---
sourceDocument: Australia Workflow Data Fabric
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/integrate-applications

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Workflow Data Fabric

ft:clusterId :

    - crint

bundleId :

    - crint

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Create an automation project manually

# Create an automation project manually {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read  
Create an attended or unattended automation project manually in RPA Desktop Design Studio that enables you to automate tasks. You can create an automation project that is based on a prebuilt template and targeted at a use case, or you can create an automation project without using a template.

## Before you begin

Set up the RPA Desktop Design Studio application and add the ServiceNow instance details. For more information, see [Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/x8c1EZHg_pBd0Y0LhPdIJQ "Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio to add your ServiceNow RPA Hub instance details in Connection Manager and to start using the application.").

Role required: none

## About this task

An unattended automation doesn't require human supervision and can be used for highly repetitive tasks. For example, in a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, an unattended robot can perform the copy and paste tasks to
a Microsoft Excel file without any human inputs.

An attended automation requires human supervision. For example, in a contact center, robots are used as user assistants. They're installed on an operator's workstation and are triggered by human operators on demand.

To create automation projects, you can use the default templates that RPA Desktop Design Studio provides or the custom automation templates that you have created and published to the RPA Hub. An automation template caters to a use case and provides a framework of automation. For example, automate a manual
employee onboarding process. The default templates that the RPA Desktop Design Studio provides are `Unattended Non-Transactional Workflow`, `Unattended Transactional Workflow`, and `Attended Workflow`. You can also create automations
with no template.

To create an automation project using Now Assist, see [Create an automation with AI](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/SnkN~~rHWlKFgzhp1KhCig "Create an automation from text instructions and preview options by using the ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub application.").

## Procedure

1. On the RPA Desktop Design Studio home page, select Create Automation.
2. In the Build an automation window, select Build manually.  
   Figure 1. Build an automation manually
3. Select Next.
4. In the Create new automation window, select either Unattended Automation or Attended Automation.
5. In the Name field, enter the name of the unattended or attended automation project.
6. **Optional:** In the Description field, enter the description of the unattended or attended automation project.
7. In the Location field, enter the location of the automation project or retain the default location.
8. Select Next.
9. In the Do you want to select a template dialog box, you can perform either of the tasks.
   * To create an automation without a template, select Use a blank canvas.
   * To create an automation based on a template, select Select a template and choose from the default templates.  
     Note:  
     By default, the RPA Desktop Design Studio provides the latest versions of certain plugins with the automation project that you create. You can add more plugins after you create the project. In the Create new automation
     window, view the default plugins by selecting View.

     You can choose from the default templates that the RPA Desktop Design Studio provides or the custom templates that you have created and published to the RPA Hub. This template is built on the loaded plugin versions.
   {#create-automation-project__choices_zwl_1sn_ldc}
10. Select Create.
**Related tasks**   

* [Create a skill project in RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/FTUJLbcOv~~kadgHJIo1Ww "Create a skill automation project in RPA Desktop Design Studio that can be reused in other automations.")