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Projects

Manage collections of task lists and organize related work within spaces

Published: January 15, 2025

Projects

Projects are mid-level organizational containers within spaces that hold multiple task lists. They provide structure for organizing related work, tracking progress, and managing team collaboration between the high-level space organization and detailed list work.

Understanding Projects

Organizational Hierarchy

Workspace
└── Space (Top level organization)
    └── Project (Mid-level organization)
        └── List (Task container)
            └── Task

Projects contain:

  • Multiple task lists organized by project scope
  • Project members with role-based access
  • Project manager for oversight and ownership
  • Project-specific settings and configuration
  • Dashboard analytics with performance metrics
  • Start and target dates for timeline tracking
  • Status and priority indicators

Example projects:

  • “Mosic Features” - Feature development
  • “Mosic Phase 1” - Project phase implementation
  • “Mosic Phase 2 (plans and subscriptions)” - Specific feature phase

Accessing Projects

Projects Overview Page

Navigate to Projects from:

  • Main navigation: Click “Projects” in the main menu
  • Sidebar: Projects section (shows total count)
  • Within spaces: Navigate to a space and view Projects tab

From Spaces

Navigation path:

  1. Open a Space detail page
  2. Click the Projects tab to see all projects in that space
  3. Click any project card to open project detail view

From Sidebar

Direct access:

  • Projects section in sidebar displays total project count
  • Click any project name for direct access
  • Expand spaces to see their projects in hierarchical view
  • Projects show their list count (e.g., “5 lists”, “51 lists”)

Project Detail View

Click any project to access the comprehensive detail page with multiple tabs for different project management aspects.

Project Header

Elements visible:

  • Project icon/emoji - Visual identifier for the project
  • Project name - Title displayed prominently
  • Lists counter badge - Shows list count (e.g., “5 lists”) in blue pill
  • Member avatars - Project members displayed with SelectMembers dropdown
  • Status dropdown - Project status selection (Backlog, ToDo, In Progress, In Review, On Hold, Blocked, Completed, Cancelled)
  • Priority dropdown - Priority selection (Low, Normal, High, Urgent, Critical, Blocker)
  • Privacy indicator - Lock icon if project is private

Available Tabs

The project detail page includes seven tabs accessible from the tab navigation:

1. Details Tab (Default)

View and edit core project information including title, icon, description, and dates. This is the default tab when opening a project.

2. Task List Tab

View and manage all lists within the project.

Board View:

  • Task lists displayed as kanban cards
  • Visual overview of all lists in the project
  • Status-based column organization
  • Quick navigation to individual lists
  • “Add New List” option available

List View:

  • Comprehensive list information in table format
  • All task lists visible with detailed metadata
  • List title, status, priority, and members shown
  • Better for managing many lists efficiently
  • Search and filter capabilities

3. Tasks Tab

View and manage all tasks across all lists in the project, providing a cross-list overview of all work items.

Board View:

  • All project tasks regardless of which list they belong to
  • Status-based kanban columns (Backlog, ToDo, In Progress, etc.)
  • Drag and drop to update task status
  • Quick overview of entire project workload
  • Search and filter capabilities

Benefits:

  • See all project work at once without navigating between lists
  • Understand project status holistically across all lists
  • Manage tasks across multiple lists from single view
  • Identify bottlenecks and workload distribution
  • Cross-list task coordination

4. Pages Tab

View and manage pages linked to this project. Pages provide detailed documentation and information for project work.

5. Dashboard Tab

Project analytics, metrics, and performance insights.

Features:

  • Project performance metrics and KPIs
  • Task completion rates and progress tracking
  • Progress visualization with charts and graphs
  • Team activity tracking and member performance
  • Timeline information and milestone tracking
  • Completion rates and velocity metrics
  • Bottleneck identification

The dashboard provides comprehensive project health insights for informed decision-making.

6. Settings Tab

Configure all project properties, access control, and danger zone operations.

