Distribution Sets or Distribution Templates

I want to create a template that I can use when creating an invoice request or using in credit card transactions that splits an expense across one or more Grants for a single Project/Transaction Code. I also want to be able to adjust as the %-Grant will change every two or four weeks.

It looked like Account (Payables) Distribution Sets could accomplish this.

To test it out, I created a Distribution set for our active Projects. I named the set after the Project and then added a line for each Grant that supported the Project and then entered the Project in each line. Then I added a % for each line.

The problem is that entering an account is required. However, I want to use this for all types of expenses that are for the specific Project.

I just put in something and it could be updated when applied. Not ideal but manageable. Unfortunately, when I apply the distribution set and update the account, the Project goes blank. Easy to update but not ideal. Both these issues create potential for error that I was hoping the Distribution set would prevent.

It is helpful in that I can set and update the Grant/s-Project relationships and the %-s in the Distribution sets for each Project, but it just seems odd that I have to include an account or that I can't update the information after applying the Distribution set without losing other aspects of the Distribution set.

I'm wondering if other people have the same experience using Distribution sets or if there is something other than Distribution sets that can do what I want.