# Creating a New Project in DataUnfold
This short guide explains how to create a new project (also shown as **New Project** or **Create New Project** in the app) and get started quickly. It’s written for end users and focuses on the common flows: creating from a template and starting from scratch.
## Before you begin ✅
– You need an active DataUnfold account with permission to create projects. If the “New Project” button is disabled or missing, contact your administrator.
– Decide whether you want to start from a template (recommended for repeatable workflows) or from scratch for a custom setup.
## Where to start 🔎
– From the **Home** screen click **Start New Project**.
– Or open the sidebar and click **New Project**.
Both options open the **Create New Project** dialog where you choose how to begin.
## Option A — Create from a template 📄
1. Choose **Use Template** or **Browse Templates**.
2. Select a template that matches your workflow. Templates include pre-configured settings, tags, and actions.
3. Enter a title in **Project Title** and optionally add a description.
4. Click **Create Project**. The app will create the project and redirect you to the project dashboard.
Tip: Save a project as a template later using **Save as Template** if your work is repeatable.
## Option B — Start from scratch ✨
1. Choose **Start from Scratch** or **Create Custom Project**.
2. Enter a title and a helpful description to explain the project’s goal.
3. Optionally define smart tags or custom tags to help categorize documents and results.
4. Click **Create Analysis** (or **Create Project**) to create the project and launch the initial AI analysis if available.
5. When the initial setup is ready, DataUnfold opens the project dashboard immediately. Any remaining ingestion or rebuild continues in the background, including a forced replay of all enabled sources.
## Add files & data 📁
– Once the project is created, upload documents via drag-and-drop or the **Upload** button on the project dashboard.
– You can also link datasource folders (if your organization has folder-based ingestion configured) so new files are processed automatically.
## Organize projects 🔖
– Add the project to a collection from the sidebar (useful for grouping related work).
– Rename, duplicate (Duplicate), and delete projects from the sidebar actions.
## Common issues & troubleshooting ⚠️
– “New Project” is missing or disabled: check permissions with your admin.
– Project creation fails: check your network connection and try again. If the error persists, capture any error message and contact support.
– Template not available: verify templates exist or ask a teammate to share one with you.
## Tips & best practices 💡
– Use descriptive project titles and clear descriptions for easier search and collaboration.
– Save frequent configurations as templates so team members can reuse them.
– If you rely on automated ingestion, confirm folder paths and permissions with your administrator.
## Need help? 📞
If you’re stuck, contact your system administrator or support channel and include the following:
– Your username and the project title you attempted to create
– Any error messages shown
– The time (with timezone) when the issue happened
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If you want, I can add a link to this guide from the app’s help menu or the `README`—should I add it to one or both places?
