> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.work-relay.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.work-relay.com/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/introduction-to-task-manager.md).

# Introduction to task manager

The Task Manager displays work items in Kanban or Table mode.

In Kanban mode (1), the Task Manager allows to drag and drop work item [cards](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/kanban-card.md) (2) between columns (3). The types of work items displayed may be toggled on/off at the top of the page (4). Users may select pre-defined or custom Views (saved filters, 5) or [filter](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/task-manager-filters-and-sorting-order.md) the displayed work items ad hoc (6):

![](/files/6f9dd0ae2ce55b68caf854abd774c358e1e2fcc8)

![](/files/0ed97920e45baf9fc83942e92c00e2b420c420c7)

Cards (in Kanban mode) or Rows (7) in Table mode (8) have colored left borders that visually indicate the work item type:

* **Blue** - A process [Step](/processes/process-steps/step-types.md) in an "Active" status
* **Gray** - A process Step in a "Pending" status
* **Violet** - A Work-Relay Task
* **Pink** - A Work-Relay Issue
* **Yellow** - An External Task (i.e., a standard Salesforce Task record)

### Task manager top toolbar

The remaining components of the toolbar are:

* Information (9) that displays the number of items and the currently applied [sorting order](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/task-manager-filters-and-sorting-order.md)
* "Add" button (10), which allows a user to [add](/functional/tasks-and-issues/create-task-or-issue-from-task-manager-dashboard.md) Work-Relay Task, Issue, [Time Entry](/functional/process-progress-component/progress-component-tabs/time.md), or a record of allowed objects (standard or custom)
* Task Manager mode selector (11)
* Sorting button (12), to define the field used for sorting and the sort direction selector
* "Refresh" button (13), which reloads the display of dashboard items without losing applied filters
* "Settings" button (14), which displays the [Task Manager Settings](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/task-manager-settings.md) screen
* Dashboard selector (15), which allows the user to switch between Task Manager, [Planning](/functional/dashboards/planning-dashboard.md) and [Progress](/functional/dashboards/progress-dashboard.md) Dashboards

![](/files/a4bb90e127a95b92caaef3e9726f26e510912543)

### Working with task manager

Each Card (or Row, in Table mode) displays work item information. Links will open related records or open the item to a specific component in the right sidebar (see the [dedicated article](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/kanban-card.md) for more detail). When clicked, the selected item will be outlined and shaded (16) in its corresponding color, and the step will open in the sidebar with its proper component tabs (17) and buttons (18):

![](/files/6d286b5b7305881089941d610fb80f3ac4e67848)

The Work Item component tabs displayed [are the same](broken://spaces/V8ppmKP3pgZQiQl73JrV/pages/q7JAT9i9lUQVKbvDrQL5) as those shown in the Process Progress Component view and provide the same abilities.

Control buttons (18) depend upon item type and settings:

* Manual Process Steps will display a "Proceed" button
* Decision (approval) Steps will display "Approve" and "Reject" buttons
* Tasks and Issues will display "Accept", "On Hold", "Restart" and"Complete" buttons, depending upon which column they are in and the task/issue settings (where buttons can be enabled or disabled)

These buttons may have custom labels (if custom labels are defined in [step settings](/processes/process-steps/process-step-settings/notifications-progress-component-settings.md#standard-buttons-setup) or task/issue properties):

![](/files/46ba6c2e519cc0b7ee69b94eee289b29f1ab4dc4)

When clicked, these buttons proceed/approve/reject proper step or change state of task/issue and the right sidebar will be closed. Proceeding can be performed asynchronously and following steps can be loaded into right sidebar automatically, if the proper settings are defined in [dashboard settings](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/task-manager-settings.md).

From the version 8.4 a Quick Search bar became available (19). It allows to quick filter a Task Manager dashboard to display cards which fields contain the typed text:

![](/files/a4daeab466cbd77a7aedda163976e208ecddbfa3)

Just type some text and click out of search bar to start filtering.

Note that only these fields are supported to be quickly searched:

* step, task and issue names
* record names
* process version names
* data source object names
* Salesforce task names and subjects

To filter by other criteria please use [Filters](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard/task-manager-filters-and-sorting-order.md) feature.