General Settings:

  • Project Icon - Icon/emoji picker with color selection
  • Project Title - Edit project name (updates on blur)
  • Project Visibility - “Make project private” checkbox for access control

Project Manager:

  • Assign a team member as project manager
  • Manager must be one of the project members
  • Only one manager per project
  • Manager has oversight and ownership responsibilities

Project Members:

  • Add and remove project members
  • Assign member roles (Admin, Editor, Member, Viewer, Guest)
  • View current member list with roles
  • Control who has access to the project
  • Member management requires Update permission

Danger Zone:

  • Delete Project - Permanently remove the project
  • Requires Delete permission
  • Deletes project and all its data
  • Requires typing exact project title to confirm
  • Redirects to Tasks page after deletion
  • This action cannot be undone

7. Messages Tab

View and collaborate on messages related to this project. Messages allow team members to communicate and discuss project-related topics.

Activities logged on tasks within this project surface in the project’s activity feed. You can also log activities directly against the project record using the Log Activity button in the Recent Activity card. See Activity Log for details.

Creating and Managing Projects

Creating a Project

Creation process:

  1. Navigate to a Space detail page
  2. Go to Projects tab (default view)
  3. Click ”+” or “Create Project” button (if available)
  4. Fill in project details in the creation modal:
    • Project Title (required) - Enter a descriptive name
    • Icon/Emoji (optional) - Select visual identifier
    • Color (optional) - Choose project color theme
    • Description (optional) - Add project description
    • Space (required) - Assign to current space (auto-filled)
    • Manager (optional) - Designate project manager
    • Members (optional) - Add initial team members
    • Privacy (optional) - Set “Make project private” if needed
  5. Click “Create Project” to save

Quick create from sidebar:

  • ”+ Add Project” button visible in expanded spaces
  • Creates project in the context of that space

Project fields:

  • Title: Project display name (required)
  • Identifier: Human-readable ID shown in the header (e.g., BACK-1), generated automatically
  • Space: Parent space (required, auto-assigned)
  • Workspace: Parent workspace (auto-populated from the parent space)
  • Status: Project status (default: Backlog)
  • Priority: Project priority (default: Normal)
  • Icon: Emoji or icon for identification
  • Color: Color theme for visual distinction
  • Description: Block-based editor for project description
  • Start Date: Project start date
  • Target Date: Project target completion date
  • Customer: Optional link to a customer record for CRM integration
  • Manager: Designated project manager
  • Members: List of project team members with roles
  • Is Private: Privacy flag for access control
  • Is Archived: Archive status
  • Is Billable: Billable project indicator
  • Done: Completion flag
  • Created By: User who created the project (auto-set)

Editing a Project

To modify project properties:

  1. Open the project detail page
  2. Navigate to Settings tab for configuration changes
  3. Update desired properties:
    • Settings tab: Title, icon, color, visibility, manager, members
    • Details tab: Start date, target date, description
  4. Changes save automatically on blur or selection

Permission requirements:

  • Update permission required to edit project properties
  • Update permission required to manage members
  • Delete permission required to delete project

Editable elements:

  • Project title - Change name (Settings tab)
  • Project icon and color - Update visual identity (Settings tab)
  • Description - Edit rich text description (Details tab)
  • Start and target dates - Set project timeline (Details tab)
  • Visibility - Toggle private/public (Settings tab)
  • Manager - Assign project manager (Settings tab)
  • Members and roles - Manage team access (Settings tab)
  • Status - Update from header dropdown (requires Update permission)
  • Priority - Change from header dropdown (requires Update permission)

Managing Lists

Within a project:

  • View all lists in Task List tab
  • Switch between Board view (kanban) and List view (table)
  • Create new lists using “Add New List” option
  • Search and filter lists by criteria
  • Organize lists by status in board view
  • Click any list to open list detail page

List management permissions:

  • Create permission required to add lists
  • Lists are automatically assigned to the current project
  • Lists can be moved between projects via list settings

For comprehensive list management details, see Lists.

