New project

What it's for

New project starts a project for a customer without converting a quote first. Use it when the work is already agreed and there is no quote to convert. The project gets the next project number, starting at 3001 for a company's first.

Reach it from New project on the Projects list, at /projects/new. Phases, budgets and the schedule of values are added on the project once it exists.

Tabs

The form has no tabs. It is one page.

Panels and controls

Customer says who the project is for.
Site is optional and lists only the chosen customer's sites. Leave it empty for a project that spans the customer's sites.
Project name is optional. Left blank, the project is named after the customer.
Owner contract number and Contract date print on the pay application header.
Create project saves and opens the new project; Cancel discards.

What it accepts

Field	Format	Required	Rule
Customer	Pick a customer	Yes	Only customers in this company
Site	Pick a site	No	Must belong to the chosen customer
Project name	Free text	No	Up to 200 characters. Blank uses the customer's name
Owner contract number	Free text	No	Up to 80 characters
Contract date	A calendar date	No

A project started here is queued for QuickBooks and Business Central the same way a project converted from a quote is, when either is connected.

How to configure it

Job costing settings decide how cost rolls into the project once work starts.
Projects settings decide whether work can be booked to a project that is not active.
QuickBooks and Business Central integration settings decide whether the new project is sent on.

Who can see it

This screen sits behind the Projects area.

Owners, office managers and dispatchers can open it. Technicians cannot start projects. The gate is checked on the server, not just hidden in the sidebar, so a direct link does not get around it.

The full role matrix is on Roles & permissions.