Argenta has a project management system built in to help you plan and manage your projects. Keeping all of your tasks, files, notes, and information together in one place makes even a chaotic project much easier to control.
To Add A Project
From the Argenta main menu on the left side of the screen, select Workflow & Productivity > Project Management. This opens the Project Management list, where all of your projects are shown. The list defaults to your active projects; use the status filter to switch to All Projects, and use the view selector at the top to switch between the List, Board, Calendar, and Timeline views.
Click the Add A New Project button. Argenta creates a new project for you and takes you straight to the Project Details page inside the Project Workspace, where you fill in the rest of the information.
Fields marked with an orange asterisk should be completed. Project Title, Date Requested, Desired Due Date, and Actual Due Date must be filled in before the project can be saved; Project’s Current Status and Priority also show an asterisk but start with a default value. Here is what each field on the Project Details page is for:
Set As View Only / Lock This Record - Two switches at the top of the page. Turn on Set As View Only to let others see the project but not edit it. Turn on Lock This Record to restrict access to the record.
Project Title - Enter a title for your project (up to 140 characters). This is required.
Project Progress - A progress meter that fills in automatically based on your Project Tasks and how many of them are marked complete. There is nothing to enter here.
Project Manager - Assign the team member who owns this project. Team members are users, staff, board members, and volunteers who are designated as acting staff.
Project's Current Status - Select a status from the drop-down list. The status carries the project through its life cycle, so it is important to keep it current. A new project usually starts as New.
Priority - Choose a priority from the drop-down list.
Project Group, Project Type, and Project Category - Optional classification drop-downs that help you organize and filter your projects. Choose the values that fit, or leave them at the default.
Fiscal Year - Select the fiscal year this project belongs to.
Project Budget - Enter a projected budget amount.
Associated Client/Customer - If the project is tied to a client or customer, start typing the name and select it from the list. You can also open the linked record or add a new one from here.
Client's Hourly Rate - Enter the hourly rate for the associated client, if it applies.
Billable Hours - Enter the number of billable hours for the project, if it applies.
Date Requested - The date the project was requested or created. This is required.
Desired Due Date - The date the requester would like the project completed. This may be a projection rather than the final date. This is required.
Actual Due Date - The actual due date. It can match the desired due date or differ, and you can change it later in the workspace. This is required.
Completion Date - If the project is already complete, enter the completion date here; otherwise leave it blank. When you set the status to Completed, Argenta will fill this in for you if it is empty.
Project Work Start Date and Projected Work End Date - The dates you expect the work to begin and end. The start date must be on or before the end date.
Projected Work Hours - The number of hours you estimate the project will take.
Actual Work Hours - This is calculated automatically from the hours logged on your Project Tasks, so there is nothing to enter here.
Chapter, Division, and Department - If the project belongs to a specific chapter, division, or department, select it from the drop-down lists.
District and Precinct - For political teams only. If the project belongs to a specific district or precinct, select the district first, then the precinct.
Request A Status Update - Use this button at the top of the Project Details card to email the assigned Project Manager and ask for a status update. You must assign a Project Manager first.
Saving Your Project
When you are ready to save, use the buttons at the bottom of the page. Click Save & Exit if you are finished, or Save & Continue to save and keep working in the workspace. You can also click the save (floppy-disk) icon at the top right of the workspace at any time. Copy & Add New saves a copy as a new project, Delete This Record removes the project, and Cancel & Exit leaves without saving your latest changes.
The Project Workspace Menu
Across the top of the workspace is the Workspace Menu, which gives you everything you need to run the project from one place. Beyond Project Details, you will find:
- Project Tasks - Build and assign the project's task list, including hours, dates, and priorities for each task. The Project Progress meter and Actual Work Hours are driven by these tasks.
- Sprint Planning - Organize tasks into sprints.
- Project Checklists - Create one or more checklists and add as many line items as you need.
- Project Team - Build the project team and set each member's role and anticipated hours.
- Project Discussions - Keep all discussion about the project in one place. Click New Thread to start a conversation.
- Meeting Minutes - Record minutes from project meetings.
- Time Tracking - Track time logged against the project.
- Client/Customer Billing - Manage billing tied to the associated client or customer.
- Connections, Specifications, Project Spark, and Notifications - Additional tools for linking related records, documenting specifications, and managing alerts.
- Project Files and Project Notes - Attach related files and add notes to the project.
- Record Permissions - Control who can view and edit this project, including locking it to a department or to the assigned team members.
For help attaching a file, see the Knowledge Base article Add Related Files. For help adding a note, see the Knowledge Base article Add A Note to the Notes Section.