Automate tasks with task rules

Task rules run an action when something happens to a task or its project, such as assigning the next task when one is finished. Available on Suite. Task rules work only on saved tasks inside a project or a task template.

Without task rules, a project's status changes only when someone changes it.

Add a task rule

  1. Hover over the task and click the arrow to open its advanced options.
A project's task list with the arrow beside a task that opens the task's advanced options.
  1. Scroll down to the Rules section.
  2. Click ADD A RULE.
The Rules section of a task's advanced options, with the Add a Rule button.
  1. After WHEN, choose a condition. After THEN, choose an action. If you add more than one condition, all of them must be met for the action to run.
A new task rule, with a When condition and a Then action selected.
  1. To require this task to be completed before the project can be scheduled, turn on Required.
The Required toggle on a task, turned on so the project can't be scheduled until it's done.
  1. Click Save.

Conditions and actions

The options read as below. After some of them, you choose a status, color label, date or team member.

Rules based on this task

Conditions:

  • This task is completed/approved
  • This task is pending approval
  • This task becomes past due

Actions:

  • Change project status to
  • Change the owner of this project to
  • Change the label of this project
  • Reschedule this project
  • Send a notification to...

Rules based on another task

Conditions:

  • Another task is pending approval
  • Another task is completed/approved

Actions:

  • Assign this task to
  • Complete this task
  • Set this task due date to

Rules based on this project

Conditions:

  • This project's status is changed to
  • This project's label is changed to
  • This project's owner is changed to

Actions:

  • Assign this task to
  • Complete this task
  • Set this task due date to

Example rules

Assign the next task

Assign a task to a teammate when another task is finished. They're notified, so they know it's their turn.

A rule that assigns this task to a teammate when another task is completed.

Keep project timelines realistic

Reschedule the project if a task isn't finished by its due date, so the project isn't scheduled before every step is done.

A rule that reschedules the project when this task becomes past due.

Update the project's status

Let a task's status change the status of the whole project, for example during review.

A rule that changes the project's status when this task is pending approval.

Change the project to a scheduled status when the final task is finished.

A rule that changes the project to Scheduled when this final task is completed.

Learn more