Task Manager 20|20 Frequently Asked Questions

A: Initially log-on with user name SiteAdmin with a blank password.

A: Double-click the file you downloaded from Windows Explorer then follow the on-screen instructions. Once Task Manager 20|20 is installed, view the online Getting Started Tutorial (approx. 5-7 minutes).

A: You can install the 45-day trial version on an unlimited number of networked computers. If you want to install the full (purchased) version on a network you need to have the correct license version.

Always install the program to a local (e.g. C:) drive, even when you intend to use it in a network environment. To share the same data with other users, view the Task Manager 20|20 User Manual "Network" Topic. This user manual topic will tell you how to share data over a network.

A: Yes. All data is stored in the live data file named Data.Mdb, normally located in the C:\Program Files\Task Manager 20-20 folder.

A: Yes. The trial version is fully enabled with all of the features of the full version.

A: The Task Manager 20|20 trial version has an anti-tamper copy protection mechanism that is triggered if the trial version is re-installed on the same computer.

Solution

To keep using the trial version for 45 days, please email restore-trial @ orbisoft.com (remove the gaps in the email address).

A: Yes, Task Manager 20|20 works on a Mac so long as the Mac has Parallels installed. If you don't have Parallels installed and are wanting to purchase Task Manager 20|20, contact Orbisoft Sales for a redemption coupon to get the cost of Parallels deducted off any Task Manager 20|20 license purchase.

A: If you haven't already done so, do the online Getting Started Tutorial to help you get the most out of using Task Manager 20|20.

A: Yes, Task Manager 20|20 can be used over the Internet with any of the following:

• Windows Remote Desktop
• Citrix
• Other remote desktop sharing options

A: Use the Task/Job Name field as the main project or client name and the Task Description field as the sub-project (or sub-task) name.

Example 1



Example 2


After entering tasks into Task Manager in this way, select Reports >>, Work... from the Task Manager top menubar. Then run either the Open Tasks By Project or the Open Tasks By Client work report.

Filtering by Project/Client

In addition to reporting by project or client, quickly view and edit all sub-tasks relating to a particular project or client by:

1. Selecting Tasks>>, Edit/View Existing...
2. Placing the cursor in the Task/Job Name field
3. Selecting Filter>>, By Example.

All tasks relating to the project or client shown in the Task/Job Name field will then be displayed. To see a list of all of these related tasks, click the Task ID field drop-down.

See also:
Knowledgebase article Q1030: Generating Sub-Tasks Automatically.

A: No, not unless you're entering a date which is in another year. For example, if you enter "8-8" in a date field, Task Manager 20|20 will automatically change the date entry to e.g. 08/08/2020 (while your computer clock is at 2020) depending on your Windows control panel Short Date Setting.

A: Yes. Completed tasks can be viewed by clicking on the Show/Hide Completed Tasks button located on the right vertical toolbar on the Edit/View Tasks screen.

To bring a completed task back to become a current task, simply erase the Date Completed.

A: Yes.

• Add your own custom fields by clicking on the Setup User-Defined Fields button on the second tab of the Edit/View Existing Tasks screen
• Remove all unwanted fields from Work Reports, including built-in fields:
  
  
  1. Select Reports >>, Work Reports... from the Task Manager top menubar
  2. Select the Work Report that you want to remove a built-in field from
  3. Click More >> then Fields...
  4. Highlight the row containing the field
  5. Either delete the row with the DEL key or by using the delete icon (or Hide the field if it is required by a custom field that you have created)
• On the task entry screen, all but the Task Description and Team Member fields can be left blank. Both of these fields can have default values assigned to them.

A: Two alternate ways of doing this are:

1. Keep the Date Allocated field blank until a task is assigned:
   
   Copy and amend relevant work reports to filter in or out Unallocated Tasks, i.e. by setting the field Criteria for the Date Allocated field to:
   
   <> Null
   
   or
   
   = Null
   
   Change and save an unallocated report, prefixing the title with the word "Unallocated" or "Backlog".
   
   Once the task is started, edit the task details filling in the date allocated field with the current date.
   
   
2. Create a team member called "UAL - Unallocated". A typical work report would then look like:
   
   MS - Mary Smith
   ---------------
   Task 1 ...
   Task 5 ...
   Task 8 ...
   etc
   
   JB - Joe Bloggs
   ---------------
   Task 15 ...
   Task 84 ...
   Task 5 ...
   etc
   
   UAL - Unallocated
   -----------------
   Task 45 ...
   Task 12 ...
   Task 87 ...
   etc
   
   When the unallocated task is ready to be allocated, simply edit the task, changing the Allocated To person from UAL - Unallocated, to the appropriate person.

A: You need to assign Field Permissions for that new user-defined field:

1. Select Tools>>, Security>>, Field Permissions... from the Task Manager top menubar
2. Select the appropriate group or individual to whom you want to give the field permission to by using the Groups/Users selector. To give everyone permission to change data in your new user-defined field, select the Users group
3. Tick the checkbox listed next to the user-defined field name listed in under Permissions.

A: The team member selector needs to be initialized (this will only need to be done once). Click on the Selected... button in the Using Parameters option group. Click on Select All.

A: Yes. Following example illustrates how to do this.

Perform these steps:

1. Select Reports>>, Work Reports... from the Task Manager top menubar
2. Create a new work report called Sample Comments:
   
   
   • Click on the New button
   • Type the words Sample Comments in the Name field
   • Press the ENTER key
3. Click More>> then click Fields...
4. Add the following three fields:
   
   Task ID
   Task/Job Name
   Custom 01
   
   (Note the field Custom 01 can be selected from the drop-down box by scrolling at the end of the drop down list)
5. Insert the following data into the respective field properties:
   Field

   Title

   Expand Vertically

   Custom Source

   Task ID

    

   No

    

   Task/Job Name

    

   No

    

   Custom 01

   Comments

   Yes

   IIf(Not IsNull([Notes]),
   Left([Notes],Instr([Notes],"*")))
6. You can also increase the Width property for the fields Task/Job Name and Custom 01. E.g. try 1500 and 3000 twips respectively
7. Close the report. Select Add New Tasks from the Task Manager top menubar and make a new task.
   
   For the Notes field, create a series of dated comments as below (remember to use SHIFT+F2 to zoom the Notes field). Always insert new notes at the beginning of the field.
   21-JAN-2020 Found lost schedule. Able to continue. *
   25-DEC-2024 Can't find schedule. On hold. *
   11-NOV-2024 Decided to use schedule from Department A. *
   
   
8. Note the following keyboard shortcut keys that can be used in the Notes zoom window:
   
   
   Action

   Keyboard Shortcut

   To zoom a field (e.g. Notes)

   SHIFT+F2

   To insert the current date

   CTRL + ;

   To insert the current time

   CTRL + :

   To insert a new line

   CTRL + ENTER
9. When run, the sample report will only display the latest notes.

A: Click on the "Buy" link located on the top navigation bar of this page to view pricing for Task Manager 20|20.

A: Search the Support Knowledgebase with your question or keywords.

If you still can't find a solution, email an Orbisoft Support Engineer with your specific question.