Creating a Project
Creating a Friday project gives one client a private page for updates, attachments, and replies. A project needs a name and one client email address. Check both carefully before saving because the current interface does not provide project editing or deletion controls.
What information does a project require?
Prepare these two values before opening the form:
- A project name from 1 to 160 characters after spaces at the start and end are removed.
- One valid client email address with no more than 254 characters.
Use a name that the client will recognize because it appears at the top of both your project page and the private client page. A clear name such as "Website redesign" is better than an internal job number that the client may not know.
The client email is the address used for notices about new updates. A project accepts one address, rather than a list of recipients. If several people need updates, decide which person should receive the notice and share the private link with any other approved readers through your normal communication process.
Creating a Friday project step by step
- Log in and open Projects.
- Select New project. On a new account, you can also select Create your first project in the Getting started list.
- Enter the client facing name in Project name.
- Enter the intended recipient in Client email.
- Review both fields for spelling and select Create project.
If the name is empty or longer than 160 characters, the page asks you to give the project a name. If the email is missing, too long, or not in a valid email form, the page asks for the client's email address. Correct the value and submit the form again. Select Cancel if you do not want to create the project.
After a successful save, the new project page opens. The page shows the project name and client email, a Client link area, a weekly nudge setting, a New update form, and a Posted updates section. Nothing appears under posted updates until you publish the first update.
Does creating a project email the client?
Creating the project does not itself promise an email to the client. The form help says that each update you post goes to the client email with the link. After creation, write and post the first update, then copy and send the client link if you want to introduce the page yourself.
Posting an update creates the notice for the client and queues it for delivery. Queueing is not the same as immediate receipt. Check the delivery status shown beneath a posted update, and use email delivery help if the notice is delayed or fails.
Hypothetical example: You create a project called "Autumn catalogue" with alex@example.com as the client email. Saving creates the private project page. Alex is not guaranteed to receive a message at creation. When you post the first update, the service records and queues the update email for alex@example.com.
Can I edit or delete a project later?
The current interface has no project name edit, client email edit, or project delete control. Review the values before selecting Create project. Do not create a placeholder project on the assumption that its details can be changed later.
The account interface also has no control for changing the owner's email address. If you entered information incorrectly or need to remove a project, consult managing projects and support. Do not put sensitive information in a project name while waiting for help.
The Projects page lists each project with its client email and recent update state. The state reads No updates yet, Updated today, or the number of days since the latest update. A blue marker appears when the last update was more than a week ago. Select a project row to return to its page.
Review and share the private link
Every project gets a private link when you save it. The Client link area provides these controls:
- Copy copies the current link.
- View as client opens the public client view without requiring a login.
- New link replaces the current link, and its title explains that the old link stops working.
Use View as client after you post an update. Confirm that the project name, update, and attachment are appropriate for the client. Then return to the owner page and select Copy. Paste the link into a message addressed to the intended recipient. Anyone who has the private link can open the page, so treat it as confidential.
What happens when I select New link?
New link creates a different private address for the same project. Every old client page link stops working. Old links to update files and reply files also stop working because those file addresses use the project link token.
Replacing a link does not send the replacement to the client. After selecting New link, select Copy and send the new address yourself. Check places where you previously shared the old address, including saved messages or bookmarks, and tell approved readers to replace it.
Use a new link when the current address was sent to the wrong person or exposed somewhere it should not be. Do not rotate it as a routine weekly step because every approved reader would lose access through the previous address. Read The Client Page for a full explanation of access and privacy and security for safe sharing guidance.
Add the first update
Creating a project sets up the page, but the page is useful to the client after you add an update. Enter plain text in New update, add one allowed file if needed, and select Post update. The update must be nonempty and no longer than 20,000 characters. For the full process and file rules, continue to Writing an Update.
Creating a Friday project is complete when you have checked the permanent project details, posted the first useful update, reviewed View as client, and sent the current private link to the right person.