Using Tasks in OWA

Using Tasks in OWA

The Tasks option in Outlook Web Access is similar to a to-do list. Tasks can be created, viewed , and organized.

Creating Tasks

You can create tasks in OWA 2003 as you do in Outlook 2003. Tasks are used to remind yourself of jobs that must be completed by certain dates or times. It also enables you to set due dates and reminders and to follow the percent the task has been completed and its status. Tasks can be thought of as works in progress, because all criteria inside them can be easily changed when the task is saved, enabling frequent updates to the task's status or other specifics.

The Subject, Due date, and Completion status criteria can be sorted in the middle pane view while accessing tasks, making it easy to sort and view tasks.

To access tasks, click the Tasks button in the shortcut bar, or click New, Task in the Infobar. The New Task dialog box appears.

The methods used to input the subject, set the due dates and start dates, set a reminder, add attachments, complete text in the text box, and configure the task as recurring have been discussed earlier in the chapter and are applicable to configure tasks.

When the task has been configured, click Save and Close to finish the task and save it to your task list. The task will then appear on the list of tasks. The default order of the tasks is by due date, and tasks with no due date appear first.

Task Views

Like other OWA functions, tasks provide you with multiple views that can make the organization and viewing of tasks easier:

• Simple List The simple list provides a one-line list by subject and due date, and indicates whether the task is completed.

• Detailed List The detailed list provides the same criteria as the simple list, but indicates percentage completed, status, attachments, and importance.

• Active Tasks Active tasks include the same criteria as the detailed view, but don't show any tasks that are 100% completed.

• Next 7 Days This view includes only the tasks that are due in the next seven days.

• Overdue Tasks Overdue tasks are all the tasks that are overdue and aren't marked as completed.

• Taskpad The Taskpad view shows only the subject and due date for all tasks, with the status of in progress, not started, or waiting on someone else.