Tasks

The task component allows the creation of task lists and work assignments. As a standalone, the task component is very useful for managing a project. It allows team members to indicate who should do what and when, see current task status, estimate hours required to complete a task, record hours spent completing the task, and compare estimated to actual times. Because the application contains both a version control system and a change request system, it also allows tasks to be linked to the files and product defects or suggestions with which they are associated.

The task component can be used independently or interoperate with data from Microsoft Project. It can display tasks in a tree format, which clearly shows the relationship between tasks and subtasks, or in a list format, which allows tasks to be sorted, grouped, or queried, or specific fields to be selected for display. To improve efficiency, each task displays icons that identify its status, priority, milestone, and need for attention. For information about interoperating with Microsoft Project, see the StarTeam Microsoft Project Integration User’s Guide.

With the StarTeam task component, you can create an individual task or a summary task that has a set of subtasks. It is recommended that you plan tasks before entering them because:

A task that has even one subtask cannot have work records added to it, although work records can be added to subtasks. The application assumes that the name of the task indicates a goal, perhaps a milestone, that will be reached when the subtasks are completed.
After a work record has been added to a task, you cannot create subtasks for it.

Note: Regardless of whether work records can be added to a task, you should assign the responsibility for its completion to a specific team member. If work records can be added to a task, you should also estimate how long the task should take.