When creating a new Project or Stage your system uses the specified project Method Template as a set of instructions covering which documents to create, which processes to show them in and which template files should be included in each document.

Your system can store any number of different project method templates and you can use these to configure a standard approach to dealing with different project portfolio requirements, for example a template for high value complex projects and a different template for short term low value projects which required much less in the way of Management products. With the highly flexible Specialist documents architecture supported by the system your templates can also unpack your entire project filing structure at the same time (if this has been coded into the templates).

It is possible to change the template which is used to manage the live navigation part of your project using the Template pane in the Existing Projects part of the Manage Projects form.  Extreme caution is recommended here and it should only be used to migrate projects of a similar nature i.e. to migrate old projects from 3step 2012 or  to the newer 3step 2013.  If the new template has different (or additional) process or sub process names etc then it will not be possible to navigate your project, however you can of course transfer it back to the original template if errors are obtained following transfer.

In addition to the Method Templates controlling the process structure, documents and files launched when a project is created it also defines the following:

  • Contents of the template Library
  • Any aliases to apply for project or stages
  • Any custom order of documents within processes
  • Document flags shipped with the new project
  • The colour arrangements for the file explorer
  • The contents of the Extended properties form
  • The list of RAG questions for each stage
  • The naming and numbering conventions to be applied to the project (if defined in the method template)
  • Which default properties are to be exported to projects on check out.
  • The reporting set up for the project including logs, plans and custom spreadsheet arrangements
  • The Default list of approval types  for the projects
  • The context rules for display of the navigation diagrams, who to show them to based on factors including permission, permission group and setting in project properties
  • The default permissions groups and associated document permissions
  • Which stage (if any) will be provided in the project when it starts


These templates can be found in your Server install directory in a folder titled template 2.0, there will be one folder each with the name of each template and an additional folder with the template for an export project.

For advice on the structure of the template files and on how these can be modified and the impacts of such modifications please contact check your customer download page, resources section for the Method manager Guide or the server Admin tool on the server has a comprehensive section in its help file (technical guide.chm).