First Steps
You know what the Project Manager window shows and what each column of the project list means.
The Project Manager is the window KOSMA starts with. From here you open, find and create projects.
When you open a project, the Project Manager stays open. KOSMA opens the project in a second window next to it.
| Column | Shows | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Name** | The name of the project | | **Created** | The date someone created the project | | **Last Open** | The date you last opened the project yourself | | **Role** | Your role in the project: **Owner** or **Guest** | | **Members** | One  for each person in the project, except the owner |
**Last Open** does not show when someone last changed the project. If you have never opened a project yourself, this column stays empty for that project.
Point at  under **Members**. KOSMA shows the person's name and email. If the person has not signed in to KOSMA yet, KOSMA adds a note that says so.
On the left of each row is  **Open project**. Click it or double-click the row to open the project. See [open a project](/kb/article/open-a-project). If you own the project, the row also has  **Open Settings** on the right. On the demo project, this button is locked. See [open project settings](/kb/article/open-project-settings).
Type into **Search…** above the list. Part of a name is enough to find a project. KOSMA also searches the dates under **Created** and **Last Open**, as the list shows them. A four-digit year such as "2026" finds no project. Type the year with two digits, for example "26". A company name finds a project only when it is part of the project name.
Click **Projects** or **Archived Projects** above the list to switch between the two views. An archived project no longer appears under **Projects**. KOSMA does not delete it. See [archive and restore a project](/kb/article/archive-and-restore-a-project) and [delete a project](/kb/article/delete-a-project).
Click **Project** to open the dialog for a new project. KOSMA locks the button while there is no connection to the server, or when your licence does not allow a new project. Point at the button to see the reason. See [create a project](/kb/article/create-a-project).
The account area shows the name and email you are signed in with, and **Log Out**. The licence area shows your licence and the date it renews or ends. See [what your licence includes](/kb/article/what-your-licence-includes). **Account Admin** and **Upgrade License** open pages in your web browser: your KOSMA account page and the pricing page.
To switch between the light and the dark theme, see [switch between light and dark](/kb/article/switch-between-light-and-dark).
KOSMA stores each project and its members on the KOSMA server. The datasets of a project, such as budgets and plans, are on your computer only once you have opened the project on it. Creating, renaming, archiving or deleting a project changes the project itself, so KOSMA needs a connection to the server. If you have already opened a project on this computer, you can open it again without a connection.
To start work on a project, see [open a project](/kb/article/open-a-project).
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