Create projects

When you start a new project, you must create a project card with integrated project tasks and project planning lines, structured in two layers.

The first layer consists of project tasks. You must create at least one project task per project because all posting refers to a project task. Having at least one project task in your project enables you to set up project planning lines and to post consumption to the project.

The second layer consists of project planning lines, which specify the detailed use of resources, items and various general ledger expenses.

The layer structure enables you to divide the project into smaller tasks, and therefore use more specific details in budgeting, quotes, and registration. In addition, it gives you insight into how a project is progressing. For example, you can track whether you're meeting designated milestones or if you're on target to meet budget expectations.

Tip

Tip:
Choose the New Project action on the Project Manager Role Center to launch an assisted setup guide that takes you through the steps of creating a project with integrated tasks and planning lines. The following procedure describes how to perform the steps manually.

To create a project card

You create a project card and then create project task lines and project planning lines for it.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Projects, and then choose the related link.
  2. Choose the New action, and then fill in the fields as necessary. Hover over a field to read a short description.
  3. To base the project on information from another project, choose the Copy Project action, fill in the fields as necessary, and then choose the OK button.
Note

Note:
If you're using time sheets with your project, you must also designate a person responsible. This person can approve time sheets for the employee tasks associated with the project. For more information, see Set Up Time Sheets.

Note

Note:
The Apply Usage Link toggle indicates whether project ledger entries are linked to project planning lines. The Apply Usage Link toggle also activates warehouse handling, planning, assembly-to-order, item tracking, and reservation capabilities for a project.

Optionally, mark actions on project as blocked using the Blocked field. The following table describes the effect of the options for this field.

Option Description
Blank All actions are allowed.
Posting You can work with planning lines, but the project is blocked for posting. You can't post usage or sales for the project.
All All actions are blocked.

To create tasks for a project

A key part of creating a project is to specify the various tasks involved in the project. You specify tasks by creating one line per task on the Tasks FastTab on the Project Card page. Every project must have at least one task.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Projects, and then choose the related link.
  2. Open the project card for a relevant project.
  3. On the Tasks FastTab, fill in the fields as necessary on a new line.
  4. To indent tasks and create a hierarchy, Choose the Tasks action, the then choose Indent Project Tasks action.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all the tasks that you need for the project.
  6. To specify the project tasks with information on other project tasks, choose the Copy Project Tasks from action, fill in the fields as necessary, and then choose the OK button.

Invoice one or more customers for project tasks

Sometimes the party that is receiving a service is different from the party that'll pay the bill. Also, sometimes you might need to invoice multiple customers for tasks in the project. On the Project Card page, use the Task Billing Method field to specify whether you're billing one customer, or multiple customers.

If the customer who is receiving the service will also pay the bill, in the Bill-to and Ship-to fields, choose Default (Customer) and Default (Sell-to Address).

If you're billing multiple customers, you can specify the customer who will receive the service and the customer to invoice for each task in the project. You can also provide the following information:

  • Select the ship-to address for the customer where the work will happen.
  • Add information about external references to simplify communication about the project.
  • Overwrite the standard financial terms of the project.

Specify a default location for project items

You can save time on data entry by specifying a default location and bin for projects on the Project Card page. When you create project tasks, project planning lines, and project journal lines for the project, the default location and bin are automatically assigned. You can, however, change the location code and bin on tasks and lines if needed.

If you define a To-Project Bin Code on the location, the bin code is populated when you select the location code. If your warehouse flow requires warehouse picks, you can also define other bins from which to consume items.

These fields are the defaults when you create project tasks. Existing project tasks don't change.

There are a few things to know about using default locations:

  • For project tasks, if you define a To-Project Bin Code on the location, the bin code is assigned when you select the location code. If your warehouse flow requires warehouse picks, you can also define other bins from which to consume items.
  • For project planning lines, the Location Code is based on the value selected on the project planning line when you select an item. If a bin code isn't defined for the project task, the bin from the default bin content is selected. You can change both values manually.
  • For project journal lines, the Location Code is based on the value selected on the job journal line when you select an item. If a bin code isn't defined for the project task, the bin from default bin content is selected. You can change both values manually.

To create planning lines for a project

You can refine your new project tasks on project planning lines. A planning line can capture the information that you want to track for a project. For example, you can track the resources the project requires, or the items that are needed. For example, you have a task to get a customer to approve a project. You associate the task with planning lines for items such as meeting the customer and assigning a resource.

A project planning line can have one of the following types.

Type Description
Budget Provides estimated usage and costs for the project, typically in a time and materials type project. You can't invoice planning lines of this type.
Billable Provides estimated invoicing to the customer, typically in a fixed price project.
Both Budget and Billable Provides budgeted usage equal to what you want to invoice.
Note

Note:
While you enter information on project planning lines, cost information is automatically filled in. For example, the cost, price, and discount for resources and items are based on information from the resource and item.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Projects, and then choose the related link.
  2. Open a relevant project card.
  3. Select a project task for which the Project Task Type field contains Posting, and then choose the Project Planning Lines action.
  4. On the Project Planning Lines page, on a new line, fill in the fields as necessary.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all planning lines that you need for the project task.

See also

Project Management
Video: How to create a project in Dynamics 365 Business Central
Finance
Purchasing
Sales
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