Costpoint Online Help

FAQs

This section contains FAQs about project templates.

What is the Difference between Entering a Project in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates Screen and Entering a Project in the Manage Project User Flow Screen?

New projects are normally set up on the Manage Project User Flow screen.

However, if you would like more flexibility and control of the project setup data entry (such as requiring a project approval step, requiring entry in certain fields, and controlling which users can make entries in specific fields), use the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen.

Projects that are set up through the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen are approved and then imported into the permanent Costpoint project database to become available on the Manage Project User Flow screen where you continue to enter other project information.

You import quick projects into Manage Project User Flow screen on the Import Project Master Data from Templates screen.

After importing, you must run the Update Project Contract and Funded Values and Update Project Period of Performance toolkits. These toolkits update contract and funding values and period of performance dates at each project level in the Project Master.

Entering a project in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates application is optional.

What Setup Must I Complete before using the Manage Project Master Data from Templates Screen?

Required:

On the Manage Project Approver Settings screen, you set up users who can approve quick projects. Users cannot approve a quick project until they have been added as an approver here.

You must set up at least one user who is an approver.

Optional:

  • On the Configure Project Settings screen, you can enter a project account group and owning organization that default when you set up quick projects.
  • If you want to use quick project templates in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates application, you must turn on the template feature by selecting the Use Quick Project Templates check box on the Projects tab of the Configure Project Settings screen.
  • If you selected the Use Quick Project Templates check box on the Projects tab of the Configure Project Settings screen, enter templates on the Manage Project Templates screen.
  • If you use quick project templates and you want project account groups to default in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen based on the project type entered, set up mapping on the Manage Project Account Group Mappings screen. Then when you set up a quick project template, select Account Group Mapping in the Account Group Default Source field on the Basic Info tab.
  • If you use quick project templates and you want an owning organization to default in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen based on the project manager entered, set up the mapping on the Manage Project Organization Mappings screen. Then when you create a quick project template, select Organization Mapping in the Owning Organization Default Source field on the Basic Info tab.
  • If you use roles to determine the user required to complete the entry of a specific field, the user must be set up on the Manage Workflow Roles screen.

Why Should I Use Quick Project Templates?

Using quick project templates is optional.

Use quick project templates if you want more control over the data entry when a project is entered in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen. Templates enable you to specify the following for the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen:

  • Fields that require data entry.
  • The default value for a field.
  • The user role required to make an entry in a field.
  • Whether the Manage Project Organization Mappings feature is used.
  • Whether the Manage Project Account Group Mappings screen is used.

You can create multiple quick project templates to use for different types of projects, project managers, or departments.

What Are the Steps for Entering Quick Projects?

  • Optional: Use the Create Projects from Templates screen to build all levels of a new project. After you generate a quick project and its levels, you can open it in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen to enter project information and approve it.
  • Enter a project in the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen. Complete the fields on each tab.
  • Approve the quick project in either the Manage Project Master Data from Templates screen or the Approve Projects from Templates screen.
  • Import the quick project on the Import Project Master Data from Templates screen. The import process creates any higher level of the project not yet created. It removes the project information from the Manage Project Master Data from Templates application and makes it available on the Manage Project User Flow application.
  • In the Costpoint client/server version, run the Update Project Contract and Funded Values and Update Project Period of Performance toolkits. These update contract and funding values and period of performance dates at each project level in the Project Master.