Other than feature enhancements, Netsuite 2021.1 release also includes enhancements for its Project Management Featire’s User Interface (UI). The UI enhancement is currently optional in version 2021.1, but it is devised to become a new standard for the upcoming 2021.2 release.

The 2021.1 release phases are targeted from mid-February through mid-April of 2021. To verify the date of your upgrade, refer to your New Release portal. 

What is Changing? 

With the 2021.1 release, Netsuite introduced an enhanced UI for the Project Management feature. The enhancements include:
 
 

• Customized Tasks and Task Hierarchy - On the Schedule tab, the Expand All/Collapse All button which currently expands the entire hierarchy of existing tasks on the project will be replaced by a downward-facing arrow. When you click this arrow, the system will expand only the tasks and task hierarchy that you wish to display.

The following images show the new UI behavior after account upgrade to 2021.1 - a gradual system of expanding/collapsing the task hierarchy, using the downward-facing arrow button.
 
 
 The first figure is a view of a reduced task hierarchy. In this figure, the system only displays the main tasks, while the subtasks remain hidden.
 
 
   
 The second figure shows the tasks on the same project, but now with the expanded hierarchy of the first main task by using the downward-facing arrow button. The subtabs of the main task are now on display.
 
 
   
 The third figure shows the whole task hierarchy of the first main task, displaying all subtabs and their daughters.
 
 
   
 

• Streamlined Record Creation and Editing - Creating and editing records, for example, Project Tasks, Resource Allocation and Project Charge Rules, are now available from a pop-up window on the Project Form page.

The following figure shows an example of a pop-up window when a new Project Task/Milestone is being created on the project. The pop-up window is a floating panel and can be positioned around the browser page.
 
 
   
 
 
 

• Improved Record Viewing – When you select the view mode for a record, the record opens in a new tab on your browser window.

As to help the users to get familiar with the new UI, Netsuite has included a temporary New Project Interface preference, which can be utilized to switch between the new and existing environments. It is highly encouraged for users to test the new interface, especially if they are using any customization or script in the production account.

Actions are suggested as soon after the account got upgraded to 2021.1, by completing the following steps preferably in the sandbox account: 

• Go to Setup > Company > General Preferences and check the New Project Interface preference. 
• Test out the behaviour of the new UI to ensure the enhancements not affecting current scripts and integrations (default/customized). Throughout 2021.1, users will be able to either enable or disable the new UI.

Note: if the account was upgraded to 2020.1 during Phase 1, the New Project Interface box is automatically checked. To revert to the original UI, uncheck the box and save the page.