Proposals explained: reports, layouts, templates and pages
The vocabulary and the moving parts: how a proposal is made of pages, how layouts and templates differ, and what the homeowner actually receives.
Video tutorial coming soon
The written steps below are complete. Producing the video? Use the video script tab — it follows these steps one for one.
In My Roof CRM the document you send a homeowner is a proposal. The editor and some buttons still call it a report; they are the same thing. A proposal is a stack of pages: Cover, Introduction, Quote Details, Terms & Conditions, Warranty, Inspection and Authorization, in any order you like, plus optional text and PDF pages.
A layout is a reusable blueprint of pages; every new proposal is a copy of a layout. A template is a reusable block for one page type (an introduction text, a quote set-up, an authorization page, custom text or an email) that you pull into a page while editing. Layouts shape the document; templates fill it.
The homeowner receives a branded web page with photos, options and a sign button, plus a downloadable PDF. Once signed, the version they signed is locked forever as the accepted snapshot.
By the end you can
- Use the words proposal, report, layout, template and page correctly
- Name the seven standard pages and what each does
- Describe what the homeowner receives
Screens used
/projects/[projectId]/edit/report/[reportId]
Step by step
Look at a proposal's pages
/edit/report/[reportId]Open any proposal with "Open for editing". Read the "Pages" list on the left.
You should see: Seven pages in a new workspace: Cover, Introduction, Quote Details, Terms & Conditions, Warranty, Inspection, Authorization. Each has a drag handle and a switch.
Spot the layout connection
/edit/report/[reportId]Note the "Save as layout" link in the toolbar. On the job page, note "or start from another layout" under Create proposal.
You should see: Both mention layouts: a proposal is created from one and can be saved back as one.
Spot the template connection
/edit/report/[reportId]Click Quote Details. Find "View templates to get started quickly". Click Authorization and find the same link.
You should see: A "Select a Template" dialog lists saved templates for that page type.
See what the homeowner gets
/edit/report/[reportId]Click "Review and Share" and look at the PDF; then remember the homeowner page from the quick start lesson.
You should see: The PDF matches the pages in order; the web page shows photos, options and the sign button.
Tips
- Lesson order in this module follows the editor: pages first, then the quote, then layouts and templates.
Related lessons
Create a proposal from a job
Create a proposal with the default layout or pick another, understand the default name and prefilled signer, duplicate a proposal and delete one.
Proposals & quotesBeginner5 min
Layouts explained and the default layout
What a layout holds, how the default layout is chosen, the difference between My Layouts and Shared Layouts, and the plan limits.
Proposals & quotesBeginner5 min
Templates explained: categories, shared templates and limits
The six template categories, how a template is pulled into a page, the difference from layouts, and the Starter limit.
Proposals & quotesBeginner4 min
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