Archiving Projects

Archive functionality:

  • Projects can be archived using the Archive option in the project actions menu
  • Archived projects are hidden from normal views
  • Use archiving to preserve project history without deletion

To view archived projects:

  • Contact your workspace administrator to retrieve archived projects

Project Progress Tracking

Progress Indicators

Lists counter badge:

  • Displayed in project header as blue pill
  • Shows total list count (e.g., “5 lists”, “51 lists”)
  • Click to view Task List tab
  • Provides quick overview of project scope

Dashboard metrics:

  • Access comprehensive analytics via Dashboard tab
  • Track completion rates and progress trends
  • Monitor team performance and velocity
  • Identify bottlenecks and delays

Dashboard Analytics

Available analytics:

  • Task completion rates - Percentage of completed tasks
  • Timeline progress - Progress against start and target dates
  • Team activity - Member contributions and performance
  • Bottleneck identification - Identify blocked or delayed work
  • Performance insights - KPIs and metrics for project health
  • Velocity tracking - Team productivity over time
  • Milestone tracking - Progress toward key milestones

The dashboard provides data-driven insights for project management decisions.

Project Hierarchy

Projects appear in the sidebar hierarchy showing the organizational structure:

Workspace: Current Workspace
└── Space: "Mosic Platform"
    ├── Project: "Mosic Features" (5 lists)
    │   ├── List: "Mosic Backlog Features" (28 items)
    │   ├── List: "Mosic Quick Fixes" (1 item)
    │   ├── List: Additional lists...
    │   └── "+ Add Task List" button
    └── Project: "Mosic Phase 3" (51 lists)
        ├── List: Various lists
        └── "+ Add Task List" button

Sidebar features:

  • Expandable/collapsible spaces and projects
  • List counts displayed next to project names (e.g., “5 lists”, “51 lists”)
  • Task counts shown for individual lists (e.g., “28 items”, “1 item”)
  • Quick navigation to any level with single click
  • ”+ Add Task List” button for quick list creation in context
  • ”+ Add Project” button for quick project creation within space
  • Visual hierarchy with indentation showing relationships

Project Views

Within Space Detail

Projects are displayed in the Space detail page’s Projects tab.

Board View (Kanban):

  • Projects displayed as kanban cards
  • Visual card-based organization
  • Each card shows project icon, title, members, and metadata
  • Quick project access with card click
  • Status indicators and badges
  • Better for visual overview of fewer projects

List View (Table):

  • Detailed project information in table format
  • Multiple projects visible in scrollable list
  • More metadata shown per project (title, status, priority, manager, dates)
  • Comprehensive project details at a glance
  • Better for managing many projects efficiently
  • Ideal for scanning and project management tasks

Best Practices

Project Organization

  1. Create projects for major initiatives:

    • Product features: “Mosic Features” for feature development
    • Project phases: “Mosic Phase 1”, “Mosic Phase 2 (plans and subscriptions)”
    • Time-bound projects: “Q1 2025 Launch”, “Annual Planning”
    • Functional areas: “Customer Support”, “Infrastructure”
    • Client engagements: “Client: Acme Corp Implementation”
  2. Use descriptive names:

    • Include phase information: “Mosic Phase 2 (plans and subscriptions)”
    • Be specific and clear: “Mobile App Redesign” not “App Work”
    • Make names searchable: avoid abbreviations
    • Consistent naming conventions across workspace
    • Add context when helpful: “2025 Marketing Campaign”
  3. Choose appropriate icons:

    • Use meaningful emojis: ⭐ for important projects, 🚀 for launches
    • Maintain consistent style within a space
    • Pick colors that distinguish projects visually
    • Make projects easy to identify at a glance
  4. Set up lists logically within projects:

    • Group by feature area: “Authentication”, “Payments”, “Dashboard”
    • Organize by sprint/phase: “Sprint 1”, “Sprint 2”, “Backlog”
    • Separate by workflow stage: “Planning”, “Development”, “Testing”
    • Balance granularity: not too many tiny lists, not one huge list
  5. Set project timelines:

    • Define start date when project begins
    • Set target date for accountability
    • Update dates as project evolves
    • Use dates for dashboard timeline tracking

Project Management

  1. Monitor dashboard regularly:

    • Check project Dashboard tab weekly for health insights
    • Review task completion rates and identify trends
    • Track team activity and performance metrics
    • Identify delays and bottlenecks early
    • Monitor velocity and adjust timelines if needed
    • Use analytics for informed project decisions
  2. Keep project team updated:

