# Tasks

## Specs

| Label                     | Value                         |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| **Version**               | 1.0.0 (updated on 2026-05-05) |
| **Developer**             | Labii Inc.                    |
| **Type**                  | Section                       |
| **Support Configuration** | Yes                           |

## Overview

The Tasks widget provides a streamlined interface for managing and reviewing tasks directly within any record's section panel. It pulls task data from a dedicated task table and presents each task in a scannable list with key information — title, due date range, assignee, and recurrence frequency — all visible at a glance. The widget's fast complete action lets users check off tasks with a single click without leaving the current record, eliminating context-switching and keeping laboratory workflows moving efficiently. Tasks that are overdue are highlighted in red, while completed tasks display with a green background to provide instant visual status feedback.

## Use Cases

* **Project tracking**: Attach a Tasks widget to a project record to monitor all related action items and their due dates in one place.
* **Sample processing workflows**: Link sample preparation tasks to a sample record so technicians can confirm each step is completed before proceeding.
* **Equipment maintenance**: Track recurring maintenance tasks (calibration, cleaning, inspections) tied to an equipment record with frequency visibility.
* **Experiment scheduling**: Display tasks assigned to specific experiments, allowing researchers to quickly see pending and overdue actions.
* **Team accountability**: View assignees alongside each task to facilitate workload distribution and accountability within laboratory teams.
* **Compliance auditing**: Use the task list as a lightweight checklist tied to compliance records, with the audit trail capturing each completion event.

## Interface

### Read-only View

The read-only view renders the task list as a paginated table with the following columns:

* **Status checkbox**: A circular checkbox on the left — click it once to mark the task complete (turns green with a checkmark), click again to revert.
* **Task name**: The record name of the task, displayed as a clickable link to the full task record.
* **Date range**: The task's start and end dates. Overdue date ranges are shown with a red badge; future or on-track ranges appear in neutral gray text.
* **Assignee**: The person responsible for the task, shown as a clickable link.
* **Notification**: An envelope icon indicating notification settings for the task.
* **Frequency**: The recurrence setting of the task (e.g., "Once", "Daily", "Weekly").
* **Actions**: Edit and subtask-add icons on the right for quick record-level operations.

Completed tasks are highlighted with a green row background, making it immediately obvious which tasks are done.

The footer displays the current page range and total row count (e.g., "1 to 7 of 7 Rows.").

<figure><img src="/files/KiedogBZ9keLEoxokjSn" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Click the task name link to open the full task record for detailed editing, comments, and file attachments.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
This widget is designed specifically for tables created from the Labii task template. Due to differences in column names, other tables may not display correctly.
{% endhint %}

## Configuration

The Tasks widget requires a task table and supports several optional settings to filter and tailor the displayed columns.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Open the section where you want to add the Tasks widget and click **Add Section**, then select **Tasks** from the widget library.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
In the configuration panel, set the **Table** field:

* Select the task table you created from the Labii task template. This is the only supported table type.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
Optionally configure additional settings:

* **Query**: To further narrow the results, enter a query string.
* **Columns**: Choose which columns to display in the task list.
* **Date column**: Select the Date column from the task table to populate the date range display.
* **Frequency column**: Select the Frequency column from the task table to populate the recurrence display.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click **Save** to apply the configuration. The task list will load immediately.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Required Settings

* **Table**: The task table to source data from. Must be a table built from the Labii task template.

### Optional Settings

* **Filter**: A pre-defined filter to narrow the result set shown in the widget.
* **Columns**: The specific columns to display. Defaults to all available columns if not set.
* **Date column**: The date range column in the task table used for due date display and overdue highlighting.
* **Frequency column**: The recurrence column in the task table used for the frequency display.

{% hint style="info" %}
If the Date column is not configured, overdue highlighting will not function. Always configure this setting for task management workflows.
{% endhint %}

## Additional Functions

### Fast Complete Action

The primary productivity feature of the Tasks widget is one-click task completion directly from the section view:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Locate the task you want to complete in the list.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click the circular checkbox on the left side of the task row.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
The task row turns green and the checkbox fills with a checkmark, indicating the task is complete. The action is saved immediately — no additional confirmation required.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
To undo a completion, click the checkbox again to revert the task to its open state.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Pagination

When a task table contains more records than the configured page size, the widget automatically paginates. Use the navigation controls in the widget footer to move between pages. The footer also shows the total count of tasks matching the current filter.

### Subtask Creation

Each task row includes an add-subtask icon (the branching icon on the right). Click it to create a child task linked to the current task, enabling hierarchical task breakdowns without leaving the section.

### Editing Tasks

Click the pencil (edit) icon on any task row to open an inline or full-record edit interface for that task.

## Best Practices

### Data Organization

* Always use a table created from the Labii task template to ensure column name compatibility.
* Apply a **Filter** to scope the widget to relevant tasks — for example, filter by a ForeignKey column that references the current record — so users see only the tasks pertinent to the record they are viewing.

### Performance

* Use the **Columns** setting to display only the columns your team needs. Hiding unused columns reduces visual noise and keeps the list scannable.
* Configure the **Filter** setting to limit result sets on large task tables, which improves load time and usability.

### Workflow Integration

* Combine the Tasks widget with the [Calendar](/widgets/section-widgets/productivity/calendars/calendar.md) widget on the same record to give both a list view and a date-based view of the same tasks.
* Use the **Frequency** column setting to surface recurring tasks, making it easy to spot maintenance or compliance tasks that repeat on a schedule.

{% hint style="success" %}
For project records, add one Tasks widget per project phase or team and apply a filter per widget. This gives a structured, phase-based view of all project tasks within a single record.
{% endhint %}

### Common Pitfalls

* **Avoid** selecting non-task tables in the Table setting — column name mismatches will result in empty or broken displays.
* **Avoid** leaving the Date column unconfigured if overdue highlighting is important to your workflow.
* **Instead**, always validate the widget display after configuration by checking that date ranges and frequency values appear as expected.

## Related Widgets

### Complementary Widgets

* [**ToDo**](/widgets/section-widgets/productivity/todo.md): A lightweight checklist widget for simple, unstructured to-do items within a single record. Use ToDo for quick ad-hoc checklists; use Tasks when you need a full task table with assignees, dates, and recurrence.
* [**Calendar**](/widgets/section-widgets/productivity/calendars/calendar.md): Displays scheduled events on a calendar. Combine with Tasks to view the same task dates in a calendar format.
* [**Scheduling**](/widgets/section-widgets/productivity/calendars/scheduling.md): Schedule resource usage linked to a record. Use alongside Tasks to coordinate equipment time with the task list for that equipment.


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