New feature: Task hierarchy

[Barry]

Hi,

In a future release of Outlook, please consider letting users create a
hierarchy of task and subtasks, just like the hierarchy of folders and
sub-folders.

It would be most useful to be able to arrange my tasks by creating top-level
tasks that contain sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, etc. i.e. just like folders.


Thank you!

Barry Fruitman

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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...22cd65b39&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

With all due respect, that is what project management software is for.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

In a future release of Outlook, please consider letting users create a
hierarchy of task and subtasks, just like the hierarchy of folders and
sub-folders.

It would be most useful to be able to arrange my tasks by creating
top-level
tasks that contain sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, etc. i.e. just like folders.

http://openproj.org/

 

[Doug]

I fail to understand why Microsoft doesn't see a place in between Outlook
Tasks and project management software. I view tasks in Outlook in the same
way I look at My Documents.

Within My Documents, I don't have a single directory with hundreds of files.
I have subfolders which allow me to organize my personal information. I don't
need to assign permissions or share this information with other people within
my organization; that's the role of a file server.

I can even create subfolders for my mail within Outlook, I don't need
Exchange server to do that, unless I want to share these folders with other
people in my organization.

Similarly, I do have a need to organize my own tasks with a hierarchy within
Outlook, yet I'm constrained by a flat structure. I don't need to share this
information with other people, create charts, dependencies, etc. That's
overkill when I simply want to organize my own personal information.

I completely agree that project mangement software is essential for
large-scale projects that require multiple people, complex timelines, etc.
But there is definitely an in-between for personal use.

Doug

With all due respect, that is what project management software is for.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

Hi,

In a future release of Outlook, please consider letting users create a
hierarchy of task and subtasks, just like the hierarchy of folders and
sub-folders.

It would be most useful to be able to arrange my tasks by creating
top-level
tasks that contain sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, etc. i.e. just like folders.


Thank you!

Barry Fruitman

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...22cd65b39&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[Johnny]

Hi Milly,

Not all tasks with subtasks are projects.
Eg month end closing in a financials system and include a group of tasks -
however I would never run it as a project.

Instead I am currently bound to pen, paper, visio diagrams and excel sheets.

Not exactly the office revolution in effect I was hoping for.

Rgds,
J.

With all due respect, that is what project management software is for.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

Hi,

In a future release of Outlook, please consider letting users create a
hierarchy of task and subtasks, just like the hierarchy of folders and
sub-folders.

It would be most useful to be able to arrange my tasks by creating
top-level
tasks that contain sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, etc. i.e. just like folders.


Thank you!

Barry Fruitman

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...22cd65b39&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Unfortunately, you'll be bound to pen and paper and other methods for a but
longer. Tasks hierarchy is a popular request but it won't be in the next
version either.

--

Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



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http://forums.slipstick.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34

Hi Milly,

Not all tasks with subtasks are projects.
Eg month end closing in a financials system and include a group of tasks -
however I would never run it as a project.

Instead I am currently bound to pen, paper, visio diagrams and excel
sheets.

Not exactly the office revolution in effect I was hoping for.

Rgds,
J.

With all due respect, that is what project management software is for.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

Hi,

In a future release of Outlook, please consider letting users create a
hierarchy of task and subtasks, just like the hierarchy of folders and
sub-folders.

It would be most useful to be able to arrange my tasks by creating
top-level
tasks that contain sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, etc. i.e. just like
folders.


Thank you!

Barry Fruitman

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the
"I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and
then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...22cd65b39&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[Lionel]

Coupled with sharing the task lists this would become a very handy (dare I
productivity enhancing tool),
especially for people in different timezones.....

I've just switched over to office 2007 and outwardly (apart from moving the
menus around) it looks kind
of the same. So if MS can spent money on that........

 

[Fred]

Here is a way to create subcategories for outlook tasks. Using this method
you can view your tasks by category and subcategory.

Add a new Subcategory field to a Task folder like this (Outlook 2003):
Open a Task.
Tools > Forms > Design this form
Select All Fields tab.
Click New.
Define your new field as follows:

Name: CategoryLevel2
Type: Text
Format: Text

Save and close the task

Create a view grouped by categories and subcategories:

View > Arrange By > Current View > Define Views
Select the "By Category" row
Select "Copy"
Enter a new name "Hierarchy"
Select OK

Group By
( "Group items by" should contain "Categories" )
In the "Select available fields from" box, select "User-defined fields
in this folder"
In the first "Then by" box, select the new category "Category2" and
"Show field in view"
Select OK

Select Apply View

You should now see a view grouped by category and subcategory.

You can enter categories and subcategories within the fields in the view.
You can also drag and drop between categories and subcategories.

Other recommendations:
Filter out the completed tasks
Sort by priority and/or subject

(adapted from http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/subcats.htm)