Quickstart: your first week

You will create a task folder and list, add several tasks, connect them to Study hours, and define the structure of your week.

Choose a vault

Use a local vault for this example. You do not need an account or a paid plan.

If you have several vaults, select the one you want to use in the vault picker. Keep the tasks, events, and schedule for this example in the same vault.

Create a folder and list

Open Tasks, then select Task hierarchy. Here, you can organize your tasks into folders and lists.

Select Add folder to create a folder.

For this example, create a new folder named Study.

Open the folder after you create it. A folder can contain more folders for subprojects, or it can contain task lists directly.

Inside the Study folder, select Add list.

Enter a name for the list. For this example, name it Labs, then press Enter.

The list now belongs to the Study folder.

Add your tasks

Open the Labs list and select Add task.

Enter a title and set Expected duration to the amount of time you think the task will take.

You can also set:

• Start from — the earliest date or time when work may begin.
• Deadline — when the task should be finished.
• Priority — which tasks take precedence when time is limited.
• Description — notes about the work.
• Color — how the task appears in the calendar.

Select Save, or Save & New to add another task.

Add a few tasks for the coming week. Give each an expected duration and add deadlines where they matter.

Create a schedule

After you have created your tasks, select Schedules at the top of the side panel.

By default, a schedule named Work hours is already available. You can use this schedule, rename it, or create schedules for other activities.

For this example, select Add schedule, name it Study hours, and save it.

Apply autocomplete to the tasks

Return to Tasks.

Use the back arrow beside the list or folder name to return to the level where the Study folder is listed.

Right-click the Study folder.

A context menu will appear. From this menu, you can rename or move the folder and manage settings inherited by its contents, including duration, reminders, color, autocomplete, hard deadlines, schedules, and chunking.

Open the autocomplete submenu. In a new folder it reads Inherit autocomplete status. Select Enabled.

This setting passes down through the hierarchy. Lists, subfolders, and tasks inside the Study folder inherit it unless you override the setting for a specific item.

For this example, leave hard deadlines and chunking disabled. You can configure these settings based on your needs. Learn more in the Chunking and Hard and soft deadlines sections of Autocomplete.

Assign the schedule

In the Study folder menu, open Inherit schedule, select Custom, and choose Study hours.

Tasks inside the folder now inherit this schedule. Autocomplete will place them only in slots belonging to Study hours.

Add fixed events

After creating your tasks, add the events that are already planned for your week. Select Events at the top of the right sidebar.

Every event must belong to a calendar, so you can use the default Personal calendar or select Add calendar to create another one.

To add an event from the sidebar, open its calendar and select Add event. Enter a title and set its start and end time. Use Busy availability for commitments that should reserve those hours, then select Save.

You can also create an event directly on the main calendar by selecting a time range and choosing Event in the creation panel.

Learn more about creating, editing, and organizing events in Events.

Add study hours

In the calendar, select the time you want to dedicate to study. When you select the time, the creation panel opens. In this panel, select Schedule.

Choose the Study hours schedule. Check the start and end time, then select Save.

Repeat this step for the other study periods in your week. You can also add a repeat rule when the same hours are available on several days.

A schedule slot marks time autocomplete may use. It does not represent a task or a fixed event.

Let autocomplete build the week

Check the autocomplete status for your vault at the top of the calendar.

If autocomplete is paused, resume it.

Your tasks should appear inside the Study hours schedule slots, around your timed Busy events.

Review your week

You now have a first draft of your week.

Adjust your tasks, events, or schedule slots if you want to change the result.

For placement rules and scheduling warnings, see Autocomplete.