The Project Management Framework lets you build project and task group templates that you can use to default project trees into SmartBPM projects or task groups.

The Project Management Framework lets you build project and task group templates that you can use to default project trees into SmartBPM projects or task groups. The tree structure is a drill-down project model that can incorporates best practices and repeatable project task groups and tasks supported by your organization's methodology, as a starting point to ensure project consistency and promote reusability.

Note: Scrum projects do not use project templates.

In addition to building templates, you also can edit, retire, copy, or cancel them. The framework is installed with a sample template named PRPC BPM Project Template that you can copy or you can create your own.

Below is an example of a project tree structure in a template and the resulting project tree that defaults when that template is used to create a new project.

Template tree structure

Resulting tree in project

This article includes the following topics:

Building a Template

Editing a Template

Retiring a Template

Copying a Template

Canceling a Template

Other SmartBPM Project Articles

Building a Template

Use this template option when you want to build a template from scratch.

1. 1. From the Actions menu, .

A blank template form displays with an ID in the format, T-nnn-ssss, where:

• T indicates a template
• nnn is a sequential number assigned to the template
• sss is the name of the server on which the template was created; this allows you to save and export templates for reuse by other PMF implementations

1. Choose whether this is a template for a Project or a Task Group.
2. Enter a Template Name.
3. Click Import to import project and task group information from a Microsoft Project 2003 or 2007 compatible XML file.
4. Add task groups and tasks to the tree:

• Click Add Sibling and Add Sub Itemto add rows and enter task groups and tasks in a pop-up window.
• Click Delete to delete a row.
• Click Refresh to refresh the tree.
• Alternatively, right-click a row to add siblings, add sub items, convert a task to a task group, or delete a row.
• Use the Display to Level field to set the depth of the tree display.

• Click Submitto confirm the template and select the next action.
• Click Submit again to save a completed template, set its status to Open-Available, and make it available for selection when a project is created.
  • Click X to close and save an incomplete template as-is for additional editing at a later time. The status is set to Open-Construction.
  • Select the Return to Build action to reopen it for editing.
  • Select the Cancel action to cancel the template and remove it from the list of templates.

Editing a Template

Use this option to update a template.

1. From the Actions menu, select .
2. Select a template and click to display.
3. In the Assigned To section of the Details tab, select Return to Build Mode.

   

4. From an available template

   

5. From a template under construction

6. Click Submit to edit the tree. The status of the template changes to Open-Construction preventing use of the template during editing.
7. Click Submitto confirm the template and select the next action.
   • Click Submit again to save a completed template, set its status to Open-Available, and make it available for selection when a project is created.
   • Click X to close and save an incomplete template as-is for additional editing at a later time. The status is set to Open-Construction.

Retiring a Template

Use this option when you no longer want to use a template and do not want it available to users when they create a project. You cannot retire a template that is under construction.

1. 1. From the Actions menu, select .
   2. Select a template with a status of Open-Available and click to display.
   3. In the Assigned To section of the Details tab, select Retire Template.

1. 1. Enter the reason for retiring the template.

1. Click Submit. The template status changes to Resolved-Retired. It is no longer available for use and no longer appears on the template list.

Copying a Template

Use this option to copy the content from a template into a new template.

1. From the Actions menu, select .
2. Select a template and click to display.
3. Click at the top of the form to copy the template. The template is assigned a new ID.
4. Enter a new name for the template.
5. Add, remove, and edit the project task groups and tasks.
6. Click Submitto confirm the template and select the next action.
   • Click Submit again to save a completed template, set its status to Open-Available, and make it available for selection when a project is created.
   • Click X to close and save an incomplete template as-is for additional editing at a later time. The status is set to Open-Construction.
   • Select the Return to Build action to reopen it for editing.
   • Select the Cancel action to withdraw the template and remove it from the list of templates.

Canceling a Template

Use this option to cancel templates that are under construction.

1. 1. From the Actions menu, select .
   2. Select a template and click to display.
   3. In the Assigned to section of the Details tab , select Cancel Template.

1. Click Submit. The status changes to Resolved-Canceled and the template no longer appears on the list of open templates.

This article links to following articles about working with SmartBPM projects in the PMF 6.1.1 release.

Creating SmartBPM Projects

Creating SmartBPM Project Task Groups and Tasks

Return to About the Project Management Framework to access all PMF articles.