Provide the ability to create Plan templates with existing tasks that can then be used to create a new plan
Rather than having to create every plan from scratch it would be good if the system allowed for the creation of Templates with pre-existing tasks (like in Word/Excel). This would allow a new plan and its tasks to be created from a template saving a lot of time.
Matthew Kirk
shared this idea
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your patience. We have updated our Copy Plan experience – please try it out today!
This improvement will include the ability to choose an existing group or team to copy the plan into (or choose to create a new group). You’ll also be able to customize what gets copied over. Attachments can only be copied over into existing groups.
You can learn more here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/planner-blog/expanding-the-copy-plan-and-filtering-features-based-on-your/ba-p/1483491
1071 comments
Comments are closed-
NBS
commented
I'm trying to use Planner without this functionality, and it's a lot of extra work. I have two projects with an identical set of tasks. I have an Excel file that contains the generic project tasks, and I copied each individual task from Excel, created new tasks in a plan, and pasted into the task name field, then assigned a due date and assigned a user to perform the task. Then, I had to open the task to be able to set a label for the task, and set a start date for the task, because you can't do that when you are creating a task.
So, I did this first for one project. And then I did it all from scratch a second time for the second project.
I have two more projects planned for later this year, and I am not looking forward to the prospect of manually creating all of the tasks for those projects in plans.
Barring any feedback from Microsoft on this, it would seem I'm just going to have to deal with creating all of those repeated tasks from scratch each time. This is not a good use of my time. Surely with so many people clamoring for the same thing, Microsoft can offer up some thoughts on where this functionality will fit into the development pipeline.
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Molly
commented
The ability to copy or create a template is required or we will not use Planner - and I really want to use Planner, so Microsoft, please add this functionality ASAP.
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Trystan Bennett
commented
This and archiving are the main things preventing our adoption as well -- the ability to template \ copy a plan with detailed tasks, notes, and checklists (inside tasks) would make this fantastic product a real game-changer.
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Damon Edmondson
commented
This is the SINGLE thing preventing adoption of this in our organization. We have a system where 20 tasks are done, the same or nearly the same tasks each time we start a project. And yet, to use planner I'd have to retype all 20 every time.
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Trond Berglie
commented
Hi. Plans are often reused in our "usecase".
It would be great if it would be possible to either duplicate a plan, or "mark plan as template" in order to reuse it.
Then if wanted "zero" out all the dates for the tasks. -
Anonymous
commented
We use a "unique" project methodology and would like to set this up as our organizations default project template - or perhaps select it from a number of project templates.
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Anna-Maria
commented
If only we could save employee onboarding plan as template - this would be THE solution for that! New employee - new onboarding plan for her/him
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Anonymous
commented
Templates would be great ... we are a firm of architects and have a standard work plan that could be used from project to project.
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Uwe G.
commented
I think it would make sense to combine this with import / export because if we can export from one and import in another plan, we more or less would have the template functionality realized. https://planner.uservoice.com/forums/330525-planner-preview-feedback-forum/suggestions/11116770-import-export-from-to-excel-project-etc
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Uwe G.
commented
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Uwe G.
commented
Created a similar proposal on 14th of March 2016 and found now there is already a proposal with 170 votes here: https://planner.uservoice.com/forums/330525-planner-preview-feedback-forum/suggestions/11332998-provide-the-ability-to-create-plan-templates-with
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NBS
commented
I agree this is essential functionality. I'm prepping for implementations of the same system at four different locations with four different project teams. The tasks for the projects will be nearly identical. I like the idea of using Planner to manage the project tasks now that our enterprise is on Office 365, but I dread the prospect of manually creating four iterations of 100-task project plans from scratch for each project.
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NBS
commented
Sounds like an excellent idea. I've been trying to figure out if I can import a list of tasks from a spreadsheet or something and am striking out. I guess the functionality doesn't exist. If the plan could have a template file behind it that we could manipulate outside of Planner, that would be cool, too.
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Arne B
commented
I think making a template is imperative to the use of Planner. Getting repetitive actions done by assigning tasks is a great way of ensuring that people follow procedures. Should make it a good pitch for a sell up to ISO certified businesses
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Damon Edmondson
commented
trying to plus one this.... since with 153 votes its clearly one of the more wanted items.
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Phill Ruffell
commented
We are an FE institution and it would be great for us as every curriculum area has generic tasks and timings. The ability to 'push' a pre-built plan to each area would be brilliant!
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Darryl Warren
commented
Agree with templates .. Also both plans and tasks also need an easy method of copying from an existing plan or task
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Anonymous
commented
If anybody finds a way to create Plan templates, let me know please.
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Anonymous
commented
It would also be very useful to simply copy an existing plan to a new plan, then reset the start date on all tasks, to have another plan ready to go.
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Dan Bedford
commented
We are a TV production company, and this would be a huge improvement to Planner as the tasks to create a show are very repetitive.