Managing Tasks

Tasks are the building blocks of your productivity in Taskflame. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about creating, organizing, and tracking your tasks effectively.

Creating Tasks

Quick Task Creation

The fastest way to create a task:

1. Click the "+" button in any column
2. Type your task title
3. Press Enter to save

Detailed Task Creation

For more complex tasks:

1. Click "Add Task" or use the "+" button
2. Fill in the task details:
   • Title - Keep it clear and actionable
   • Description - Add context and requirements
   • Due Date - Set deadlines when needed
   • Priority - Mark urgent or important tasks
   • Tags - Organize with labels

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up task creation with these shortcuts:

• N - Create new task
• Cmd+Enter (or Ctrl+Enter) - Save task
• Escape - Cancel task creation

Task Properties

Title and Description

Good Task Titles:

• ✅ "Review marketing proposal from agency"
• ✅ "Fix login button color contrast issue"
• ✅ "Schedule team meeting for Q1 planning"

Poor Task Titles:

• ❌ "Do stuff"
• ❌ "Meeting"
• ❌ "Fix bug"

Descriptions Should Include:

• Context about why the task is needed
• Specific requirements or acceptance criteria
• Links to relevant resources
• Any dependencies or blockers

Due Dates and Deadlines

Set due dates to:

• Keep projects on track
• Prioritize work effectively
• Get timely notifications

Due Date Best Practices:

• Set realistic deadlines
• Add buffer time for unexpected issues
• Use recurring due dates for regular tasks
• Review and adjust dates as needed

Priority Levels

Taskflame uses a simple priority system:

• 🔴 High - Urgent and important
• 🟡 Medium - Important but not urgent
• ⚪ Low - Nice to have

Tags and Labels

Use tags to:

• Group related tasks
• Filter by project or area
• Track task types (bug, feature, etc.)
• Assign work to team members

Tag Examples:

• #design #development #marketing
• @john @sarah (for assignments)
• sprint-1 q1-goals
• bug feature improvement

Moving Tasks

Drag and Drop

The primary way to update task status:

1. Click and hold a task
2. Drag it to the target column
3. Drop to update the status

Keyboard Movement

Use keyboard shortcuts for quick task movement:

• → - Move task to next column
• ← - Move task to previous column
• Cmd+→ (or Ctrl+→) - Move to last column
• Cmd+← (or Ctrl+←) - Move to first column

Task States and Workflow

Default Workflow

Most teams use this basic workflow:

1. To Do - Tasks ready to start
2. In Progress - Currently being worked on
3. Done - Completed tasks

Advanced Workflows

Customize your workflow with additional columns:

Software Development:

• Backlog → To Do → In Progress → Code Review → Testing → Done

Content Creation:

• Ideas → Research → Writing → Review → Published

General Project Management:

• Planning → To Do → In Progress → Review → Complete

Task Details and Editing

Editing Tasks

To edit a task:

1. Click on the task to open details
2. Make your changes
3. Click outside or press Escape to save

Quick Edit Features

• Double-click title to edit inline
• Click due date to change quickly
• Click tags to add or remove
• Use context menu (right-click) for more options

Task Comments

Add comments to:

• Provide updates on progress
• Ask questions or clarify requirements
• Document decisions and changes
• Collaborate with team members

Organizing Tasks

Sorting and Filtering

Sort tasks by:

• Due date (oldest first)
• Priority (high to low)
• Creation date
• Alphabetical order

Filter tasks by:

• Tags and labels
• Assigned person
• Due date range
• Priority level

Search Functionality

Find tasks quickly:

• Global search - Search across all boards
• Board search - Search within current board
• Advanced filters - Combine multiple criteria

Search Tips:

• Use quotes for exact phrases: "user interface"
• Search by tag: #design
• Search by assignee: @john
• Search by due date: due:today or due:this-week

Task Templates

Creating Templates

Save time with task templates:

1. Create a task with your standard format
2. Use it as a template for similar tasks
3. Copy and modify as needed

Common Template Types

Bug Report Template:

Title: [Bug] Brief description of issue
Description:
- Steps to reproduce
- Expected behavior
- Actual behavior
- Environment details

Feature Request Template:

Title: [Feature] User story or feature name
Description:
- User problem
- Proposed solution
- Acceptance criteria
- Design considerations

Best Practices

Task Granularity

Break down large tasks:

• Keep tasks to 1-3 days of work
• Split complex tasks into subtasks
• Make tasks independently deliverable

Regular Maintenance

Weekly task review:

• Archive completed tasks
• Update priorities based on new information
• Review due dates and adjust if needed
• Remove obsolete or duplicate tasks

Team Collaboration

When working with others:

• Use clear, descriptive task titles
• Add context in descriptions
• Tag relevant team members
• Update status regularly
• Use comments for communication

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overly Complex Tasks

Problem: Tasks that are too big or vague Solution: Break them down into smaller, actionable items

Neglecting Due Dates

Problem: Setting unrealistic deadlines or ignoring them Solution: Set achievable dates and review regularly

Tag Overload

Problem: Too many tags that don't add value Solution: Use a consistent tagging system with clear purposes

Stale Tasks

Problem: Old tasks that never get updated Solution: Regular cleanup and review sessions

Advanced Task Features

Recurring Tasks

Set up tasks that repeat automatically:

• Daily standup meetings
• Weekly progress reports
• Monthly reviews
• Quarterly planning

Task Dependencies

Link related tasks:

• Block tasks until prerequisites are complete
• Show relationships between related work
• Plan project timelines effectively

Bulk Operations

Manage multiple tasks at once:

• Select multiple tasks with checkboxes
• Bulk edit tags, assignees, or due dates
• Move multiple tasks between columns
• Archive or delete in batches

Troubleshooting

Task Not Saving

Possible causes:

• Internet connection issues
• Browser cache problems
• Concurrent editing conflicts

Solutions:

• Refresh the page and try again
• Clear browser cache
• Check for error messages

Missing Tasks

Check these locations:

• Other columns on the same board
• Archived tasks section
• Different boards or workspaces
• Search across all boards

Performance Issues

If task operations are slow:

• Check your internet connection
• Close other browser tabs
• Clear browser cache
• Contact support if issues persist

Next Steps

Now that you know how to manage tasks effectively:

1. Learn about collaboration features - Work with your team
2. Master keyboard shortcuts - Speed up your workflow
3. Explore advanced features - Customize your experience

Ready to become a task management pro? Start applying these techniques to your daily workflow! 🚀