Builder: How do I configure Builder Templates?

Templates are used to create each one of the Job Schedules; configuring your Templates customizes them to your plans and elevations.

You can configure your Templates by adding stages, setting dependencies, and adding Start Date Confirmations based on your homebuilding practices. 

Why should you configure Templates?

Template configuration is important to help reach maximum efficiency for your Tasks and also establishes which tasks the Trades will see.

Adding Stages within your Templates group tasks together that must be completed before moving on to the next Stage.

Setting Task Dependencies within your Templates creates an ecosystem for your tasks to move automatically based on start and finish date changes.

You can set up Start Date Confirmations Requests to be triggered to Trades prior to a task’s start date so they can confirm when they will begin their task.

You can configure these features into your Templates for each Job, to help move those tasks in real-time to achieve your cycle time.

Where to locate your Templates

Template Configuration can only be accessed on the web portal.

Web Portal:

1. Click on the Templates option in the sidebar on the web portal

What are Task Dependencies within Templates?

Task Dependencies specify the relationship between tasks and indicate when those tasks can start or end in coherence with other tasks.

Task Dependencies link multiple tasks or Stages with each other.

For tasks that must be completed in a specific order or events, Task Dependencies can help provide accurate start and finish dates.

The relationship between two tasks with Dependencies will be referred to as Predecessor and Successor tasks.

Predecessor Task = Task A or First task

Successor Task = Task B or Second task

TradeTrax uses four types of dependencies within Templates

Finish-to-Start (FS) - The Predecessor task must be completed before its Successor task can begin.

Start-to-Start (SS) - Both the Predecessor task and Successor task start at the same time

Start-to-Finish (SF) - The Successor task must be completed before its Predecessor task can begin

Finish-to-Finish (FF) - Both the Predecessor task and Successor task finish at the same time.

NOTE: Finish-to-Start Dependencies are the most common dependency used in Job Schedules.

What is Lead Time vs Lag Time

Lead time is the number of working days before a Task starts

Lag time is the number of working days after a Task finishes

You can configure these features into your Templates for each Job, to help move those tasks in real-time to achieve your cycle time.

How to set Lead Time vs Lag Time

To set the Lead Time or Lag Time navigation to any Template

1. Click on Dep.

2. Enter a Positive Number for Lead Time or a Negative Number for Lag Time

3. Finally, click Update

4. A confirmation banner will appear at the bottom of the screen and dependency is updated

The example below: Pour Slab will Start 3 days after Framing is Complete.

How to Set a Task Dependency to a Task

1. In the Template details view, locate the task that you want to set a dependency with

2. Click the notepad icon under the Dep. column, this will trigger a pop-up window

3. Select a Task and a Dependency Type for that task

4. Click on the Update button

5. A confirmation message will appear once you have successfully set the dependencies

NOTE: If you need help setting up a Template reach out to your Customer Success Manager for further assistance.

How to add a Task to a Template

1. Locate the Template you wish to add a task for

2. Click the plus + icon at the top right of the Template

3. Select Add Task option from the list, this will trigger a pop-up window

4. Search from the TradeTrax Global Task Library for your task

5. Set the Duration of the selected task

6. Click on the Add Task button

7. A confirmation message will appear once you have successfully added the task to the Template

How to add a Stage to a Template

1. Locate the Template you wish to add a task for

2. Click the plus + icon at the top right of the Template

3. Select Add Stage option from the list, this will trigger a pop-up window

4. Search from the TradeTrax Global Task Library for your Stage

5. Set the Duration of the selected Stage

6. Click on the Add Stage button

7. A confirmation message will appear once you have successfully added the Stage to the Template

How to add a Task to a Stage

1. Within the Template details view, locate the Stage you wish to add a task to

2. Click on the arrow adjacent to the left of the Stage name to expand it and view its content

3. Click on the + Add Task option, this will trigger a pop-up window

4. Search from the TradeTrax Global Task Library for your Stage

5. Set the Duration of the selected Stage

6. Click on the Add Task button

7. A confirmation message will appear once you have successfully added the Stage to the Template

You can also drag and drop a task onto the Stage.

How to remove a Task from a Template

1. Within the Template details view, locate the task you wish to remove

2. Click on the ‘more’ icon present at the end of each task row

3. Click on the Remove option from the list

4. A confirmation message will appear once you have successfully removed the task from the Template

NOTE: If a task is deleted from a Template that an active Job is using, then that Task will still appear in that Job Schedule as is not affected.

How to Remove a Dependency from a Task

1. Within the Template details view, locate the task you wish to remove a dependency from

2. Click the pencil icon under the Dep. column, this will trigger a pop-up window

3. Click the trash icon to remove the current dependency

4. Click on the Update button

5. A confirmation message will appear once you have successfully removed the dependency from the task