# Projects

> Create and manage the projects everything else in Manage hangs off.

Everything in Manage belongs to a **project**. The **Projects** list is your way
in - find a project, open it, or create a new one.

## The projects list

The list shows every project you can access, with **search**, sorting and paging.
Open a project to work on it; the count at the top shows how many you have.

## Create a project

If your role allows it, choose **New project** and fill in the form:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Name it">
    Enter the **Project ID** and **Project name**.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Choose a configuration">
    Pick the **Configuration** that defines its tables and fields.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Add the details">
    Set the **Status** (Open, Closed or Archived) and, optionally, the client,
    contractor and consultant. Save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="note" title="Configuration is fixed after creation">
  You can edit a project's details later, but not its **configuration** - that is
  locked in when the project is created.
</Callout>

## Edit or archive a project

From a project's actions menu, choose **Edit** to change its details, or
**Archive** to retire it. Archived projects drop out of the active list, but their
data is kept.

## Status

A project is **Open** while in progress, **Closed** when finished, or **Archived**
once retired. The status shows in the list and changes when you edit the project.