Creating Projects

When first browsing the projects module, you are presented with the projects dashboard. This is also the place from where it is possible to add a new project. Creating a project can be achieved by clicking “Add project“. After clicking here, we are presented with the “Create new project“ -modal. This modal initially asks for 3 pieces of information:

Name

Project name:

The name of the new project. While entering the name, DOQMIND checks if the name entered is already in use. This check is here to prevent projects with duplicate names, as this is not allowed in DOQMIND. As the check is being performed live while typing, it might be possible that you receive a pop-up indicating a duplicate has been found. Simply continue typing the name, adding more unique parts to the name.

Startdate

Start project on:

The startdate of the project is set to the next business day by default. This allows the project creator 1 day of margin before the project starts off with its first task. This way, changes can be made after creating project, but before starting it. After the project is created and potential changes are made, the project can still be started the same day by simply dragging the first task to the current date.

If no changes are necessary, the current date can also be selected, which automatically kicks off the first task upon project creation.

Deadline

It is possible to specify a deadline for the project in the Deadline field. If it is not specified, DOQMIND will use a calculated due date based on the start date and the tasks defined in the template. The deadline date is shown in the GANTT chart and if present is used to indicate whether or not the project is overdue. When the project goes overdue, a mail notification to the project manager gets send to inform them of this so the appropriate actions can be taken. Only people with the ‘Set project deadlines’ right enabled can set a deadline.

Metadata form

Select metadata form:

A selection of forms eligible for metadata usage are available for selection here. Here, information can be provided through a form prior to starting the project. If this information needs to be supplied by somebody other than the project creator, a project can contain a fill form action configured to use a metadata form, to provide this functionality of entering information.

An important mechanism in this feature is the ability to select a template upon project creation. This means that the gantt-chart will not be empty upon project creation, rather will it have the tasks and task structure from the template. The dates will be changed to be in-line with the startdate selected, also as other variables are filled. Project manager chosen as an actor will be filled in as well, for example.

For more information on how configure template selection, please check How-to: configure template selection at project creation