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Configuration Scope: Exportable

This setting is included in configuration exports and will be the same across all environments once the config file is imported.

Configuring Task Due Date Options

This guide explains how to configure advanced due date options for tasks in Brief Connect workflows. These features provide flexibility in how due dates are assigned and managed across different task types and workflows.

Accessing the Configuration

To configure task due date options:

  1. Log in to Brief Connect with administrative privileges
  2. Navigate to Admin Panel → Workflows
  3. Select "Edit Properties" the workflow group you want to modify
  4. Click "Edit" on the specific workflow transition
  5. Configure the due date options in the transition settings dialog

Overview

Brief Connect offers several approaches to managing task due dates:

  1. Auto-population from linked record fields - Automatically populate task due dates from existing date fields in the record
  2. Automatic timeframe calculation - Set due dates automatically by adding a specified number of days to the task assignment date
  3. Enhanced time picker options - Choose between standard Brief Connect date picker or native browser datetime controls
  4. No due date option - Configure tasks that don't require due dates

Configuration Summary

The due date options work together according to this priority:

  1. No Due Date (highest priority) - If checked, overrides all other settings

  2. Can Select Due Date - If checked, enables manual due date selection

  3. Due Date Field - If specified, auto-populates from record field

  4. Due Date Full Control - If checked, uses native datetime picker instead of standard picker
  5. Due Date Timeframe - If "Can Select Due Date" is unchecked, automatically calculates due date

Auto-Population from Linked Record Fields

Description

When manual due dates are required for tasks, you can configure the system to automatically populate the due date from an existing date field in the record. This eliminates the need for users to manually enter dates that already exist elsewhere in the record.

Use Case Example

A "Send to Decision Maker" transition has due date enabled, but instead of requiring manual entry, it automatically populates from the record's "Due Date to Decision Maker" field value.

Configuration Steps

  1. Access Workflow Configuration

  2. Navigate to the Admin Panel

  3. Go to Workflows section
  4. Select the workflow group containing the transition you want to configure
  5. Edit the specific workflow transition

  6. Enable Auto-Population

  7. Check the "Can Select Due Date" toggle

  8. From the "Due Date Field" dropdown, select the source field from available date fields in the record type
  9. This will automatically populate the due date from the selected record field when the task is created

  10. Configure User Interface

  11. Check "Due Date Full Control" to provide users with a native datetime picker for manual entry

  12. Leave unchecked to use the standard Brief Connect date picker component (hour selected via dropdown)

  13. Test the Configuration

  14. Create a test record with the source date field populated

  15. Trigger the workflow transition
  16. Verify the due date is automatically populated from the source field

Custom Timeframe Logic

Description

Configure automatic due dates based on predefined timeframes without requiring users to manually set dates. This feature calculates due dates relative to when the task is assigned.

Use Case Example

A "Prepare feedback and comment" task assigned to a Collaborator automatically has a due date of 2 days from the day the task is assigned.

How It Works

The automatic timeframe calculation is simple and straightforward:

  • You specify a number of days in the "Due Date Timeframe (days)" field
  • When a task is assigned, the system adds that number of days to the current date/time
  • The calculated due date is automatically set for the task

Note: The current implementation uses calendar days, not working days. Weekends and holidays are included in the calculation.

Configuration Steps

  1. Access Workflow Configuration

  2. Navigate to the Admin Panel → Workflows

  3. Select the workflow group and edit the transition

  4. Configure Automatic Timeframe

  5. Ensure "Can Select Due Date" is unchecked (this enables automatic calculation)

  6. In the "Due Date Timeframe (days)" field, enter the number of days to add to the current date
  7. The system will automatically calculate the due date by adding this number of days to when the task is assigned

  8. Disable Due Dates (Optional)

  9. Check "No Due Date" if tasks should have no due date requirement

  10. This overrides all other due date settings and sets the due date to maximum value (effectively no due date)

No Due Date Option

Description

Some tasks may not require due dates. The "No Due Date" option allows you to configure tasks that should not have any due date requirement.

Configuration Steps

  1. Access Workflow Configuration

  2. Navigate to Admin Panel → Workflows

  3. Edit the specific workflow transition

  4. Enable No Due Date

  5. Check the "No Due Date" toggle

  6. This overrides all other due date settings for this transition

  7. Behavior

  8. Tasks created with this option will not display due date fields to users

  9. The system sets the due date to a maximum value (effectively no due date)
  10. Users will not be prompted to enter due dates when creating these tasks

Enhanced Time Picker Options

Description

Customise the time selection interface when users need to manually set due dates, providing more precise control over timing.

Time Picker Configurations

Brief Connect offers two distinct time picker interfaces for manual due date entry:

Standard Date Picker (Default)

  • Custom Brief Connect date picker component
  • Integrated date and time selection
  • Business hours constraint (7 AM - 7 PM by default)
  • Validation for minimum/maximum date ranges
  • Consistent with the rest of Brief Connect UI

Native DateTime Picker (Full Control)

  • Browser's native datetime-local input
  • Full 24-hour time selection capability
  • More granular time control (minutes and seconds)
  • Better mobile device support
  • Direct keyboard input support

Configuration Steps

  1. Access Time Picker Settings

  2. Navigate to Admin Panel → Workflows

  3. Edit the specific workflow transition
  4. Ensure "Can Select Due Date" is checked

  5. Choose Picker Type

  6. Standard Picker: Leave "Due Date Full Control" unchecked (default)

  7. Native Picker: Check "Due Date Full Control" for the native datetime-local input

  8. Configure Constraints

  9. Set minimum/maximum due date ranges as needed

  10. Business hours are automatically applied to the standard picker (7 AM - 7 PM)

Additional Resources