Roadmap for Creating a New Proposal

You might find it helpful to use this roadmap and a guide for creating a new proposal.

Step	Procedure	Related Information
Create the Proposal
1	Create a new proposal. Open the Proposals application and click +New Proposal.	Create a Proposal
2	On the New Proposal dialog: Select a template if using one. Enter the general proposal properties: Name (required), Number, Associated Project, and Due Date.	New Proposal Dialog Box
3	Click Continue to save the proposal and launch the Proposal Builder. The Proposal Builder opens with two pages if you didn't select a template, a cover page and a blank second page. The cover page displays listing the Name of the proposal and Prepared for [client name] below it. The second page is blank. Otherwise, it will contain all of the pages from the template.	Navigate the Proposal Builder
Define Proposal Properties
4	Define properties for the proposal. These apply as the proposal's default settings, including the title of the proposal.	Define the Proposal Properties
5	Define document properties for the proposal. These are the default properties for page orientation and margins.	Define Document Properties
Add Hub Records to the Proposal
6	Add hub records to the proposal. Drag the Record Vantagepoint element onto the proposal to display the Add Record dialog box: Select the hub from which you want to add the records. Choose a record from the selected hub to add to the proposal. You can do this by typing part of the name and selecting from the drop-down. Some common fields are available to add to the record. Select these fields if desired. You can add more fields at a later time. Specify the number of images you want to add to each record within the proposal. You can add more images later if desired. Click Add to add the records to the proposal. Vantagepoint inserts each record into the proposal. You are in record layout mode where any changes that you make affect all records. After finalizing the records, you will have the opportunity to make changes to individual records.	Insert a Hub Record
7	Select the specific field information that you want to include for the record: Select an existing text box or drag a new one to the desired location on the record. Double-click on the text box to open the Edit Text dialog box. Click Insert Fields to open the Insert Fields dialog box. Use the search in the Select Fields to Add column to enter the name, or part of the name, of the field that you want to add. Vantagepoint displays fields that match the search criteria. Click the checkbox by each field that you want to add. Click the right arrow to add them to the Selected fields for this proposal. Vantagepoint inserts placeholders for each field in the proposal. These fields are populated with data when you merge and finalize the proposal.	Insert Field Information into a Proposal Insert Fields Dialog Box Edit Text Dialog Box
8	Some fields have options for formatting or filtering the data. For example, the Education grid in an employee record displays a drop-down that allows you to include only rows that have the Include in Proposals checkbox selected. If you select a column that is a number, currency, or date, you can specify the format for that column. Click the link to open the Format Number, Format Date/Time, and Format Currency dialog boxes.	Format Currency Dialog Box Format Date/Time Dialog Box Format Number Dialog Box
9	Use the Manage Records dialog box to add or remove records on the proposal.	Add or Remove Records on a Proposal
Add Elements to the Proposal
10	Use the Proposal Builder to insert additional elements on the proposal. For example, text, images, and so on.	Work with Proposal Elements
11	Add section breaks to the proposal.	Insert Section Breaks Define Section Properties
12	Add pages to the proposal and format as needed.	Add Pages to a Proposal Define Page Properties
Save Records as Draft or Finalize Records
13	Save the record layout as a draft for editing later. This allows you to continue editing the record layout and make quick updates at one time instead of having to make changes to each individual record. It is helpful to keep the proposal in draft mode until you need to edit each record individually or until you are ready to merge and publish. Note that once records are finalized, they are no longer updated with changes from the hub. If a proposal will be used as a template it is recommended to leave the records as drafts.	Save Record Layout as Draft
14	Merge and finalize the layout of the records. This separates the records from being a group and disconnects the proposal information from the hub so that it is no longer updated with changes from the hub record. It allows you to edit each record individually for this proposal without affecting the record in the hub.	Merge and Finalize Records
Create a Proposal Template
15	You can save this proposal as a template and then reuse it within new data. Templates can be reused to create multiple proposals. To create a template from this proposal, click Other Actions > Save Proposal as Template. Note that records should be left as drafts if you would like up-to- date information in new proposals when this template is used. See Edit Record Layout Options for more information.	Save a Proposal as a Template
16	Export to PDF and send to clients.	Export to PDF