This article explains how to set up and use checklists within the Work Order and Variation Order modules in Next. It covers the administrative rights required to manage the checklist register, how to create reusable checklist templates with headers and items, and how to add those checklists to work orders, variation orders, or daily logs for reporting purposes.

Requirements for Creating Checklist Templates

In Next, you can use checklists in both the Work Order and Variation Order modules. To make it easier to add recurring checklists — for example, for regular inspections — you can create your own checklist templates for different purposes.

Before you can create checklist templates, you'll need administrative rights to manage the checklist register. Here's how to set that up:

1. Go to Administration in Next.
2. Open the Groups/Rights tab.
3. Select the group that should have the right to create and manage the checklist register. Note: This right only covers administering checklists — you don't need it simply to fill out a checklist or add one to a work order or variation order.
4. In the lower right section, find the Administrative Rights section.
5. Tick the Full Rights box for the Checklist Register — see the image below.

Admin Permissions panel showing read and full permission checkboxes for a module.

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Creating Checklist Templates

Once the right to manage the checklist register is activated, you're ready to start creating checklists. Here's how:

1. Go to Administration in Next.
2. Click on the Communication tab.
3. Click on Checklists.
4. From here, you can create and manage your checklists.

Checklists tab showing checklist list and associated items panel below.

The window is divided into two sections — Checklists and Items. Under Checklists, you create the header for your checklist, which will then contain items. You'll need to specify a number, a description, and a Checklist Template (this is used for sorting or grouping your checklists — for example, "Protection Inspection" could be a grouping for several related checklists). You can also activate or deactivate checklists, and choose whether a checklist should automatically be included in reports, such as a daily report.

Once the checklist header is created, you can add the items your list should contain. For each item, enter a number, a description, and any notes — these fields help clarify what the item covers, what needs to be done, and any relevant information or instructions.

When you're finished, click Save. Your checklist is now ready to use in work orders, variation orders, or in Daily Log 2.0.

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Adding a Checklist to a Work Order, Variation Order, or Daily Log

To use a checklist and report against it, you'll first need to add it to a work order, variation order, or daily log. Here's how to add one to a work order or variation order:

1. Go to the desired tab.
2. Click on the Checklists sub-tab.
3. Choose Create from Template. A list of your checklists from the checklist register will appear — these are available to all users who have access to work orders or variation orders in the Next client. You can select multiple checklists at once if you need to!

Work order Checklists tab showing the 'Create from template' dialog with template selection.

4. Click Copy.
5. Your checklist is now created and ready to be filled out by users in the Next client or on mobile.

Work Order — Checklists tab showing a selected checklist and its associated items panel.

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Reporting Back on a Checklist

You can report back on a checklist either through the mobile app or the client.

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Reporting Back on a Checklist in Next Project (Client)

1. Open the project that contains the work order or variation order you want to report back on.
2. Go to the work order or variation order that contains the checklist.
3. Enter your report in the Feedback field.
4. Check the boxes for the rows that have been completed. You can add information — and attach documents or images — to each line by clicking the edit pencil on the selected checklist item. Attaching documents and images to individual checklist items is a great way to share information with workers, such as drawings, documentation, and data sheets.

Item dialog showing fields, attached document, and image preview panel.

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Reporting Back on a Checklist on Mobile

In the current version (2024), you can report back on a checklist at the work order level and at the Daily Log level (Daily Log 2.0). Follow the steps below:

1. In Next Mobile, go to the Work Order option. If you have a work order assigned to you, it will appear in your work orders list. Otherwise, click Search to find the work order, then open it.
2. Once the work order is open, scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you'll find the Checklists section. Here, you can fill out the items you need to report back on. Note that you can't add images in this view, but you can comment on and check off items.

Work Order page — note the Back, Home, and Edit action buttons.

Checklist view showing task items with Checked, Date, and Comment columns.

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Reporting a Checklist in the New Mobile (BETA)

In the new version of the Next mobile app, you can report checklists for variation orders, as well as for work orders and Daily Log 2.0.

To access the checklist in the new mobile version, click on the AO / variation order option in the main menu. From here, you can see your assigned orders, or search freely for a work order or variation order.

Home screen showing time tracking start button and no active activities.

WO/VO list screen showing 'Assigned to me' tab with filter and sort options.

Once you've found the work order or variation order, click on it to open it. Your checklists will be shown in their own section. Click on the checklist you want to fill in and report on the items — you can add images and documents here.

Work Order Assignment tab showing status, checklist items, and attached photos/documents.

Edit Item dialog in Checklist; note Checked, Feedback, and Delete/Save actions.

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Reporting a Checklist in Daily Log 2.0

In Daily Log 2.0 — the updated version of the daily log in Next — checklist reporting is also available via mobile. This requires that your company uses the new daily log feature in Next.

1. In Next Mobile, click on Daily Log 2.0.
2. Create a new daily log entry or open an existing one.

Journal Entry Notes tab showing note categories; use '+' to add entries.

3. When the daily log entry opens, you'll find the checklist option in the menu bar — see the image below.

Journal Entry detail view with Checklist tab active; note available section tabs.

4. Click on Checklist.
5. From here, you can either fill out an already created checklist or create your own directly from mobile — which is perfect if you're out in the field and need to start a self-inspection on the spot.

Create Checklist dialog showing the Checklist Registry tab with selectable templates.

6. If the checklist has already been created, click on it to open it, then fill in the information, take pictures, and so on. When you're done, click Save. Once all items in a checklist are filled in, the checklist itself will be marked with a check to show it's complete — see the image below.

Edit Item dialog in Checklist; note the checked status, feedback, and delete/save actions.