Customize tasks to help manage your to-dos (OL)

Make a task recur

You can set recurring tasks to particular dates, or regenerate tasks with a specified time in between occurrences.
What is difference between a recurring and a regenerating task?

1. In an open task, on the Task tab, in the Options group, click Recurrence.

2. In the Task Recurrence dialog box, click the frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly or Yearly) with which the task should recur, and then do one of the following:
• Make the task recur at set intervals     In the Recurrence pattern section, select the options for the frequency interval that you want. Do not select Regenerate new task or the task will not recur at regular intervals.
• Make the task recur based on completion date     Select Regenerate new task, and in the box, type the amount of time after which a new task must be generated.

Add a reminder

You can customize when reminders appear, and whether the reminder includes playing a sound.

1. Do one of the following:

• In the Tasks view     Click the task to which you want to attach a reminder. On the Home tab, in the Tags group, click Follow Up and then click Add Reminder.

Alternately, you can right-click the task, click Follow Up and then click Add Reminder.

• In an open task     Select the Reminder check box.

2. Enter the date and time you want the reminder to appear.
3. To specify a custom sound to be played with the reminder, click , click Browse, select the sound file to play, click Open, and then click OK. This changes the reminder sound only for this task.

Track task progress

You can track your progress toward finishing each Outlook task.

• In an open task, type or click the options you want in the Status, Priority, and % Complete boxes.

The Status and % Complete fields depend on one another. By changing the value in one field, the value in the other field changes accordingly.

  Tip    You can send an e-mail message reporting the status showing in these boxes. On the Task tab, in the Manage Task group, click Send Status Report. A new message opens and you can add any supporting details about progress on the task.

Assign color categories

Assigning color categories helps make it easier to track similar or related tasks, or relate tasks to other categorized Outlook items, such as contacts or e-mail messages. Do one of the following:

• In the Tasks view     On the Home tab, in the Tags group, click Categorize, and then click the color you want. For more color categories, click All Categories.
• In an open task     On the Task tab, in the Tags group, click Categorize, and then click the color you want. For more color categories, click All Categories.

The first time that you use a color category, you are prompted to provide a name that is meaningful to you.

 Tip    To remove all color categories assigned to an item, In the open task, right-click the color or name of the color category, and then click Clear "Name of Category" or Clear All Categories.

Link tasks to a contact

If your task involves a person or organization in your Contacts, you can create a link to the contact.
 Note    Contact links must be turned on.
How do I turn on contact links?

1. Click the File tab.
2. Click Options.
3. Click Contacts.
4. Under Linking, select the Show contacts linked to the current item check box.

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• In an open task, at the bottom of the window, click Contacts, click a contact, and then click OK.

Mark tasks as private

• In an open task, on the Task tab, in the Tags group, click Private.

Track mileage, hours, and billing information

• In an open task, on the Task tab, in the Show group, click Details. Type the information you want in the text boxes.