Project Templates
A project template is a saved, reusable starting point for a project. Instead of filling in the same details every time you begin a similar piece of work — a recurring client engagement, a repeatable internal process — you set those details once in a template and start new projects from it.
When you add a project, PMSuite gives you two options: create the project from scratch, or start it from a project template.
Who can use it
Users whose role grants project creation and management rights in the Projects module. If you cannot see the option to start a project from a template, ask your company admin to check your role under Settings → Roles & Permissions. After a permission change, log out and back in — permission changes do not always apply to an already-active session.
Prerequisites
- You are signed in to your PMSuite account.
- Your role allows you to create projects.
- At least one project template exists in your company account, if you want to start a project from one.
How to Access
- Projects list:
/account/projects - Add Project:
/account/projects/create(also available from the quick-create menu as Add Project)
Project templates are used from the project creation flow: on Add Project, choose to start from a Project Template rather than from a blank project.
Fields in a project template
A project template captures the following fields:
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Project Name | The name carried into the new project. Edit it after creation so each project is identifiable. |
| Category | The project category applied to projects created from this template. |
| Sub Category | A further breakdown under the chosen category. |
| Allow manual time logs | Toggle controlling whether members can enter time logs manually on the project. |
| Project Summary | Descriptive text carried into the project. |
| Notes | Internal notes carried into the project. |
Creating a project from a template
- Go to Projects (
/account/projects) and choose Add Project (/account/projects/create). - Choose to start from a Project Template instead of a blank project.
- Select the template you want to use.
- Review the pre-filled fields — Project Name, Category, Sub Category, the Allow manual time logs toggle, Project Summary and Notes — and change any of them for this specific project.
- Complete the remaining project fields that are specific to this piece of work, such as Short Code, Start Date, Deadline, Department, Client, Label, Currency, Project Budget, Hours Estimate and Add Project Members.
- Save the project.
Effect on other features
- Projects: A project created from a template behaves exactly like any other project — it appears in the projects list, has the same status values (In Progress, Not Started, On Hold, Cancelled, Finished, Closed) and the same set of tabs (Overview, Files, Milestones, Tasks, Task Board, Gantt Chart, Invoices, Estimates, Orders, Timesheet, Expenses, Payments, Discussion, Notes, Rating, Burndown Chart, Activity, Tickets).
- Time logs: The Allow manual time logs setting carried in from the template determines whether members can add time entries by hand on that project, which affects what appears in Timesheet/Timelogs (
/account/timelogs). - Categories: The Category and Sub Category values applied by the template are what project filters and reporting group on, so consistent template use keeps reporting consistent.
Limitations
- A template covers project-level fields only — Project Name, Category, Sub Category, Allow manual time logs, Project Summary and Notes. It does not carry dates, client, budget, members or work items. Workaround: after creating the project from the template, add its milestones and tasks in the project's Milestones and Tasks tabs, and set members, dates and budget on the project itself. If you want a copy of an existing project rather than a blank shell, duplicate that project instead.
- Project Name comes in pre-filled from the template, so several projects started from the same template can end up with the same name. Workaround: rename the project during creation, and use the Short Code and Client fields to keep projects distinguishable in the list.
- Changing a template later does not update projects already created from it. Workaround: apply the change manually to any in-flight project that needs it, or recreate the project from the updated template if work has not yet started.
Troubleshooting
- No template option appears on Add Project. No project template has been set up in your company account yet, or your role does not permit project management. Create a template first, or ask your company admin to check your role permissions.
- The template's Category or Sub Category is missing from the new project. The category or sub category may have been renamed or removed since the template was made. Re-select the correct values on the project form and update the template so later projects pick up the current values.
- Members cannot log time manually on the new project. The Allow manual time logs toggle came in from the template set to off. Open the project and turn it on.
- The project fields did not pre-fill. Confirm you selected the template on the Add Project form. Reload
/account/projects/createand select the template before filling in the remaining fields.