Note: This update is currently in limited release. It is available once your account is on version 551.
With the Equipment times update, project statuses and warehouse statuses are now separate.
If your team used custom warehouse statuses to track something other than the warehouse, such as a sales stage, an approval step, or how likely a project is to go ahead, you can keep tracking that information with an extra input field.
This article explains what changed, how to set up an extra input field, and how to use it in your daily work.
What changed with custom warehouse statuses?
Custom warehouse statuses were designed to show where your equipment is in the warehouse, for example 'Prepped' or 'Waiting for cleaning'. With the Equipment times update (version 551), they now apply only to equipment in the warehouse.
Projects use a fixed set of project statuses: Canceled, Inquiry, Draft, Pending, Confirmed, In progress, Execution done, and Complete.
Projects that had a custom status before the update (version 551) have moved to 'In progress'.
I used custom warehouse statuses for something other than the warehouse. What can I use instead?
Use an extra input field on your projects or subprojects.
Extra input fields let you add your own information to a project, choose from a list of values that you define, and filter your project list on that information.
Some examples of what teams used custom statuses for, and how an extra input field can replace them:
| Sales pipeline | Statuses such as 75%, 95%, and 100% (signed) to track deals and prepare a financial forecast. Create a 'Sales stage' extra input field with these values. |
| Likelihood of a pending project |
A status such as 'Very likely', between 'Pending' and 'Confirmed', so the technical team knows which jobs to prepare for. Create a 'Likelihood' extra input field and keep the project on Pending until it is confirmed. |
| Internal steps | Any other step your team tracks per project, such as an internal check or approval. Create a field with the steps your team uses. |
Can I add my own project statuses?
No, it is not possible to add custom project statuses. An extra input field is the best way to track extra information about a project.
How do I create an extra input field?
- Go to the Configuration module › Extra input fields.
- Click +Add extra input field.
- Enter a Name, for example 'Sales stage' or 'Likelihood'.
- In Belongs to, select Project or Subproject, depending on where you want to track the information.
- In Type of entry field, select Drop down list.
- In Choice values, type each value and press Enter to add it, for example 50%, 75%, and Very likely.
- Check the Default value. The first value you add is selected automatically, so change it if you do not want new projects to start with that value.
- Click Confirm, and then click Save.
Where do I fill in the extra input field?
Open a project or subproject and fill in the field in the 'Extra input fields' card on the General tab. Click Save to keep your changes.
How can my team see this information across projects?
You can add the field to your project list and filter on it, so your team always has an overview.
- Go to the 'Projects' module.
- Open Views › Edit columns and add your extra input field as a column.
- Use Filters to show only projects with a certain value.
- Save this as a new view with Views › Create new view, so your team can open it with one click.
Examples
If you used a status such as 'Very likely' between 'Pending' and 'Confirmed', here is a workflow that works well:
- Keep the project on 'Pending' while the client has not signed yet. On 'Pending', you can still reserve equipment manually.
- Use your 'Likelihood' extra input field to record how likely the project is, for example 50%, 75%, or 'Very likely'.
- Filter on that field so your technical team can start preparing for the projects that are most likely to go ahead.
- Set the project to 'Confirmed' once the likelihood reaches the level your team agrees on, or when the client signs. Equipment is then reserved automatically.
FAQs
No, we cannot copy your previous custom statuses into an extra input field automatically. You will need to fill in the field on each project. We recommend starting with your upcoming and most important projects.
There are no plans for custom project statuses at the moment. If this is important for your workflow, let us know through Help Center (?) › Give feedback in Rentman. Your feedback helps us decide what to build next.