Hi -
I’d like to create a Task Template with relative dates for subtasks that change based on the parent task due date.
For example, subtask 1 is due 15 business days prior to the task due date and subtask 2 is due 13 days prior to the task due date. When the task due date is created or changed, those subtask due dates are then created or changed.
I’ve looked into rules and the “Set a relative due date” feature in the task template - but that only counts moving forward from the day the task is created, not backward from the due date.
Asana AI tells me this is not something Asana can do - has anyone else requested a similar feature?
Hi @Lauren_Knapp, great question!
You can get pretty close in a task template, just not with a single setting that says “count backward from the parent due date.” This is not yet supported in Asana today.
The workaround is to set the parent task due date first, then set each subtask using its own relative due date so the spacing matches what you want before the parent date.
For example, if the parent task is due 30 days after the task is created:
- a subtask that should be due 15 days before the parent would be set to 15 days after creation
- a subtask that should be due 13 days before the parent would be set to 17 days after creation
Then add dependencies and make sure auto-shifting is set to Maintain buffer. That way, if the parent date moves, the subtasks can move with it while keeping the same gap.
So it’s less a native “backward from parent due date” feature, and more a workable task template + dependencies setup.
Hi @Lauren_Knapp,
Just FYI this capability is available in the Add subtasks rule action in our Flowsana integration.
