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How to set up repeated tasks and subtasks

Is there something you do regularly? Do you sometimes forget? We have very useful help for you: create a repeated task or a repeated subtask

Repeated tasks (or recurring tasks) is a great feature that helps you regularly remember what to do. You won’t forget the weekly report and an accountant will have all details always on time.

Let Freelo work for you. Use repeated tasks in everyday processes.

It can be used for:

  • Invoicing a client for regular services
  • Colleague’s birthdays
  • PPC review
  • Team retrospective
  • 1-to-1 retrospective

Features of repeated tasks

There are some very important rules, you need to know, so you use repeating correctly and as you need:

  • New repeated task is created only when the previous repeated task is completed.
  • When there is a repeated task with a due date, the new task is created with a due date from X days, counted from the day of task creation.
  • The assigned user of the new task is always the last assigned user, no matter who completed the task.
  • Repeated tasks are always created at midnight.
  • The scheduled repeated tasks are not visible ahead.
  • Author of the repeated task always gets notification.
  • Only the current recurring task is ever displayed in the Calendar. Not all scheduled recurring tasks are visible.
Important glossary of basic terms:

  • Frequency = period of repetition (weekly, monthly, annually)
  • Repeat every x day/week = the day or week, when the task is repeated
  • Working days only = the task is repeated only Monday to Friday
  • Start creating repeated tasks on… = the date, when the first repeated task is created
  • Never = task repeating is endless
  • After x repetitions = repeated task is repeated only several times
  • Ends on… = the task won’t be repeated after the specific date
  • Task with due date = the task has a due date, due date is set for + x days from the creation of a repeated task.
    For example the task is created on 10th and you set due date + 5 so the due date is on 15th. You see the task 5 days before its due date.
    The first due date needs to be set manually.
  • Do not create new task just restore the completed one = the task is restored also with all previous discussion, where you can carry on, reports are merged, if you create a new task there is no history and it is plain new task
  • Copy the first comment to a new task = please note the most important information is in the first comment, that comment is always copied to the new repeated task
  • Remember the default To-Do list and always create the task in it = no matter where you move the finished task, the new repeated task will always be created in the default To-Do list, where the original task was created

How to create repeated task

You can create a repeated task from the existing task only. You can edit the repetition anytime.

Go to task detail and in the right menu click Repeat task… Another way is via the three-dot menu on the left from a task name and click Repeat task… This is possible on project, To-Do list and task detail.

2 options how to create a repeated task.
2 options how to create a repeated task.

A modal window will appear where you can specify all details about task repeating. Always confirm via Save.

Set up all the details and confirm via Save.
Set up all the details and confirm via Save.

Edit repeated task

You can edit all repeated tasks. All information can be changed, such as first comment, due date, assignee, or follower. Click the icon of the round arrow and edit what appears.

How to edit repeated task.
How to edit repeated tasks.

Cancel repeated task

You can cancel repeated tasks via the editing window of the task click Cancel Repeated task.

How to cancel repeated tasks.
How to cancel repeated tasks.

Repeated subtasks

Similarly to repeated tasks, you can also set up repeated subtasks. The process is the same – use the three-dot menu on the subtask detail page, set the required criteria and confirm via clicking the green Save button.

Just like with repeated tasks, you can edit or cancel the recurrence of subtasks at any point in time.

Setting up a repeated subtask.
Setting up a repeated subtask.

Mutual blocking of repeated tasks

If you have a repeated task set, Freelo won’t let you set up a repeated subtask that’s directly subordinate to it and vice versa.

Warning that you can't set up a repeated task if it contains a repeated subtask.

Examples of repeated tasks

Task repeated daily

  • Repeats only on working days (from the date of creation of repeated task)
  • Task is repeated ten times and then terminated
  • Completed task is restored, new task is not created
How to set up a repeated task for every weekday.
How to set up a repeated task for every weekday.

Task repeated weekly

  • Repeat every week on Thursday (the day of creation)
  • Without ending
  • New repeated task is always created
  • The first comment is always copied in the new task
How to set up repeated tasks on a weekly basis.
How to set up repeated tasks on a weekly basis.

Task repeated monthly (quarterly)

  • Repeats every three months on the 5th day of a month
  • The repetition ends on 31st December 2022
  • Due date is in 30 days since the creation
  • New task is always created
  • The first comment is always copied in the new task
How to set up quarterly repeated tasks.
How to set up quarterly repeated tasks.

Task repeated annually

  • Repeats once a year on the 1st Monday of the year
  • Without ending
  • New task is always created
  • The first comment is always copied in the new task
How to set up annually repeated tasks.
How to set up annually repeated tasks.

Repeated task with due date

  • Repeats every third week on Monday
  • Starts on 3rd May 2021
  • Task is repeated 5 times and then stopped
  • Task has due date at 8AM in 4 days since the creation
  • New task is always created
  • The first comment is always copied in the new task
  • While editing the task, set up the first due date of the task
How to set up a repeated task with a due date for the current task.
How to set up a repeated task with a due date for the current task.

After you save the repeated task, it is still necessary to set the first due date. Set up the due date as usual. Then you can see the task in Calendar and Freelo will notify you automatically.

Set up due date for the first repeated task.
Set up a due date for the first repeated task.

Visible future repeated tasks

All repeated tasks are not visible. You can always see only the current one that is active because the scheduled ones do not exist at the moment. Repeated tasks will be created in the future as scheduled.

If you want to see tasks planned a little bit ahead, create two identical tasks.

  • Create two identical tasks
  • Repeated every other week on Friday
  • Each task is created on a different Friday
  • Both tasks are without ending
  • Both tasks have due date in 7 days since the creation
  • Tasks are restored
  • While editing both tasks, set up the first due date of the tasks
Identical repeated tasks in a To-Do list.
Identical repeated tasks in a To-Do list.

The first repeated task

Setting the first identical repeated tasks.
Setting the first identical repeated tasks.

The second repeated task

Setting the second identical repeated task.
Setting the second identical repeated task.
Example of repeated tasks visible in the Calendar.
Example of repeated tasks visible in the Calendar.
Do you want an overview of repeated tasks?

We would recommend creating one project for repeated tasks and processes only, all of the tasks will be at one place. Or check the overview of repeated tasks.

Updated on 1.3.2024

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