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How to use bulk actions for tasks

How to use bulk actions for tasks

Alexandra Gallisová avatar
Written by Alexandra Gallisová
Updated over a week ago

Note: This functionality is currently available only in selected workspaces, as it is being gradually rolled out across servers.

Bulk actions are a powerful way to save time by applying the same operation to multiple tasks at once. Whether you’re editing deadlines, moving tasks to a different project, or duplicating large task groups, Allfred lets you handle it all efficiently.

You can use bulk actions in:

  • The Global Task List

  • Task Lists within project detail views

  • Task sections under budget items in the Project Overview


How to Perform Bulk Actions (Step by Step)

  1. Navigate to the task list or project where you want to perform bulk actions.

  2. Select the tasks using the checkboxes. To include a parent task and all its subtasks, double-click the parent task’s checkbox.

  3. A bulk actions bar will appear at the bottom of your screen. It will show how many tasks are selected and offer the following options: Edit, Duplicate, Move, Delete.

  4. Choose the desired action and follow the configuration steps.

  5. Once ready, click Confirm to apply the changes.


Types of Bulk Actions

📝 Edit Tasks

Change shared properties across all selected tasks and subtasks

  • You can update: title, project, budget item, parent task, duration, deadline, status, billing category, and priority.

  • When editing tasks in bulk, you have two options for managing positions and assignees:

    • You can remove all existing positions from the selected tasks and replace them with new ones, along with assigned users.

    • Or, you can keep existing positions and add new ones on top.

⚠️ Because positions are tied to the project’s budget item or applied pricing model, these bulk changes are only possible if all selected tasks and subtasks belong to the same Budget Item.

If you've selected tasks across different Budget Items, you can only assign or edit positions in bulk if you also move all selected tasks to a single shared Budget Item as part of the same action. Otherwise, position-level bulk updates will not be available.

🔁 Duplicate

Create copies of the selected tasks with flexibility in configuration.

  • You can choose whether to keep or update the following fields: Title, Project, Budget Item, and Parent Task.

  • You can also modify Duration, Deadline, Status, Billing Category, and Priority during duplication.

  • You may opt to delete existing positions and assign new ones.

Important behavior notes:

  • If you duplicate a subtask into a different budget item where no parent task exists or no parent is selected, the subtask will be created as a standalone parent task.

  • If you duplicate a parent task together with selected subtasks, the duplicated items will preserve their original hierarchical structure (parent/subtask relationships).

🔄 Move

Move tasks or subtasks to a different project, budget item, or parent task.

  • Select where you want to move the tasks or subtasks.

  • You can remove current positions and define new ones.

  • If you move a parent task, all its subtasks move with it.

❌ Delete

Remove selected tasks permanently.

  • Only tasks without tracked hours can be deleted.


Important Notes and Behaviors Summary

  • Assigning people and positions: When editing tasks in bulk, you can either (1) remove all existing positions and replace them with new ones (including assigned people), or (2) keep the current positions and add additional ones on top

    • Because positions are tied to the project’s budget item or applied pricing model, these bulk changes are only possible if all selected tasks and subtasks belong to the same Budget Item.

    • If you've selected tasks from different Budget Items, the only way to assign or edit positions in bulk is to use the same budget item for all selected tasks as part of that action. If you want to keep tasks in separate Budget Items, position-level bulk updates won’t be available.

    • Tip: When working in the project detail view, it's best to apply these updates separately within each budget item.

  • Cross-project validation: If a selected position doesn’t exist in a specific project, Allfred will notify you.

  • Moving parent tasks: When you move a parent task, all its subtasks are moved as well.

  • Duplicating subtasks only: If you duplicate subtasks within the same budget item, they will be duplicated under the same parent task by default - unless you select a different parent. However, if you duplicate subtasks into a different budget item and do not specify a new parent task, Allfred will automatically create them as independent parent tasks.

  • Duplicating task groups: If you duplicate a parent task with subtasks, the hierarchy is preserved - maintaining parent/subtask relationships.

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