Task Due Date via Formula Date

Question

I'm automating the creation of a task list with Pipelines. The various tasks are due on formula dates - and I've created the necessary formula date fields I need. (These are subtractive formula date fields, based on a date already in the record, minus # of days). So I have a few of these formula date fields that give me the needed due dates, but I hit a bit of a roadblock when building the pipeline. When I create a record for the tasks table, the 'due date' selection is a calendar, and I can only pick a specific date. Since the list of tasks needs a few different due dates, I can't figure out how to get my due date to be the appropriately chosen due date since Formula Dates can't be used in Pipelines. I feel like I'm missing something simple here. If I need four tasks created, each with a different due date (that is a subtraction of days from an existing date), what's my simplest path here?

------------------------------
Joe Hargrave
------------------------------

donlarson · Answer

Joe,
I have got a customer with the same issue.&nbsp; They need many tasks with different Due Dates.&nbsp; &nbsp;Here is the architecture we use:

When an Opportunity is created a Pipeline starts.
It creates Tasks for that Opportunity that mirror all the Task Types in the Task Library Table.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Due Date of the Task is a calculated in the Pipeline and not in a Formula Field in QB
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Due Date = Expiration Date + Offset,&nbsp; the Offset can be positive or negative

The nice thing about this model is that the VP Sales can edit the Library table.&nbsp; &nbsp;He can make as many Tasks with what ever offset and Due Date that he wants.

------------------------------Don Larson------------------------------

sunny · Answer

Deleted.

brianseymour · Answer

Hey Joe,
For clarity, you can use a Formula Date field in your Pipelines steps, but you wouldn't pick it via the Calendar, you need to select it from the field list you've specified. For example, in Step A you could specify your date field, then in a subsequent Step (e.g. Step B) you could use it. It would look something like {{a.your_formula_date}} field.
If you dig into the "Jinja" syntax in the QB docs, you'll find that you can also perform math on these steps too. For example, {{ a.your_formula_date + time.delta(days=7) }}.
But since you've already setup Formula Dates, I'd suggest going that route vs. handling this via Jinja. Especially as Don pointed out, you may be able to give end Users a bit more flexibility to set the dates vs. having to edit Pipelines should there be any future changes!
------------------------------Brian Seymour------------------------------

Forum Discussion

Task Due Date via Formula Date