🌙Task templates

Create reusable task templates for your most common workflows and quickly turn them into tasks whenever you need them.

Three reusable Task Templates inside the authentic Ellie web app.

Task templates are available on iOS as well! You can drag templates into the timebox

When should I use this?

Task templates are perfect for tasks you create repeatedly with the same structure. Instead of recreating these tasks from scratch each time, save them as templates and create new tasks from them by dragging them in.

Common use cases:

• Weekly review checklists

• Meeting preparation tasks with standard subtasks

• Project kickoff tasks with consistent steps

• Daily routines with the same subtasks

• Client onboarding workflows

• Bug report templates with standard fields

How to use it

Enabling Task Templates

Task Templates is a Power Feature that needs to be enabled first:

1. Go to Settings → Power Features

2. Find Task Templates and toggle it on

3. The Templates section will now appear in your sidebar

Creating a Template

1. Click the Templates toggle in the sidebar

2. Click the + button in the top right

3. Fill in your template details:

   • Task description

   • Notes with rich-text formatting (optional)

   • Estimated time

   • Priority level

   • Label

   • Subtasks

4. Click Create Template

On web, you can also open an existing task, use its three-dot menu, and choose Save as Template. Ellie copies the task's reusable details into a new template.

Add rich-text notes

Task and template notes support bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, links, and bulleted or numbered lists. On iPhone and iPad, tap into the notes field to keep the formatting toolbar above the keyboard while you write.

Format task and template notes without leaving the editor

Using Templates to Create Tasks

Once you have templates created, you can quickly turn them into tasks:

1. Navigate to the Templates view in the sidebar

2. Find the template you want to use

3. Drag and drop the template card onto:

   • A specific date in your calendar

   • The timeboxing view to schedule it

The template will instantly become a new task with all the details pre-filled.

Editing Templates

To update a template:

1. Go to the Templates view

2. Click on the template card you want to edit

3. Make your changes in the modal that appears

4. Click Update Template

Your changes will be saved and will apply to all future tasks created from this template.

Deleting Templates

To remove a template you no longer need:

Option 1: From the Template Card

1. Right-click on the template card

2. Select Delete

Option 2: From the Edit Modal

1. Click on the template to open it

2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right

3. Select Delete template

What gets saved in a template?

When you create a template, the following information is preserved:

✅ Included:

• Task description

• Notes and supported rich-text formatting

• Estimated time

• Priority level

• Label

• All subtasks and their descriptions

❌ Not included:

• Due dates (these are set when you create the task)

• Actual time tracked

• Completion status

• Attachments (for now, email Chris if you're interested in this)

• Calendar events

Tips for effective templates

• Keep templates focused: Create templates for specific, repeatable workflows rather than trying to make one template do everything

• Use descriptive names: Make it easy to identify what each template is for at a glance

• Include subtasks: Break down complex tasks into subtasks within your templates for consistency

• Set realistic time estimates: This helps with planning when you create tasks from templates

• Review regularly: Update or delete templates that you're no longer using to keep your template library clean

Limitations

• Templates cannot include recurring task settings

• Attachments and calendar events are not saved with templates