Editing and creating Project Tasks

The iProject has a built-in feature that allows you to sort project folders into specific task groups. At the top level, a task falls under a category. This category is usually something general such as a field of study like Geology or Engineering. The task category is useful for grouping similar tasks together. The next level down is the task itself. This is usually something more specific and geared towards accomplishing a specific input/output life cycle of data. For instance, a typical task would be to "Build 3d Geomodel" and it would have an assortment of data directories that would hold input data and another set that holds output data. As a Project Administrator you'll most likely be responsible for creating and maintaining Project Tasks.

To create new tasks or update existing tasks, open the Administration menu, then click on Edit Project Tasks. A "Project Tasks" window will open and you'll be presented with a list of the current tasks in the project. Along the left side of the screen are a series of buttons that allow you to make changes to the existing tasks or make new tasks. Next to this is the window that shows you the current task, task groups, and input and output data directories assigned to each task. Selecting an item from this list will populate the fields on the right side of the window. These fields will display the name of the item you've selected along with any description they might have.

Let's review the buttons on the left hand side of the window, as these will be what you primarily use to create and modify tasks.

	New Task Area - This creates a new Task Area. A Task Area is usually a discipline or broad area of study in which tasks will be grouped under. For example, Geology, Petrophysics and Engineering could all be Task Areas. A task area is created just below the root.
	Add New Task - Clicking this button will create a new task. A task is basically a two-step workflow that allows someone to quickly view and access input and output data related to the task. For example, a task could be "Build Geomodel" and the input and output data directories would be the specific directories where input and output data would be stored within the project. You would be able to quickly see the task you're looking for and access the relevant directories without having to sort through the tree and try and take a guess at where best to store the data. Creating a new task will also create the Input and Output Data Directories folders. These folders don't store any actual data, they simply link you to the directories that do.
	Add directories to task - This will add directories to an input or output data directory section of a task. You first select a data directory store beneath a task. Click the Add directories to task button and a Select Project Directory Window will open up. This window shows the directory tree for the project you're in, and you can choose a folders to add to that data direcory store. You can use the Shift and Ctrl keys on your keyboard to select multiple directories in this screen to add at once. When you're finished, click Ok and those directories will be added.
	Move selection up in the list - When you click this button with a task area selected, the task area will move up in the list. This allows you to change the order of task areas. A task area will not move anywhere but beneath the root of the project. With a task selected, this button does the same thing, only a task can be moved either to the root, or to a location beneath one of the task areas. You may not move data directory stores or data directories with this button.
	Move selection down in the list - Works exactly the same as the "Move up" button described above, only moves the selected task or task area down in the list instead.
	Remove selected item - Marks an existing Task Area, Task, or data directory for removal. Instead of actually removing the directory, the directory will be marked with a Red X. This means the directory will not be created (if you just created it)or will be removed when you save your changes. If you remove data directories, you are not actually removing the data or the directories they contain, you are only removing them from being asigned to the task they fall under.
	Restore selected item - Restores an item marked for removal. If you've marked a directory for removeal but have changed you mind, you can use the restore button to delete the red x that marks it to be removed.

So, using the buttons described above, you can create or modify tasks and task areas with in this window. You can add a description to any task you select, and you can change the names of tasks and task areas as well by using the section on the right side of the window. In order to save a changed name or description, you must click the Set button before clicking a new item from the list on the right. Failure to do so means you'll lose the changes you've made. Clicking the Reset button will reset the name and description to what they were when you first clicked the directory. The reset button does not work once you've clicked the Set button after making changes. If you've made any changes to the name or description, or any of the tasks, task areas, or data directories in the left panel, you may click the Cancel button at the bottom of the window to close the window and return to where you were before. Once you've made changes that you'd like to keep, you must click the Save button to save your changes before closing the window.

Back	Home	Next