Inside Outlook, I would like to have sub-tasks features.

Often I need to nest some sub-tasks into a main task.

There's some workaround ...or extra plug in to do it?

Hi,

Outlook does not have the capability for subtasks without add-ins. Numbering is the usual recommendation.

For example:

1. Task

1.1   Subtask A

1.2   Subtask B

......

Furthermore, the add-ins called Taskline might get the function of organizing tasks in hierarchy. You may refer to the link: http://www.taskline.com/

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• Marked as answer by Tony Chen CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Friday, August 02, 2013 3:05 PM

As an Exchange Administrator I am constantly embarrassed by the lack of progress in Outlook. Aside from some very basic bells and whistles, this product has not really changed since Outlook 2000. It is THE NUMBER ONE productivity application for business and it can't do very basic things like nesting tasks and basic personal project management without an add-in. It is missing basic CRM functionality and email organization functions. All of these things require a plug-in that invariably breaks with each new version of the product. I had high hopes for Outlook 2013 and once again I am disappointed and left wondering what the Office team actually does at Microsoft other than make Office "look different" for each release.

I agree.

IMHO Microsoft in decade 2000-2010 was rested on one's laurels. That's reason because lost terrain on smartphone market... Outlook and Office suite had no real competitors and actually is still the most popular suite.

I have been mentioning this for several years.

I like as much integration as possible. BUT, if I can't very quickly and very intuitively track multi part tasks, from the single device that is ALWAYS within reach, my Windows Phone, I MUST continue actively looking for a better solution.

I've tried Google's offering, I'm now also carrying a Nexus 7, which may make my next phone an android (despite being Windows since CE). And "Task management" in general has been a single GIANT lacking in the MS offering in this realm. Eventually, either they will improve it, or I will find someone else who has.

One workaround is to use Categories. Use Categories as your parent. Then categorize all your sub-tasks to that category.

Same idea as above, but you can a custom field called "Parent". Code all your sub-tasks to the parent.

Personally, I like Google Tasks better because you just press the right arrow icon to nest it and make it a child of the parent task right above it.

I agree with the sentiment of others that Microsoft has done crappy job of improving basic features. I used Outlook 97 and surprised to see things like Tasks still lack usability.

There are a couple of methods people are using to get past this. I use OneNote. Not quite hierarchical, but it works.

Outlook is my "reminder". OneNote is my task manager.

In OneNote, I create a list of my tasks. Or a list of pages. Then I add the top level task to Outlook using the "Outlook Tasks" item on the tool bar.

This will add a ask with an icon in the in the notes of the task. Double-clicking on that icon will bring up OneNote.

Not scalable. Doesn't work well with online versions of Outlook and OneNote.

Shame on you Microsoft. This should have been addressed a decade ago!