With status reports, you can document the current project status in smenso and make developments over time transparent. Below you will learn how to create a status report in smenso, save it as a draft, publish it, and start from templates or the last report as needed.

Create Status Report

You can find status reports in the project area Status.

Option 1: Via the New button at the top right in the project in the status view.

1. Select New in the upper right area.
2. Select New Status to create a brand new status report, or use Copy Last Status to use the previous report as a basis.
3. Under Browse Templates you will find additional status report templates that you can directly adopt and then customize individually.

Option 2: Via the New Status button on an existing status report

Fill in Contents

The following information can be recorded in a status report:

• Title of the status report
• Overall status
• Schedule status
• Cost status
• Objectives status
• Progress level
• Explanations of the status
• Description of next steps
• Attachment
• Individual label/flavor

Set Status Date

In status reports there are two different date fields: the Status Date and the Publication Date. These serve different purposes and allow for more precise reporting control.

Difference between Status Date and Publication Date

The status date indicates the period for which the status report applies. This can be a date in the past or the future. It is used as the validity date of the status report.

The publication date, on the other hand, is the system date on which the status report was published. This date is automatically set as soon as the report is released via the Publish button.

Set Status Date

When creating or editing a status report, the status date can be individually adjusted.

Procedure:

1. Open an existing or new status report.
2. Select the desired date from the calendar.

Publication Date

The publication date is set automatically as soon as a status report is released via Publish. This date cannot be changed manually.

In the portfolio list, both date fields are available and can be displayed as columns:

Use Flavors/Labels in the text fields of the status report

You can also insert flavors in status reports that are used in the master data of the respective project.

1. In the status report editor (field Explanations of the status), select the Insert Label/Flavor button
   
   
    
2. You will be offered the flavors/labels that are used in the respective project in the master data.
3. Select the flavors/labels you want to use in the status report

Attachments in the Status Report

Attachments (upload or OneDrive/SharePoint link) are managed directly in the status report.

Details (including limits, permissions & troubleshooting) can be found in the article Attachments in Status Reports.

Labels & Flavor for the Status Report

The status report can be individually customized by integrating flavors and flavor groups. This enables a structured and clear presentation of relevant information.

Using Flavors in Status Reports

Any flavor groups can be created in status reports and various flavor types can be added. In addition to the standard text fields, this provides additional options for specifically expanding status reports.

Procedure:

1. Create a new status report draft.

2. Show the Flavors section.
    

   
    

3. Add any flavors or flavor groups. If required, the flavor type Status can be used (see below).
   
   

Adjustments can be saved directly as a status report template to ensure a consistent structure for future reports.

Special Flavor Type Status

If the predefined status fields for projects (overall status, schedule status, cost status, objectives status) are not sufficient, you can add your own status flavors in the flavor table of status reports.

This flavor type works like a normal selection field but includes an integrated traffic light function. The names of the status values can be freely defined, and additional statuses can be added with individually chosen colors.

Adjust Colors for Status Values

The colors of the status values can be adjusted using the color dot. This allows each status value to be visually highlighted and individually defined.

When opening the color selection, various colors are available. Additionally, you can define your own color via the # button.

This customization allows for even better visual differentiation of status values.

Setup, types, and best practices can be found in the section Labels and Flavors.

Show Status Flavors in Portfolio Views

Status flavors can be displayed as additional columns in portfolio views. For this to be possible, the flavor must be assigned the context Status Reports.

Procedure:

1. Open the flavor configuration.
2. Under Context, select the option Status Reports.

After assigning the context, the portfolio list can interpret and display the contents of the flavor. When added as a column, status flavors are listed in a separate category:

Flavors with the context Status are marked with an "S" in brackets in portfolio lists:

Save Draft & Publish

Save as Draft

Use Save as Draft if you want to continue working later (e.g., collect feedback or add attachments).
 

Publish

With Publish you release the report.

Copy Status Report

If you want to continue writing quickly:

• Select Copy Last Status (when creating), or

• copy an existing report (depending on the view via menu/⋯)

This way you take over structure and texts and only adapt the changes.

Templates for Status Reports

With status report templates, you can write recurring content faster.

Instructions & details can be found in the article Status Report Templates (in the Templates section).

Request Update

Any user can request an update to the current status report at any time. In the Current Status widget, the function Request Update is available for this. An email is then sent automatically.

Comments

Each status report can be commented on. To do this, open the desired report under Past Status Reports. In the opened status report, you can write your comment in the Comment field and then add it with Send.

Analysis: Where can I see the impact of status reports

Published status reports flow into overviews (e.g., past reports) and can make trends visible.

Details about the display can be found in the article Analyze Status Reports: Overview, Progress & Widgets.
 

Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting

What is the difference between status date and publication date?

• Status date: The period for which the status report applies in terms of content (freely selectable).
• Publication date: The time when you release the report via Publish (system date).

Why can't I edit published status reports?

Published status reports are fixed. Create a new report or copy the last one and add the changes there.

I don't see an attachment option / menus are missing – what to do?

• Save the report at least once as a draft
• Reload the page if necessary
• Check if you have the necessary permissions
  For special attachment cases see Attachments in Status Reports.

Who is allowed to create status reports?

That depends on the project role (see roles/permissions).