⚙️Parent and subprojects

In smenso, projects can be structured hierarchically: a parent project groups together multiple subprojects, enabling the representation of overarching programs or project portfolios. The assignment is made in the settings of the subproject.

Assigning a subproject to a parent project

1. Open the project you want to use as a subproject
2. Open Manage project > Settings
3. Enable the toggle Use as subproject
   
   
     The link Select parent project appears
   
   
    
4. Click Select parent project and search for the parent project in the picker
   
   
    

After the assignment, the parent project is shown in the Subproject of section at the top of the subproject's master data.

Removing the assignment

The link between a subproject and its parent project can be removed in two ways:

• In the subproject: Click the ✕ icon next to the parent project name in the Subproject of section at the top of the master data
  
  
   
• In the parent project: Click the Subprojects badge at the top of the project and select Remove link next to the respective subproject
  
  

Display in the portfolio

In the portfolio list view, subprojects are displayed indented below their parent project - as a connected group. In the portfolio board view, all projects are shown flat; subprojects appear as independent tiles.

In the parent project itself, a badge showing the number of subprojects is displayed at the top. Hovering over or clicking it opens the list of all assigned subprojects - including archived ones.

Permissions

The assignment of a project to a parent project can only be made or changed by the project lead or an admin.

Behavior with private projects

• Subproject is private, parent project is public: Unauthorized people cannot see the subproject either in the portfolio list or in the parent project details.
• Parent project is private, subproject is public: Neither the parent project nor the subproject is shown in the portfolio list - the entire group is invisible. In the board view, the subproject remains visible since the board shows a flat view of all projects.
• Parent project is set to private: Subprojects do not inherit the privacy setting. In the subproject, only the display of the parent project name changes to Private project.

Behavior when archiving

• Parent project is archived: Subprojects are not affected - they retain their assignment. In the portfolio list, the entire group is hidden (since list view and archive view cannot be mixed). In the board view, non-archived subprojects remain visible.
• Archived parent project is restored: Subprojects remain assigned.
• Subproject is archived: The subproject is marked as archived in the subproject list shown in the parent project.

Duplicating

• Duplicating a subproject: The parent project assignment is included by default. In the duplicate dialog, the Parent project assignment option controls whether the new project should also be created as a subproject.
• Duplicating a parent project: Subprojects are neither duplicated nor linked to the new project - since there can only ever be a 1:n relationship from parent to subprojects.

Deleting

• Deleting a parent project: Subprojects are not deleted - they are released from the assignment and continue to exist as independent projects. The confirmation dialog informs you that subprojects exist and will be detached.
• Deleting a subproject: No special behavior - the subproject is deleted, the parent project remains unaffected.

Project templates

• Parent projects cannot be used as templates.
• Subprojects can be saved as templates. The parent project assignment is carried over from the template.

Related articles

• Project settings
• Setting projects to private
• Archiving a project
• Using project templates

Frequently asked questions

Can a subproject itself be a parent project?

No. The hierarchy is limited to one level - there are parent projects and subprojects, but no further nesting.

Can a project be assigned to multiple parent projects?

No. A subproject can only be assigned to one parent project at a time (1:n relationship from parent to subprojects).

Can I add subprojects from within the parent project?

Not directly. The assignment is always made in the subproject itself. In the parent project, the Subprojects badge only allows you to view and remove existing links.

Why is a subproject not showing in the portfolio list?

There are several possible reasons:

• The parent project is private - the entire group is then invisible in the list view
• The parent project or the subproject is archived - archived projects are hidden in the default view
• You don't have access to the subproject because it is private

Use the search to find the project, or switch to the board view - all projects are shown flat there, regardless of the parent project assignment.

What happens to subprojects when I delete the parent project?

Subprojects are not deleted. They are automatically released from the assignment and continue to exist as independent projects. The confirmation dialog informs you that subprojects exist.

Can I use a parent project as a project template?

No. Parent projects cannot be used as templates. Subprojects can - the parent project assignment is carried over from the template.

Are subprojects also duplicated when I duplicate a parent project?

No. When duplicating a parent project, neither the subprojects are duplicated nor is a new link to the existing subprojects created. The duplicated project starts as an independent project without subprojects.

Who can change the parent project assignment?

Only the project lead and admins can set or remove the assignment. People with edit rights on the project can add themselves as project lead - and thereby indirectly also change the assignment.