Creating and Managing Job Plan Templates

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The Job Planner is a Project Management tool. It allows you to create Projects for Job Plans that include tasks that office and tech users can be assigned to. Each user can track and record their progress within each task. Tasks can also be given start/end dates, checklists, set duration, made dependent on each other, and many other features.

For many job plan projects, you will likely have the same or similar tasks required. The ability to create Job Plan Templates allows you to create Job Plans with similar tasks more quickly. This article will walk you through creating a Job Plan Template.

Creating a Job Plan Template

Creating a Job Plan Template has many steps, so we have broken this step-by-step into three separate steps:

• Step 1: Create and Name a Job Plan Template
• Step 2: Creating a Task List
• Step 3: Creating Task Dependencies with Gantt View

Step 1: Create and Name a Job Plan Template

1. On the Navigation Bar, click Job Planner.
2. At the top of the Job Planner Page, click the Templates tab. This will take you to a list of all of your existing Job Plan Templates.
3. Click the + New button on the top right.
   
4. Enter a Template Name.
5. Select a Project Type from the drop-down menu.
   • Note: If you are an Admin, you can create additional project types in System Settings > Job Planner > Project Types.
6. Make sure the Status is marked as Active.
7. Click the Save button.
   

Step 2: Creating a Task List

1. Once you have created a Job Plan Template, you will be taken to the List View. Here, you can add tasks to your template.
2. Click the + New Task button to create a new task.
   
3. In the field, you can now Enter a new task name for this specific task. Then click out of the field to save.
   
4. Once you have entered a name, it will create a new task. When the specific task is selected, you will see a menu to the right where you can edit the task name, assign a user, set a priority level, set a start/end date, task duration, and create a task checklist. The following is optional because all you need is a task name. We will cover all of these optional steps below.
   • Note: If you need to delete a task, click the three-dot icon on the top of the Task Menu and click delete.
     
5. *Optional: You can assign a user(s) to a task. Click the Assign User button. Check to select all relevant users. Click Apply.
   • Note: This is useful when making a template when you know the same user(s) will be assigned to this task across all projects. If not, we recommend leaving this blank so you can assign user(s) at the individual project level.
     
6. *Optional: You can assign a Priority Level to a task. Click the Priority drop-down. Check to select the relevant Priority Level.
   • Note: This is useful when making a template when you know the same priority level will be assigned to this task across all projects. If not, we recommend leaving this blank so you can assign priority levels at the individual project level.
     
7. *Optional: Enter a Start Date and End Date.
   • Note: You have to enter dates regardless of whether or not you have a set date you want this task to occur. You can change this at the project level.
8. *Optional: Duration in days will be auto-filled when you set a start and end date. Adjusting this number will change the End Date.
9. *Optional: Click the + Checklist button to add a checklist item for this task. Enter a new item and hit enter. Repeat as many times as necessary. You can drag and drop to move the checklist order. You can click the x button to the right to remove a checklist item.
   
10. Repeat Steps 2-9 for all the tasks you want to add to this template.
11. Each time you add and edit a task, it will be saved to the template.

Step 3: Creating Task Dependencies with Gantt View

A Gantt view displays a project schedule in a bar chart format, showing tasks, milestones, resources, and progress over time in an easy-to-read and understandable way. It is commonly used for project planning and management.

You can also build your task list from this view, but one major feature that can only be accessed from Gantt View is the ability to create task dependencies. A task dependency creates a blocker that doesn't allow users to start work on a certain task until they have completed another task.

The video below will show users how to create dependencies and use Gantt View.

Managing Job Plan Templates

On the Job Planner Templates page, you can easily search for, edit, copy, and delete Job Plan Templates.

Finding and Editing Job Plan Templates

1. On the Navigation Bar, click Job Planner.
2. Click the Templates tab.
3. You can search for templates based on Template Name and Project Type.
   
4. You can select the relevant Template from the list below.

Copying Job Plan Templates

You can copy Job Plan Templates from existing Templates or Projects.

1. On the Navigation Bar, click Job Planner.
2. Click the Templates tab.
3. Click the Copy button on the top right.
4. Click to select either Template or Project from the Copy From options. This will allow you to copy an existing Job Plan Template or a Job Plan you created for a specific Project.
5. Select either the template or project from the Select Template drop-down.
6. Enter a New Template Name.
   
7. Click Copy.
8. Click the copy of the template on the Job Planner Templates Menu, and make any changes you want.

Deleting Job Plan Templates

1. On the Navigation Bar, click Job Planner.
2. Click the Templates tab.
3. Select the relevant template from the Template List.
4. Click the Template Setup Info tab.
5. Click the Delete button.
   
6. Click OK.