Templates

⏱ 2.5 min read

• Overview
• Create a Folder or Project Template
• Use a Folder or Project Template
• Create a Task Template
• Advanced Tips
• More Resources

Overview

Instead of repeatedly setting up similar Tasks, Folders, or Projects, create templates and then use those templates to quickly get started on your next project.

Create a Folder or Project Template

1. Create a new Folder named “Templates”.
2. Within your “Templates” folder, create another new Folder or Project. This will become your template, so we recommend giving it a descriptive name. For example: Book Launch Template.
3. Add any relevant tasks and subtasks which you know will be necessary to completing the project. Once you’re done with this step, you should have tasks for each necessary step in your project.
4. Add data to your tasks and subtasks. Fill in data for as many task attributes as you can (such as duration, assignees, descriptions, and attachments). Use task descriptions to tell anyone reading the task for the first time what to do.

Your template is ready to use as soon as all of your information is added.

You can also check out our templates blog post for more tips on when to create templates and how to launch a project from a template. 

Use a Folder or Project Template

1. From the Workspace's left-hand Navigation panel, right-click on the template you want to use.
2. Select “Duplicate” from the dropdown menu which appears.
3. Use the duplicate pop-up to customize what you would like to duplicate from the template. Rename the new Folder, give it an appropriate title, and choose where it should live*.

Begin working on your project using your newly created Folder or Project.

*You can always move your Folder later, by dragging and dropping it to the appropriate location on the Folder tree. 

Create a Task Template

1. Create a new Folder named “Task Templates” (or create a Subfolder for tasks within your templates Folder).
2. Add a new task to your "Task Templates" Folder. This task is going to be your template, so we recommend giving it a descriptive name. For example: Weekly Meeting Template.
3. Add relevant details to your task. Include any information that will come in useful when you use the template. For example, you can add text in the task's description, add assignees, set start and end dates, and more.

Your template is ready to use as soon as all of your information is added. To use a template, simply duplicate it, rename it, and move it to the appropriate location. 

Advanced Tips

Recommended Task Status Settings

Change the statuses of the template's tasks to deferred. Deferred tasks do not show up in the overdue section of To-Do emails or in the Dashboard widgets for overdue tasks. This means that users are not bothered with template tasks in their To-Do lists. When you duplicate a Folder template, the statuses of all copied tasks are automatically switched to active.

Mass Editing

You can use mass editing to quickly change the statuses of multiple tasks at the same time.

Create Templates Using Excel

You can use templates in conjunction with Excel. Export a folder template to Excel and then later import it (to a new folder) and quickly kickoff your project. You can download a sample project template here.  

MS Project

Easily import templates from Microsoft Project to Wrike.

More Resources

Join Ask the Expert sessions to learn and, more importantly, ask questions. If you're thinking about templates this session may be helpful for you: 

• Ask the Expert: Managing High Volumes of Work