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Project templates

Project templates are reusable starting points for recurring work. A template belongs to one space. When you create a project from a template, Operately copies its structure, including milestones, tasks, people, discussions, and Docs & Files, into a new independent project. Dates in a template are relative to the new project’s start date.

How to get there#

Open a space and select the Templates tool. If you don’t see it, a space admin needs to enable Templates.

Create a blank template#

You need Edit Access on the space to create or change templates.

  1. Open the Templates tool. Operately opens the space’s Project Templates page.
  2. Click New template.
  3. Enter a Template name, then click Create template.

Edit a template#

Open a template to use it like a project shell. Tabs:

  • Overview — name, description, Project duration, milestones, Champion, Reviewer, and Contributors
  • Tasks — list or board, relative due dates, assignees, and workflow
  • Discussions
  • Docs & Files

Relative dates use labels such as On the project start date and N days after project starts.

Duplicate, archive, restore, or delete#

On a library card menu or the template Actions menu:

  • Duplicate — opens Duplicate project template. Default name is Copy of [name]. Submit with Duplicate template.
  • Archive — removes the template from project creation. You can restore it later.
  • Restore — returns an archived template to active use.
  • Delete — permanently removes the template. Existing projects created from it stay unchanged.

Archived templates do not show Create project. Filter the library to Archived to find them.

Create a project from a template#

You can start a project from a template in a few places:

  • On a library card, click Create project
  • On Create a project, choose a Template and a Project start date, then click Add Project
  • From a Work Map Add project dialog, after you choose a Space

To turn an existing project into a template, see Save a project as a template.

When to use this#

  • Recurring launches, onboarding, or hiring plans that should start with the same milestones and tasks
  • Copying a well-run project’s structure without copying its health, check-ins, or activity

Turn the Templates tool on or off in Space tools.