► Two Ni(II) complexes of H3PIDC and Bipy were synthesized by solvent tuned method. ► Bipy ligand acts as template and bridge in 1 and 2, respectively. ► The change of Bipy ligand function due to the change of solvent. Two nickel(II) complexes, (H2Bipy)0.5Ni(H2PIDC)3·(Bipy)·5H2O (1) and Ni(H2PIDC)2(Bipy)n (2) (H3PIDC=2-propyl-4,5-dicarboxylate-imidazole, Bipy=4,4′-bipyridine), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by infrared spectra (IR), elemental analysis, thermogravimetic analysis (TG), and single-crystal/powder X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that 1 is a mononuclear coordination compound, in which the Ni(H2PIDC)3− coordination units are connected together through indirect hydrogen interactions to form a 3D supramolecular structure with 1D supramolecular channels. The Bipy and H2Bipy2+, as templates, fill in the channels. 2 is a 1D chain-shaped coordination polymer, in which the Bipy molecules serve as bridging ligand linking the Ni(H2PIDC)2 units together to form a 1D chain. Through the interactions of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, these 1D chains are further stacked together to form a 3D overpass-like supramolecular network.