Subtasks
A subtask is a real task that sits under another task. It has its own stage, assignee, dates and page, so it suits a piece of work that someone else will pick up or that needs its own sign-off. For a quick list of things to tick off, the checklist is still the lighter choice.
- Open a task and use Subtasks to add one. It starts on the same board as its parent.
- A checklist item that has grown into real work can be turned into a subtask from the same panel. Its assignee and due date come with it.
- Subtasks go one level deep: a subtask can't have subtasks of its own, and both tasks must be in the same project.
- A subtask's page shows Part of… with a link back to its parent. You can detach a subtask to make it an ordinary task again.
The parent shows how far along its subtasks are, for example 2/5. Subtasks that were cancelled or rejected count as closed, so they don't hold the parent up.
Subtasks are kept off the board by default so the board stays readable. Switch on Show subtasks to see them as cards. In the table they appear nested under their parent.
If you move a parent to its finished stage while subtasks are still open, you'll be asked to confirm first.
Dependencies ("blocked by")
Use a dependency when one task can't sensibly start or finish until another is done.
- On the task, find Dependencies in the sidebar and search for the task that has to finish first, by title or by reference such as DQS-142.
- The task then shows a Blocked badge until every task it is waiting on is finished or closed.
- Blocking lists the tasks that are waiting on this one.
- When the last blocker is finished, the blocked task's assignee and watchers are told it is ready to pick up.
A few rules keep things tidy:
- Loops aren't allowed. If A waits on B, B can't wait on A, directly or through other tasks.
- A task can wait on up to 20 others.
- Both tasks must belong to the same organisation, and you can only pick tasks on boards you can see.
- If a task is due before the task it is waiting on, you'll see a warning. It is only a warning: the dates are yours to decide.
Blocked tasks are not locked. You can still move one forward if the plan changes; the badge is there so nobody is surprised.
Timeline
Open a project and choose Timeline to see work laid out over time, like a Gantt chart.
- Each task is a bar from its start date to its due date. A hatched bar has no start date yet; a diamond is a task with only a due date.
- Arrows show what is waiting on what. An arrow turns red when a task is due before the task it is waiting on.
- Subtasks sit under their parent. Campaigns and key dates run along the top.
- Drag a bar to move it, or drag an edge to change one date. An Undo button appears after each change.
- Prefer the keyboard? Select a bar and press Enter to type the dates, or use the arrow keys to move it a day at a time.
- Tasks with no dates wait in Unscheduled; drag one onto the chart to give it dates.
- Switch between weeks, months and quarters, and group rows by stage, person or campaign.
You can only move tasks you are allowed to edit. Other bars show a lock.
Automations
Automations can start from A task is unblocked, for example to move the task into the next stage or to post a message when it is ready.