Add latest update/comment on a task into project task view

[SeanMe1]

Hi All, 

I am trying to create a project task view where I have a column pulling in the latest update/comment on its related task. Could anyone assist me in doing this?

[lgaertner]

Hello Sean,

If I am understanding you right, this should be possible using this text mode:

linkedname=direct
namekey=lastNoteID
querysort=lastNoteID
valuefield=lastNote:noteText
valueformat=HTML

Regards

Lars

[RandyRoberts]

@lgaertner is correct. There are many ways to enhance this as well. You can truncate the update so it doesn't create a super long column in your report, you can add the time and date of the post, the author, and even a "more..." link to reply to the update. It can be as simple or elaborate as you wish.

column.26.//valuefield=project:lastNote:noteText
column.26.displayname=Latest Update
column.26.linkedname=project
column.26.namekey=view.relatedcolumn
column.26.namekeyargkey.0=project
column.26.namekeyargkey.1=lastNoteID
column.26.querysort=project:lastNote:entryDate
column.26.sharecol=true
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.icon=false
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.leftmethod=task:handoffDate
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.lefttext=task:handoffDate
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.operator=notnull
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.operatortype=date
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.righttext=
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.trueproperty.0.name=bgcolor
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.trueproperty.0.value=f9f9f9
column.26.styledef.case.0.comparison.truetext=
column.26.textmode=true
column.26.valueexpression=IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>140, CONCAT(SUBSTR({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText},0,139),"...  "), IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>0, CONCAT({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText}," ")))
column.26.valueformat=HTML
column.27.sharecol=true
column.27.textmode=true
column.27.value=<br>
column.27.valueformat=HTML
column.27.width=1
column.28.displayname=Link IF
column.28.link.url=customDataLabelsAsString(project.Project Updates_)
column.28.linkedname=project
column.28.sharecol=true
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.icon=false
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.leftmethod=task:handoffDate
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.lefttext=task:handoffDate
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.operator=notnull
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.operatortype=date
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.righttext=
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.trueproperty.0.name=bgcolor
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.trueproperty.0.value=f9f9f9
column.28.styledef.case.0.comparison.truetext=
column.28.textmode=true
column.28.valueexpression=IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>140, "More", IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>0, "Reply","Make An Update"))
column.28.valueformat=HTML
column.29.sharecol=true
column.29.textmode=true
column.29.value=<br>
column.29.valueformat=HTML
column.29.width=1
column.30.displayname=Latest Updated By
column.30.linkedname=project
column.30.namekey=view.relatedcolumn
column.30.namekeyargkey.0=project
column.30.namekeyargkey.1=lastNoteID
column.30.querysort=project:lastNote:entryDate
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.icon=false
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.leftmethod=task:handoffDate
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.lefttext=task:handoffDate
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.operator=notnull
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.operatortype=date
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.righttext=
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.trueproperty.0.name=bgcolor
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.trueproperty.0.value=f9f9f9
column.30.styledef.case.0.comparison.truetext=
column.30.textmode=true
column.30.valueexpression=IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>1, CONCAT({project}.{lastNote}.{owner}.{name}," on ", {project}.{lastNote}.{entryDate}), " ")
column.30.valueformat=HTML

[AndrewGr1]

@RandyRoberts Thanks for sharing!

How do you get the timestamp of the latest update for task report or assignment report columns? You mentioned: "you can add the time and date of the post"

I haven't been able to figure out how to get that added. It would be even better if you could include the timezone abbreviation with it, but I'm guessing that might not be possible. 

If you have any other "latest update" code that users prefer and that you don't mind sharing, I would love to see what else you've implemented. 

[rebeccabirkholz47]

Is there a way to make this an editable field in the project task view? I'd like to be able to leave task comments/notes from that view versus having to go into the task itself. 

Thanks!

[Madalyn_Destafney]

Adding another option for you - this doesn't have any coloring/limits, just has the update, date made and by whom, stacked. Add this to your views, note the column numbers (if it's at the end of the view and you have fewer columns then it'll work but if you want it mid-view you'll need to adjust column numbers):

column.13.displayname=Last Update
column.13.sharecol=true
column.13.textmode=true
column.13.valuefield=lastNote:noteText
column.13.valueformat=HTML
column.14.sharecol=true
column.14.textmode=true
column.14.value=<br>
column.14.valueformat=HTML
column.14.width=1
column.15.linkedname=lastNote
column.15.namekey=view.relatedcolumn
column.15.namekeyargkey.0=lastNote
column.15.namekeyargkey.1=entryDate
column.15.querysort=lastNote:entryDate
column.15.sharecol=true
column.15.textmode=true
column.15.valuefield=lastNote:entryDate
column.15.valueformat=atDate
column.16.sharecol=true
column.16.textmode=true
column.16.value=<br>
column.16.valueformat=HTML
column.16.width=1
column.17.linkedname=lastNote
column.17.namekey=view.relatedcolumn
column.17.namekeyargkey.0=lastNote
column.17.namekeyargkey.1=owner:name
column.17.querysort=lastNote:owner:name
column.17.textmode=true
column.17.usewidths=true
column.17.valuefield=lastNote:owner:name
column.17.valueformat=HTML
column.17.width=160

[SeanMe1]

Thank you! This helped! Is there a way to shorten text in this column if the update is very long? 

[RandyRoberts]

It's the IF(LEN( and the CONCAT( part of this:

column.26.valueexpression=IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>140, CONCAT(SUBSTR({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText},0,139),"...  "), IF(LEN({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText})>0, CONCAT({project}.{lastNote}.{noteText}," ")))

If the length of the post is longer than 140 characters, it cuts it off and adds an elipses. There is another line that adds a "more" link to the comment. This relies on calc field that has that link formulated already.

column.28.link.url=customDataLabelsAsString(project.Project Updates_)