Add Resource Plans to a Project Template

[Rae Ann Prasnic]

Do you have "rinse-and-repeat" projects and want to add Resource Plans to your Project Templates? The purpose of this article is to show you how to add additional tables to your Project Templates. 

First, you need to create a NEW Project Template Configuration that will add Resource Plans to a template.

Navigate to Project Administration > Settings > Template Config> New and complete the form as below.

• Table: resource_plan
• Parent Table: pm_project
• Link element (how you are linking the two tables above): Top Task
• Active: Enable
• Elements (These are fields to include in your template. You can get the names of a field by right-clicking on it where it is found on the form - if you are an Admin. You need to include all the required fields on a form.): short_description, resource_type, members_preference, group_resource, request_type, user_resource, planned_hours, start_date, end_date

Second, create the Project Template. I find the easiest way to create a project template is to create a project exactly the way you want it and use the Save as New Template link in the Related Links. Make sure to add Resource Plans to this project so you can see how they will be saved.

Third, create a new project using the saved template you created in step two. 

Fourth, you can tweak the Project Template you created in the second step by navigating to Project Administration > Settings > Templates - Project. Open the template and make changes that will be used for all projects going forward. You can change how parent project information populates a project in the Data section and how Resource Plans are created by editing records in the Project Template Tasks related list.

This process can be repeated for other tables as well.  

Let me know if this is helpful. Rae Ann

[Nick Z]

Hi Rae Ann - This was helpful for projects.  Would you happen to know of a similar approach exists for Demands? I am not seeing a Save as New Template in the Related Links after creating the Demand Template.

[Rae Ann Prasnic]

Correct, there is no Demand Template similar to Project Template. However, you can use the platform-wide template feature to create templates for Demand. 

• Toggle the Template bar
• Template bar overview

Please let me know if this is helpful. Rae Ann

[Taha6]

Hi @Rae Ann Prasnicki,

I tried doing this with stories but it's not working for me
I linked using project and tried parent with no luck 

I only see the project tasks no stories even though I have 3 stories in that project 

 

[Whitney Fraser]

Taha - Will it work if you set 'Link element' field to "Top Task"?

[Taha6]

No, that didn't work too 😞

[Rae Ann Prasnic]

This took me a couple tries playing with the Table, Parent Table and Link Element. But below is what you need (note: you can add your own elements, I'm assuming you have those correct). 

Let me know if that is helpful. Rae Ann

[Taha6]

Hi Rae Ann,

Thanks for your response!

I did that but it didn't work 😞
Looks like a bug with our instance. I opened a ticket with support and will see what they say

[Rae Ann Prasnic]

Hmm...it worked in my PDI so agree it could be something with your instance. Good luck!

[Sweety5]

Hi @Rae Ann Prasnicki , 

I have created one field on my project form that is project type and I want to capture that field value on to the template , so can I achieve this.

Thanks in Advance !!

[Rae Ann Prasnic]

You should be able to add the field name in the Elements field of the Template Config (see my original post). You will need to know the field name which I have outlined how to find in the original post. 

Let me know if that helps. Rae Ann

[Barbara Manvill]

Hi @Rae Ann Prasnicki ,

I used your instructions and all worked well for resource plans created at the project level.  I have a project with resource plans at the top level and also for individual tasks within the plan. Eg.  PM is on the top level because they are working throughout the project.  Other workers only perform specific tasks.  Eg.  Testers only have certain tasks during the project.  How can I get the template config to populate for both project and task level resource plans?

Thank you in advance,

Barbara

[Abby B]

@Rae Ann Prasnic This solution works great, but is there a reason that I have to use Top Task as the link element, instead of Task? The Task field is a mandatory field on the Resource Plan record but it is not getting populated when I use the template with Top Task as the link element. When I tried changing link element to Task, the template didn't copy over any of the Resource Plan tasks.

[holly-t]

We are seeing the same issue. The resource plans get created by the template and all of the fields look great....except TASK. Has anyone figured a way to get top_task to populate in the Task field??

[BiancaK]

Hi @Rae Ann Prasnic thank you for taking the time to provide this detailed explanation on how to Add Resource Plans to a Project Template. Your explanation is better and more detailed and easier to follow that the ServiceNow training. I battled to understand this until I stumbled across this resource. Please continue sharing - as you have a good way of explaining. 

Thanks so much!

[Balanandhini S]

Any solution on this thread for populating the TASK mandatory field in the resource plan ?

[Julia-Allen]

Can you update this article as this no longer seems to work - what are you doing for this currently? @Rae Ann Prasnic 

[goldenjc97]

@Julia-Allen - Did you figure this out - or what issue do you see? Seems when I create a template from a project, it is not populating it in the 'Project Template' table, and I can't seem to figure out how to get it there. I only see it in the sys_template_list table with a Class of 'Template'.... 'Project Template' class isn't available. 

[Josh Sutton]

I wanted to make everyone aware that there is now an article on including the new Resource Assignments within Project Templates HERE: https://www.servicenow.com/community/spm-articles/including-resource-assignments-within-project-temp...