Create a rule for a subtask to be due a certain number of days BEFORE the parent task's due date

[Esteban_Giannini]

When I use automation to create subtasks in Asana, it only allows setting a due date to a number of days after the parent task’s due date. It would be great if you could add the ability to set the subtask due date to a number of days before the parent task.

[Esteban_Giannini]

@Marie @Vanessa_N Hey! Just wanted to check if you could pass this feedback to the team since I don’t see any responses on the thread from anyone from Asana. Thanks!

[Vanessa_N]

Hi @Esteban_Giannini, thanks for tagging us here! Although we don’t have an exact ETA to share yet, I can confirm that adding this functionality is in our short-term plans. We’re working on it, and it should be available soon

[Esteban_Giannini]

@Vanessa_N Thank you! That is awesome news! Looking forward to it!

[Arthur_BEGOU]

Hi fellow Asana users

Meanwhile, Asana comes with the functionality (I’m sure very soon), let me introduce a handy workaround that wasn’t known yet from the community (presumably).

Hope you like it

[Rule for subtask - days BEFORE parent task] a workaround

Hi all You might have face that issue : Well, good news is that Asana is working on it and we can hope for a future fix (source). The other good news is that, meanwhile the fix is implemented, I might have a workaround that was found by my brilliant colleague @Cyril-iDO (Available from the plan Advanced) 1) The ingredients: A custom field Formula A rule with action “Create subtasks” The recent ability to use date fields as variables 2)…

[Claire_Tighe1]

Yes, very curious what the other workarounds are

[Nikki_Johnson2]

I am mind blown that this is not available yet. As someone who is using Asana to manage a content calendar I need my subtasks (my creative/copywriting elements) due way before my content goes live. Having a task due alert for those I am assigning these sub tasks would be so helpful.

[Claire_Tighe1]

Been researching this for days and decided on another platform – I went insane/drove myself to tears.

[Shannon_Greenwood]

Another vote for adding this feature asap! It’s so necessary for my organization to be able to set due dates for subtasks BEFORE the due date of the parent task.

[Taylor_Leatherwood]

This is the exact situation I am currently trying to do. I tried the “work around” ways and it is not working for me.

[Carly_R_Fredericks]

Note: Not a solution but marked as such to elevate a key reply

Rather than focusing on counting back from the due date, I’ve set an automation that notices when a due date is approaching in X days - let’s use 5 as an example. Then, I am able to set subtasks relative to the trigger, rather than the due date.

EXAMPLE:
TRIGGER: When due date is approaching [5 days before]
CONDITION: Task type narrowed to the one that uses your example timeline
ACTION: Create subtasks:

• Subtask 1 (needs to be due 3 days before due date), task due in 2 days, based on trigger time
• Subtask 2 (needs to be due 2 days before due date), task due in 3 days, based on trigger time
• Subtask 3 (due 1 day before due date), task due in 4 days, based on trigger time
• Subtask 4 (due on due date), task due in 5 days, based on trigger time

[lpb]

Welcome, @Carly_R_Fredericks, and that’s very clever! I’ve elevated your post as a helpful workaround. Thanks for posting!

Larry