    • Add new team members promptly during onboarding
    • Remove departed members to maintain security
    • Update member roles as responsibilities change
    • Ensure manager assignment is current
    • Review team composition regularly
  3. Review tasks across lists:

    • Use Tasks tab for holistic project view
    • Understand cross-list dependencies and blockers
    • Don’t focus on just one list - see the full picture
    • Identify workload distribution across lists
    • Coordinate work across multiple lists
  4. Update project information:

    • Keep description current in Details tab
    • Update goals and objectives as project evolves
    • Maintain accurate start and target dates
    • Update status as project progresses (Backlog → In Progress → Completed)
    • Adjust priority based on changing business needs
  5. Leverage project privacy:

    • Mark sensitive projects as private
    • Keep internal projects public for transparency
    • Review privacy settings when team changes
    • Use private projects for confidential work
  6. Archive completed projects:

    • Archive instead of deleting to preserve history
    • Use the Archive option in the project actions menu for completed projects
    • Keep active project list manageable

Task List Management

  1. Create focused lists:

    • Each list has clear, defined purpose
    • Not too many lists: avoid overwhelming management (aim for 5-15 per project)
    • Not too few lists: avoid mixing unrelated work
    • Use list descriptions to clarify scope
  2. Balance list sizes:

    • Distribute tasks appropriately across lists
    • Avoid one huge list with all tasks
    • Break down large lists into focused sub-lists
    • Monitor list task counts via sidebar
  3. Use consistent naming:

    • Follow project-level naming conventions
    • Make list purpose clear from name: “Mosic Quick Fixes”, “Mosic Backlog Features”
    • Aid navigation with descriptive names
    • Prefix with project name if helpful for clarity
  4. Manage list lifecycle:

    • Create lists as needed for new work streams
    • Archive completed lists to reduce clutter
    • Monitor list count - too many indicates need for consolidation
    • Use “Add New List” strategically

Troubleshooting

Can’t see a project

Possible reasons:

  • Not a member of the project
  • Wrong space selected
  • Wrong workspace selected
  • Insufficient Read permissions
  • Project may be archived

Solutions:

  1. Check if you’re in the correct space via Space detail page
  2. Verify workspace selection with workspace switcher at top of sidebar
  3. Look in sidebar Projects section for all accessible projects
  4. Search for project by name in Projects page
  5. Request project access from project manager or space admin
  6. Verify you have project membership
  7. Contact workspace administrator if project should be visible

Can’t access project tasks

Possible reasons:

  • Insufficient Read permissions
  • Not a project member
  • Lists within project are private and you’re not a list member
  • Project is archived
  • Wrong workspace selected

Solutions:

  1. Request project membership from project manager
  2. Check with project owner about access permissions
  3. Verify workspace membership via Settings
  4. Check if project is archived (look for archive indicator)
  5. For private lists, request list-level access
  6. Contact your workspace administrator

Dashboard shows no data

Possible reasons:

  • Project has no tasks yet
  • Tasks lack required data fields (dates, status, assignees)
  • Dashboard calculating (may take moment on first load)
  • Insufficient permissions to view analytics
  • No lists in project yet

Solutions:

  1. Verify project has task lists with tasks
  2. Check if tasks have status, dates, and assignees set
  3. Refresh the page to reload dashboard data
  4. Wait a few seconds for dashboard calculations to complete
  5. Check permissions - ensure you have Read access to project
  6. Add tasks to project lists to see dashboard populate
  7. Create lists in project if none exist

Lists not showing in Task List tab

Possible reasons:

  • No lists created in this project yet
  • Lists are private and you lack access
  • View filters hiding lists
  • Wrong project selected
  • Lists assigned to different project

Solutions:

  1. Check the Task List tab in the project
  2. Switch between Board and List views - data may render differently
  3. Verify lists are assigned to this specific project
  4. Check if you have Read permission for lists
  5. Review view filters - may be filtering out lists
  6. Refresh the page to reload list data
  7. Create new list if project is empty
  8. Verify project name - ensure you’re in correct project

Can’t create new list in project

Possible reasons:

  • Insufficient Create permission
  • Project is archived
  • Not a project member
  • Workspace permission restrictions

Solutions:

