Subtasks with inherited information from top level task

I am using a column with dropdown information which is equivalent to a bucket…I am using the word "Deliverable"

When I add a subtask which are a component of that task (indented tasks in the grid view), they don't inherit the Deliverable that is allocated to the top level task.

I then have to go back to the grid view and add them manually.

Why don't subtasks inherit information when if as a project they roll up to the start and finish dates and % complete if set?

I now have to think about formulas and workarounds for this. In products like planner and project online, any subtasks are linked to the main item. Any tasks in project that are indented tasks do get the "bucket" that they are in.

I am going to put a feature request in additional fields that have roll up features.

If anyone has this experience it would be good to know

Thanks

Purnima

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SoS | Dan Palenchar

Hello @Purnima Gore_PGPS,

I have a solution for this situation, it works like this:

Create a back end column with a formula that inherits the Bucket value of a child's parent. I call this Bucket Helper. Input the formula =PARENT(Bucket@row)
Use a Change Cell Automation to update the Bucket column when Bucket Helper changes.

The Sheet looks like this:

And this is the automation to use:

Note that this automation will need to be expanded for every Bucket option. You can do this by adding more condition chains in the automation (recommended) or duplicating the automation and making one for each individual option (messier but will work).

Access a published Sheet or interact with it below:

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=ac0dccde81404714ab3ea0cbe4608eb3

Hope this helps!

Purnima Gore_PGPS

Hi @SoS | Dan Palenchar

Thanks for this. I had a look through what you proposed and didn't really want that many automations.

I found a faster way of doing this without the automations.

Bucket Helper (I called it Project Helper)
Parent Column (=IF(COUNT(CHILDREN()) > 0, 1, 0) so if there are child task these are shown as 0
Project Column (Dropdown) with Formula =IF(Parent@row = 1, [Task Name]@row, [Project Helper]@row)
Create a Task with the subtask so it can be a Project name, Deliverable Name etc whatever you want it to be and it inherits from the top automatically.

I will be using updating the formula so that if there is more multiple sub tasks, I can make it work.

Thanks for your help, it did make me think differently about the helper column

All the best @Purnima Gore_PGPS

SoS | Dan Palenchar

Glad you found a solution @Purnima Gore_PGPS !

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