Status of task instances

Task instance status (vs. Work order status)

When looking at a recurrent tasks, they will generate so called task instances that has been described here in another article. 

These task instances will get a certain status that is independent from other status (i.e. on work order). This status is then reflected in another column in the task instance list and in the task Gantt overview. Colors and / or symbols are used to give a quick graphical overview, but we must keep in mind that this status is not reflecting the actual status of the work orders created from the task (instances).

As stated before, a line is created in the task instance list on recurrent task for each instance when this task is to be performed, and most often work orders are created automatically at each point. Each task instance gets a date and status.

A task instance can have following status (left column on pic.) Planned, Started, Finished and Cancelled. A description of each of those status is following: 

A task instance will become Planned when the instance is generated.

If the date has not yet passed it will get a yellow color.

If the date is due, the status column on the right will show a red color and text that says it is behind schedule. This could happen if the task instance was not started.

If/when a planned task instance is started, it will get a work order with the same start date (and time) as the instance. An automatic action can be set up to start the instances i.e. create the work orders but perhaps that happens in some days advance according to the task registration (days before). 

A task instance will become Started when the instance is started (manually or with automatic action).

Then the status will be indicated in the list with at green color, but in the Gantt scheme it will get a wrench icon.

 A task instance will become Finished when the instance is finished on work order.
Notice that the only possible way to finish a task instance is by changing status of the work order that was created from the instance to Finished. When this happens, the status of the task instance is also changed and it is indicated in the list (and Gantt) with a green color. Notice that this status is not changed back if the work order status is changed later to any other status (apart from Cancelled).

A task instance will become Cancelled when the instance is either cancelled manually or through work order.

It is possible to run an action on task instance to cancel it, before it becomes started. Then the status becomes grey but notice that here is no work order attached to the instance.  A cancelled instance can be activated again with an action. 

A task instance that has been started and has a work order can be cancelled, but only by changing the status of the work order to Cancelled. Then the status becomes grey in the list (and Gantt). Notice that this status is not changed back if the work order status is changed later to any other status (apart from Finished).

Gantt overview

The status described here above is reflected in the Gantt view for the task. Similar status i.e. if many task instances are behind schedule in a row, they are combined in one and a number is shown on how many they are within each period. Notice that the Gantt is only showing this task instance status and if perhaps some work order has been created manually from the task without a task instance, that is not included in the Gantt overview. But task instances can be moved around and created manually like there is need for. 

Gantt view with year period