project template is used to enter and save information which the project manager uses when running the project. This can be used for:

    • Project Start Level

      The project start level must be specified when a project is opened. See Creating Projects.

    • Project/Quotation Elements

      Each element in the project template is set for use in a project or project quotation. During quotation entry, the elements defaulted are only those set for quotation in the template. The same applies to creating projects.

    • Budgets

      The project template also contains elements set for the project budget. A budget template can then be connected to these elements. Budget templates contain the budget items in the project for budgeting.

    • Costing

      The elements that are costed are also set in the project template. A costing template can be connected to each of these elements. The costing template contains the costing items that are costed in the quotation.

    • Material Template

      Material templates contain the material and products to be acquired for the project. Material templates can be connected to the following element types in a project template:

      • Purchasing
      • Manufacturing
      • Requisition/distribution
      • Customer order.
    • Project Information

      The elements for project information are also set in the project template. An information structure can be connected to each such element. These are entered in ‘Project Info Structure. Open’ (POS070).

    • Checklists

      A checklist can be connected to each element in the project template, in the activity checklist in Detailed Activity Planning.

    • Invoicing

      The activities or subprojects to be invoiced (on account) or the parts of the project structure that are included in a fixed project price can be set in the project template. For on account invoicing, you specify whether invoicing is done in Project Management or in Time Accounting.

    • Project Scheduling

      The activities or subprojects that are scheduled are set in the project template. Relative start and finish days and manufacturing lead times in workdays can also be set.

      To schedule elements in a subtemplate, connecting elements in the project template are marked for scheduling.

    • Time Accounting

      Activities can also be set for time reporting using Time Accounting.

    • M3 Mailbox

      The messages generated to the M3 mailbox when events occur can also be set in the project template.