> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.odella.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tasks

> Assign work, understand task states, respond to questions, and review results from your AI workforce.

# Assign and track work

Open **Tasks** to follow work across the AI Employees you can access. Tasks may start from a direct request, a schedule, an external event, a workflow, or delegated work.

A task being accepted or queued does not mean it has finished. Follow its status and inspect the result.

## Create a task

**1. Select New task**

Open Tasks and select **New task**. When creating work from an individual
worker's page, the worker may already be selected.

**2. Choose the worker and goal**

Select an AI Employee with the knowledge, tools, and permissions the work
requires. State the outcome, approved sources, constraints, and review
requirements.

**3. Add source material**

Attach relevant files where offered. Wait for uploads to complete and
resolve any failed attachments before submitting.

**4. Create and follow progress**

Submit the task, then open its details to review progress, questions,
approvals, and returned files.

For example:

> Review the attached supplier proposals. Compare scope, price, and renewal terms in a table. Cite the source for each comparison and return a draft recommendation. Do not contact suppliers or accept any proposal.

## Understand the board

| Lane | Meaning | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| **Queued** | Ready for a worker. | Check availability and required access if it does not start. |
| **Running** | Work is in progress. | Review progress; add guidance if needed. |
| **Waiting** | Waiting for input, approval, or a future time. | Open details to see what it needs; do not assume it failed. |
| **Attention** | Blocked or paused. | Resolve the stated blocker before resuming. |
| **Closed** | Failed, cancelled, or lost work. | Inspect the reason and any completed actions before retrying. |
| **Completed** | The task finished successfully. | Review the answer and actual deliverables. |

Some empty lanes may be hidden. Task details provide the specific status and reason, not just the board grouping.

## Answer a question or provide guidance

![Task details asking for an approved renewal discount, with an Answer and resume field](https://mintcdn.com/odella/DDQ-YOWIqPw83tsw/images/guides/task-details.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=DDQ-YOWIqPw83tsw\&q=85\&s=78b1aaf5f3905963abf878bb0598d1b4)

A task waiting for input, shown with Storybook example data.

Open the task and read the question before responding. Supply the requested facts or complete the displayed questionnaire. Use **Answer and resume** where offered to continue waiting work. For running work, guidance adds direction rather than creating a separate task.

If the task needs a decision about an external action, use its [approval controls](https://docs.odella.ai/workforce/approvals.md). A text message saying “approved” is not a substitute for the required approval action.

## Retry, cancel, or remove work

Controls depend on status and your permissions. Before retrying:

1. Read the failure or interruption reason.
2. Check for outputs or external actions that already succeeded.
3. Fix missing access, provider connections, unavailable files, or unclear instructions.
4. Retry the existing task where appropriate and monitor the new attempt.

> [!WARNING]
>
> A failed task does not prove that no external changes occurred. Check the
> destination system before repeating sends or record changes. Removing a task
> from the board is not a rollback of completed work.

Cancel work you no longer want using the available task controls. Do not assume cancellation reverses actions already performed.

## Find and review results

Open completed task details to inspect the worker's answer and returned files. Preview supported files or download them. A summary that mentions a document is not itself a downloadable attachment.

Check sources, names, numbers, and required review criteria before using the result. Use [Activity](https://docs.odella.ai/workforce/activity.md) for related work history, [Calendar](https://docs.odella.ai/workforce/calendar.md) for schedules, and [Actions](https://docs.odella.ai/workforce/actions.md) for event-driven work.

## Troubleshooting

* **No worker is available:** Check access, service state, working hours, and account [limits](https://docs.odella.ai/platform/usage-and-limits.md).
* **Waiting for approval:** Open the current request and resolve it through the approval controls.
* **Blocked by an integration:** Reconnect or grant the required tool access before resuming.
* **No file appears:** Read the task's actual result. Ask for the required deliverable if the worker only returned an answer.
* **Controls are read-only:** Ask the worker's manager or resource owner to review your permissions.


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