  1. Verify you have Create permission
  2. Check if project is archived — cannot add lists to archived projects
  3. Look for ”+ Add Task List” button in sidebar or Task List tab
  4. Try creating from different location: sidebar button, Task List tab, Lists page
  5. Request project membership from project manager
  6. Contact project admin or workspace administrator for permissions
  7. Verify workspace membership and role

Can’t edit project settings

Possible reasons:

  • Insufficient Update permission
  • Not a project member
  • Project is archived
  • Only certain fields restricted to project manager

Solutions:

  1. Verify you have Update permission
  2. Check if you’re a project member (shown in header or Settings tab)
  3. Ensure project is not archived
  4. Request Update permissions from project manager
  5. Contact workspace administrator for permission changes
  6. Verify you’re assigned Admin or Editor role, not just Member

Project deletion fails

Possible reasons:

  • Insufficient Delete permission
  • Did not type exact project title for confirmation
  • Project has dependent data (deletion protection)
  • System error or network issue

Solutions:

  1. Ensure you have Delete permission
  2. Type the exact project title in confirmation field (case-sensitive)
  3. Try refreshing page and attempting again
  4. Contact system administrator if permission issues persist
  5. Consider archiving instead of deleting to preserve data
  • Spaces - Projects belong to spaces (parent level)
  • Lists - Projects contain lists (child level)
  • Tasks - Working with tasks within project lists
  • Navigation & Sidebar - Navigating projects and workspace hierarchy

FAQ

Q: What’s the difference between a project and a list?

A: Projects are mid-level organizational containers that hold multiple lists. Lists are the direct containers for tasks. Think of projects as “initiatives” or “major work streams” (e.g., “Mosic Phase 2”) and lists as specific collections of related tasks within that initiative (e.g., “Quick Fixes”, “Backlog Features”).

Q: Can a list be in multiple projects?

A: No, each list belongs to exactly one project. This maintains a clear organizational hierarchy.

Q: How many lists should a project have?

A: This depends on your workflow and project complexity. Examples from Mosic show projects ranging from 5 lists (“Mosic Features”) to 51 lists (“Mosic Phase 3”). Aim for 5-15 lists per project for optimal management - too many lists become unwieldy, too few mix unrelated work.

Q: Can I see all tasks across multiple projects?

A: Yes. Use the global Tasks page to see all tasks across all projects and workspaces. To see tasks for a specific project, use the project’s Tasks tab, which shows all tasks from all lists in that project. The Tasks tab provides cross-list task visibility within a single project.

Q: Can I move a list from one project to another?

A: Yes, you can reassign lists to different projects via the list Settings tab. Change the project field to move the list. The list retains its tasks when moved.

Q: How do I archive a completed project?

A: Use the Archive option in the project actions menu. Archived projects are hidden from normal views but preserve all data.

Q: Can I set project deadlines or milestones?

A: Yes, use the Details tab to set Start Date and Target Date fields. These dates provide timeline tracking and are used in dashboard analytics for progress monitoring.

Q: Do projects have permissions separate from spaces?

A: Yes, projects have their own member list and permission settings managed in the Settings tab. Project membership controls access to the project and its lists. Private projects restrict visibility to project members only, regardless of space membership.

Q: What happens to lists and tasks when I delete a project?

A: Deleting a project permanently removes the project and all its data, including lists and tasks within those lists. This is a cascading deletion. Always confirm you want to delete by typing the exact project title. Consider archiving instead to preserve data.

Q: Can I change a project’s space?

A: Yes, you can reassign a project to a different space by editing the space field. The project’s workspace field will automatically update to match the new space’s workspace.

Q: What’s the difference between project manager and project members?

A: The project manager is a single designated user responsible for oversight and ownership. Project members are all team members with access to the project. The manager must be one of the project members and typically has broader responsibilities for project success.

Q: Can I duplicate a project?

A: Project duplication functionality depends on available actions in the project dropdown menu. Check the project actions menu (three dots) for duplicate options. Duplication may copy project settings but not necessarily all lists and tasks.

Q: How are project permissions enforced?

A: Projects use the Mosic permission system with workspace-based access control. Private projects are only visible to members.