Require Users to only create new Projects from a template

[#1]

We use templates to provide our security & project standards (including milestone, approval paths, etc...). We even have a blank template (no tasks) so that if current templates don't apply, a new project still has our basic standards.

But, a user with the rights to create a project still can create a project without a template - which then does not follow our standards.

We'd like the ability to prohibit users from creating a project without using a template.

[#2]

Could also use this functionality for the same reasons as the submitter. We want people to follow process and always use a template, but some may accidentally or intentionally "cheat" by not using a template.

[#3]

I ran into a huge need for this. I want my Brand team to be able to create projects for themselves when things are still in the planning phase but not to make projects for anyone else, those should be submitted as a request. Unfortunately in Workfront you cannot say create projects but only in this scenario so my users are going rogue. I also don't want to turn off the make assignments capability since they should be able to assign themselves and teammates to things.

[#4]

@marie (or anyone from Workfront) -- is there any update on planning status for this idea? Huge need and seems so basic!

[#5]

This feature seems like a must with a tool as flexible and customizable as Workfront.

We NEED to be able to discourage (restrict) bad practices through the design of the system.

Seconding another user's note: For simplifying the training and again, restricting users from bad practices, we should be able to filter templates that are used to Create Projects and templates that are used by attaching to existing projects. We currently have a naming convention to try to guide our users, but that still requires them to follow the recommendation.

This would be extremely useful for our Workflow - would solve a lot of our issues with the implementation process.

[#6]

This seems like a popular request among Workfront customers. I understand that from Workfront's perspective, they don't want the product to limit user's ability to open projects, if their license allows it. By forcing a user to select a template, that could potentially discourage users from opening projects (because no appropriate template exists for their project).

I would propose a compromise: allow system admins to set a "default project template" at either the system (or for bonus points, Home Group) level. When a user clicks the + New Project button and does not select a template, the system will attach the default template that's been designated in the Setup console.

This should satisfy customer's valid need to ensure key forms / sharing / project settings etc. are set on every project in their instance, even when the user has circumvented the template selection step. For customers that don't have that requirement, they can choose not to have a default project template.

[#7]

@William English

I'm not sure why we need the compromise…if process dictates a template be chosen, it should be chosen. If there are multiple templates, there is no "default" because the templates are very specific to a project type. No, we need the option as-stated—a template must be chosen, and the ability to go around that disabled (optionally, of course, as an admin setting).

(There is no "discouraging users from opening" a project in WF in our environment…it's the mandatory tool of record and required for work and expense tracking. Granted, many don't like it as well as our previous tool…)

Though your idea is a good one, I suggest it would be an additional nuance to the feature for some deployments where "without template" still sets up some minimalistic template without the user realizing it.

I also like the idea that any of this could be further nuanced by user/group/team: based on any of these, can certain users/groups/teams have different options of the behavior (or lack of) New Project (without template).

[#8]

Agree, no 'compromise' needed on this one -- we just need to be able to have the option to set this as a requirement. It's a critical Governance gap right now. We should be able to set 'Require projects to be created from a template' at the System and Group level (nice to have would be to be able to specify a default template at the Portfolio and Program levels as well.)

[#9]

I'm wondering what it takes to make this happen. The last status update was April 2019. I'm thinking of maybe doing some kind of automation that checks for the templateID field to be not null before allowing the creation of a project. This may get around workfront's shortcoming in this area.

[#10]

Hello, Fidelity International would highly appreciate if this is catered to soon. Our Planners end up creating incorrect data because of this feature being available.

[#11]

Hello, Fidelity International would highly appreciate if this is catered to soon. Our Planners end up creating incorrect data because of this feature being available.