Creating a project template

Summary: Turn a project plan into a template that new projects can start from, with Save as template in Project properties.

Applies to

Property	Value
Product	LYNX-X
Version	28.10.9830.0
Required permissions	The project's project manager, or a space admin
Last updated	2026-09-29
Owner	Support

Before you start

A template is a reusable project plan: its structure, tasks, durations, dependencies, skill or resource requirements and planning settings. New projects are created from it.
You need a project whose plan is the one you want to reuse. It can be a plan built for the purpose, or a copy of a project that worked well. You can also copy tasks from other projects into it.
Save as template turns the project itself into the template. It does not make a copy. To keep the original project as it is, copy it first, as in Copying the project first below.

Procedure

Copying the project first

Skip this if the project is meant to become the template.

In the top bar, select Portfolio. The Project list opens.
Click the project's row to select it.
Right-click the row and select Copy project.
Type an ID for the copy and select OK.
Replace the suggested name with the template's name, such as Template - Sample Project, and select OK.

The copy appears in the list as Not started, with the original's tasks, durations, dependencies and assignments.

Important

Copy project copies the selected project, not necessarily the row you right-clicked. Select the row first. The suggested name in the second step shows which project is being copied.

Saving the project as a template

On the Project list, select the project that will become the template.
On the left rail, select Properties.
At the bottom left of Project properties, select Save as template.
Select OK.

Project properties, with Save as template at the bottom left and OK at the bottom right

Save as template takes effect when you select OK. Cancel discards it. While it is on, the button is shaded.

Important

Due dates, date constraints and lags in the template become part of it. Every project created from the template gets them too. Before you save, remove or change any that should not apply to every future project.

Expected outcome

The project is now a template. It no longer appears under Show all or Not started.

To see it, select the Templates filter: the first icon to the left of Show all.

The Project list on the Templates filter, with the new template at the top

Additional information

You can still change a template. Select it under Templates, then:

select Open project to open its plan, which opens as a project tab;
select Properties to change its properties. Its status stays Not started and cannot be changed.

Turning a template back into a project

Under Templates, select the template.
On the left rail, select Properties.
Select Save as template again. The button loses its shading.
Select OK.

The project leaves Templates and is listed under Not started again, and its status can be changed.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Resolution
The copy has another project's plan.	Copy project copied the row that was selected, not the one you right-clicked. Click the right row first, then right-click it.
The project has disappeared from the Project list.	It is now a template. Select the Templates filter.
You cannot change a template's status.	A template's status stays Not started. To make it an ordinary project, see Turning a template back into a project above.
You saved the wrong project as a template.	Select Save as template again in its Properties and select OK.

Revision history

Version	Date	Author	Changes
1.0	2026-09-29	Support	New article.

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