The selection is on the last data selection dialog of the new project wizard, just after they select the core team members. Also explained how they have been a customer for a long time and the independent style was originally the default but that changed with a version release in 2004 and the shared process PFMEA has been the 'new' project default since then. However, when a new project is created from an existing project that has been using the independent style PFMEA, there is no way to 'change' it to using a shared style as all of the connection links between the other documents have been severed and since each project is essentially different, there is no way to reconnect those links between all of these variables.
Explained how the way most folks move forward in this situation, is they will create a new project from scratch and make it a template for an entire product family, such as die cast, and put everything they could possibly encounter into the template. Since most die cast parts are going to encounter at least very similar failure modes, effects, causes, controls and recommended actions or reaction plans, it usually isn't too difficult to create such a template. This template can easily be updated when processes change so it is always using the latest process data. Obviously, no characteristics, or very few, need to be entered since they are more part specific, but visual inspections and perhaps some other checks can be put into the template.
Then as new projects come up, you would create your new projects from the template that has all of the updated information in it, add in your characteristics and fill out the rest of your control plan, remove what doesn't apply, if anything, and you have your project, We would also encourage you identify in the project description, or somewhere in the project information, that it was created using the shared style PFMEA so at some point you could create a new project from it when you need to create a new project for a similar part, just as you are now. I have seen some even put an indicator code in the project title Such as an (i) for independent and an (s) for shared so they can tell from the project title.