"Template Picker" Brain Picker

[Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStore]

Hi Folks,

We're working on a new Template Picker solution that would allow end users to fill in certain custom data on a Request (or Issue) that -- upon conversion to a Project (or Task) -- will then compare the selected custom data against a set of Workfront SysAdmin maintained Template Rules and automatically the Template(s) that match the rule, thereby "pulling in" the right Tasks and Custom Forms, etc. given the entered data.

Our initial version has been in use for several years, and as we put the final touches on the final generic release so (to confirm our assumptions), may I invite you to leave a comment here about how you could imagine using such a feature in your Workfront Instance (and/or would "want" it to work)?

Regards,

Doug

[skyehansen]

One of the struggles I've seen in other instances is the struggle of tracking the time it takes to move through a deliverables-based process. i.e. if I say that I want 2 of something, then it should take twice as long... or to generalize, if I select something on the custom form, I would like to have some way to stretch out the timeline and/or planned hours by some predetermined, specific-and-yet-arbitrary multiplier. I think most instances have agreed that just because you can select up to 8 of something doesn't mean we're going to maintain 8 different templates with 8 different sets of time... but then the struggle of having to input time for any combination of selections seems defeating to say the least.

[Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStore]

Oooh...that's a cool idea @skyehansen,

What if, in addition to having the Custom Data logic "figure out" what Template(s) to add to the Request (or Issue), the Template Picker also considered "Timeline Multiplier" calculated parameter the SysAdmin owns that would also:

• read the custom data (e.g. if the user set the Item Count to 8 rather than the default of 1),
• calculate the Timeline Multiplier with a formula such as IF({DE:Item Count}=1,1,IF({DE:Item Count}=2,1.5,IF({DE:Item Count}=3,2,{DE:Item Count}/2))), then
• automagically lengthen the duration of all Tasks in the Template(s) by that Timeline Multiplier (assuming, for best results, Tasks are all ASAP, planned from start date, and have the usual Finish-to-Start predecessor type relationships)?

Regards,

Doug