# Create a Task

A task is an assignable unit of work. Every task is assigned to a specific role. The granularity of a task is generally a few hours to a few days and usually affects one or only a small umber of work products.

You should always create new method content in a Method Plug-in that you produce.
To create a task:

1. Expand the content package in which you want to create the task.
2. Right click Tasks, and then select New > Task. The task editor appears with the Description tab set as the default.
3. In the Name field, type a unique name for your task. the task name is the file name that appears in the Library View.
4. In the Presentation name field, type a presentation name. The presentation name is the name that appears in your published content and in the Configuration View. You can also make this name appear in the Library view by toggling the Show Presentation Names button in the Library view toolbar.
5. In the Brief Description field, type a short description of the new task.
6. Type a more detailed description of the new task in the Main Description field. The main description is a more detailed version of the description you typed into the Brief Description field. There are three ways you can create text for the description:
   - Directly, by typing it manually in the editor.
   - Copy from another similar role and then modify by using the editor.
   - Copy from an HTML source such as a published OpenUP/Basic Web site.
   Note: You can use the Rich Text Editor to edit or enter the text for any field that has a twisty symbol . Simply click the symbol to access the Rich Text Editor. Click the symbol again to close the Rich Text Editor. For more information see Rich Text Editor.
7. Complete the other task specific fields in Detail Information as needed. See Variability for information on creating variability.
8. Click the Steps tab. The Steps Editor appears.
   A task can have a series of steps that detail how to perform that task. The Step Editor allows you to:
   - Create a new step
     - Click the New button.
     - Give the Task a name in the Name field.
     - Describe the Task in the Description field.
   - Remove a step
     - Select the step to remove in the Steps field.
     - Click the Delete button.
   - Move a step up the list
     - Select the step you want to move up.
     - Click the Move Up button.
   - Move a step down the list
     - Select the step you want to move down.
     - Click the Move Down button
9. Click the Roles tab. This part of the editor allows you to define the roles that perform the task. You should select a role as the Performing Role for this task. You can also add one or more roles as Additional Performers. To add a role, click the Select or Add button as appropriate, select the role you want to add, and then click OK. To remove a role, select it in the Guidance box, and then click Clear or Remove as appropriate. When you select a role the brief description of that role is displayed.
10. Click the Work Products tab. This part of the editor allows you to define the work products that are inputs and outputs for this task. You can select any number of work products as Mandatory Inputs, Optional Inputs, and Outputs. To add a work product, click the appropriate Add button, select the work products you want to add, and then click OK. To remove a work product, select it in the appropriate box and then click the corresponding Remove button. When you select a work product the brief description of the work product is displayed.
11. Click the Guidance tab. This part of the editor allows you to add and remove guidance for the task. To add guidance, click the Add button, select the guidance you want to add, and then click OK. To remove guidance, select it in the Guidance box and then click Remove. When you select a guidance element the brief description of the guidance is displayed.
12. Click the Categories tab. A task can be included in one discipline and any number of custom categories. Open the Select dialog by clicking the appropriate Select or Add button next to the category lists. Select a single discipline or any number of custom categories, and then click OK. You can remove a task from a category by selecting it and then clicking the appropriate Remove button.
13. Click the Preview tab to view the newly created task as it will appear in a published Web page, and then save by closing the tab.

Parent topic: Create Method Content
Related concepts
Method Content
Variability
Related tasks
Create a Role
Create a Work Product
Create Guidance