# Creating Tasks (https://yapl.app/en/docs/user-guides/tasks/creating-tasks)

# Creating Tasks

Tasks define the individual work items within a plan. This guide covers creating tasks, adding subtasks, and building your Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

## When to Create Tasks

Create tasks to:

- **Define work** - Specify what needs to be done
- **Schedule activities** - Set dates and durations
- **Assign responsibility** - Identify who does the work
- **Track progress** - Monitor completion
- **Build structure** - Organize work hierarchically

## Creating a Task

### From the Tasks View

1. Open your plan
2. Navigate to **Tasks** tab
3. Click **Add Task**
4. Enter task details
5. Click **Save** or **Create**

### From the Gantt View

1. Open your plan
2. Navigate to **Timeline** tab
3. Click **Add Task** or use context menu
4. Enter task details
5. Save the task

### From Kanban View

1. Open your plan
2. Navigate to **Kanban** tab
3. Click **+** in a column
4. Enter task name
5. Task created in that status

## Task Fields

### Required Fields

| Field | Description | Requirements |
|-------|-------------|--------------|
| Task Name | Work description | Required |

### Common Fields

| Field | Description | Default |
|-------|-------------|---------|
| Description | Detailed explanation | Empty |
| Status | Current state | To Do |
| Start Date | When work begins | None |
| End Date | When work ends | None |
| Duration | Days of work | Calculated |

### Effort Fields

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| Planned Hours | Estimated effort |
| Actual Hours | Work completed |
| Remaining Hours | Estimated remaining |
| Progress | Completion percentage |

## Creating Subtasks

### What Are Subtasks

Subtasks break parent tasks into smaller pieces:
- Form the WBS hierarchy
- Roll up progress to parent
- Can have their own properties

### How to Create Subtasks

**From parent task:**
1. Click on parent task
2. Click **Add Subtask**
3. Enter subtask details
4. Save

**From task list:**
1. Click indent action on task
2. Task becomes subtask of above task

### Subtask Rules

- Subtasks inherit parent's dates (optionally)
- Progress can roll up to parent
- Dependencies can cross hierarchy levels

## WBS Codes

### Understanding WBS Codes

WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) codes provide hierarchical identification:

```
1.0 Phase 1
  1.1 Design
    1.1.1 Requirements
    1.1.2 Specifications
  1.2 Development
    1.2.1 Frontend
    1.2.2 Backend
```

### Automatic Numbering

YAPL automatically generates WBS codes based on:
- Task position in hierarchy
- Parent task's code
- Sequence among siblings

### Manual Adjustment

- Drag tasks to reorder
- Use indent/outdent to change hierarchy
- WBS codes update automatically

## Quick Task Creation

### Minimal Task

Create quickly with just a name:
1. Click **Add Task**
2. Enter name only
3. Create immediately
4. Add details later

### Keyboard Shortcuts

- **Insert** - Open Add Task dialog
- **Enter** - Save and close (if in dialog)
- **Escape** - Cancel creation
- **Tab** - Move to next field


## Task Creation Best Practices

### Naming Conventions

| Good | Poor |
|------|------|
| "Install electrical panel" | "Electrical" |
| "Review design documents" | "Review" |
| "Complete foundation pour" | "Foundation" |

### Task Size Guidelines

| Duration | Recommendation |
|----------|----------------|
| < 1 hour | Too small, combine with others |
| 1-40 hours | Ideal size |
| > 40 hours | Consider breaking into subtasks |

### Hierarchy Guidelines

- 3-5 levels typically sufficient
- Each parent should have 2+ children
- Balance depth vs. breadth

## After Creation

### Next Steps

1. **Add dates** - Set start and end dates
2. **Set duration** - Define work days
3. **Add dependencies** - Link related tasks
4. **Assign resources** - Identify who/what
5. **Set baseline** - When planning complete

### Verify Creation

- Task appears in task list
- Shows in Gantt timeline
- Visible on Kanban board

## Troubleshooting

### Cannot Create Task

**"Task limit reached"**
- Basic: 200 tasks max per plan
- Professional: 500 tasks max per plan
- Archive or remove unused tasks

**"You don't have permission"**
- Verify you have edit access to plan
- Check team role

### Task Not Appearing

- Refresh the page
- Check filters aren't hiding task
- Verify correct plan is open

### Dates Invalid

- End date must be on or after start date
- Check for constraint conflicts
- Review dependency impacts

## Related Topics

- [Task Properties](/docs/user-guides/tasks/task-properties) - Configure task details
- [Task Dependencies](/docs/user-guides/tasks/task-dependencies) - Link tasks
- [Task Groups](/docs/user-guides/tasks/task-groups) - WBS organization
- [Gantt Charts](/docs/user-guides/gantt) - Timeline editing