Phil, are you still able to provide instructions for setting up your zaps for auto-numbering in Asana? If so, Iâm interested. Thank you!
Oh boy, itâs been a while now - I should have documented it back when I initially did it. Iâll see if I can dig it up!
I tried this product of yours and it does not appear to be working.
Looks like I got it to work - Sweet!
Hi Maggie, I am giving it a try. How long before the numbers populate? Its been some time.
Hi Maggie, What is the wait time on the numbers showing up? I am trying now.
Glad you were able to get it to work. For anyone else that might be having issues, you can follow the steps on our video here:
Erik, I just sent you an e-mail as well. If you could, reply back and we can discuss why they might not be showing up for you. It usually takes about 5 seconds or so for the number to appear.
Any way to get previous tasks numbered also? Just seems it is for new ones.
Yes we can. However we only do that after setting up a subscription. We can then go through and apply a number to any open tasks.
Well, well. We might finally have a solution folks! Iâll be back to you Maggie.
Thanks,
Erik
Another basic functionality missing from Asana. Is it possible to implement? You just need to make it visible on the edit task screen and searchable.
I met with the Asana team when they were in Seattle recently and this was a common request. Please implement asap as this makes it much easier to track tasks with teams.
@Phil_Seeman were you ever able to dig up those zaps for generating task IDs because it would be a great workaround for now, if youâd be able to send to me.
Thanks!
@KarenV @jeremyw
OK I dug this up - here is what I did to generate unique IDs using Zapier.
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Create a Google Sheet, letâs call it Asana Numbering, with these 3 columns headings:
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Create a Zap, letâs call it Create New Auto-Number Spreadsheet Row. The overview of steps is:
Build Step 1 like this:
Under âCustomize Taskâ, youâll select the project where you want the tasks to be uniquely numbered.Build Step 2 like this:
What this Zap will do is create a new row in the sheet for every new task added to the selected project. So for example, after I entered 3 tasks, this is what the sheet looked like:
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Create a second Zap, letâs call it Update Asana Task with Auto-Number. Its overview looks like this:
Build Step 1 like this:
Build Step 2 like this:
Note especially the Name field above. Iâm taking a pretty simple approach of just using the row number of the sheet as the unique number of the task, and Iâm prepending it to the task name in square brackets. So in Asana, you end up with tasks like this:
You could get fancier, though, by using the âUnique Numberâ column which I included in the sheet but didnât use in my simple example. You could build a formula into the sheet that populates that column with something formatted in a more complex way than just the row number; then instead of using âRow Numberâ in the âNameâ field of the last Zap screen, you would select to insert that âUnique Numberâ column.
Let me know if you have any question about the above!
Wow I really need to create some kind of directory to list smart zaps people are building!!! What do you think Phil?
Not a bad idea!
Just stumbled upon this thread after Googling a bit around, check out https://astogi.com
Although aimed to send Git commit notifications to specific Asana tasks it does assign unique task numbers automatically. Also, it is free to use.
Disclaimer: I am the developer of the tool and created it to scratch my own itch. I am always looking for feedback, so if you have any please let me know. A discount for fellow Asana users is something that can be talked about!
Hi, its April 2020 now. Just thought Iâd chime in that this is still highly sought after, and a major pain point. If our company wasnât already too invested into Asana, this would have ended our consideration.
The solutions with third parties are interesting, but not something anyone needs to engage in with Asanaâs competitors.
Without them itâs impossible to verbally communicate the specific task you are referencing. One shouldnât be required to communicate in writing (via sharing a link to the tasks) at all times.