Task
Key point: An actionable item described in a discussion.

A task is an action to be undertaken and is defined by its status. An active task is a task which has an active status. In the user interface. PageSeeder uses the icon for tasks.

When a discussion includes at least one comment with a status, it becomes a task – the status of the last comment in a discussion is the task status.

Unlike workflows which are bound to the document they are created on, tasks are moveable (using the move comment/task dialog) and can relate to a document, a document fragment, including a page in a PDF, or be a general task.

Like comments, tasks can be created against the following:

  • Group – means that the task hasn't been attached to any specific content.
  • Document or version – relates to the entire document.
  • Fragment – attaches the task to a specific point in the document.

A task has the following configurable properties:

  • Status – nominates the state of the task; reflects an action to be undertaken.
  • Priority – nominates the importance of the task.
  • Assignee – nominates the member responsible for the task.
  • Due date – nominates when completion of the task is required.

The task status values available to use depend on the role that a member has in the group.

In the group properties form, managers can set the values for properties and which roles can use them.

Creating tasks

PageSeeder assumes that tasks naturally arise from discussions. For that reason, any discussion can be turned into a task by setting the status on a comment. Once a comment has a status, PageSeeder identifies it as a task in the user interface.

Although any comment can have a status, this can only be done through the user interface. You cannot change the properties of a task by email.

The description of the task is contained in the discussion; typically, it is in the first comment that has an active status (for example, “Open”).

Managers can change the properties of a task by editing a comment. However, the recommended process is to add a new comment with the updated property values instead. This lets you and other members keep track of the task progress and document the reason for the change.

Configuration

Managers can configure the statuses and priority levels available for tasks in their group by editing the group properties form.