Task Types

There are three types of tasks with which you must be concerned.

They are known as:

• Task Instances
• Recurring Task Parent Definitions
• Template Task Parent Definitions

Each task type is used for different purposes and behaves differently when created and edited. Each of these tasks are defined using the Task Definition Form.

Task Instances

The most basic type is the Task Instance. Simply put, a Task Instance is an individual occurrence of a task. Task Instances, other than those that allow handovers, may be assigned only one start time, duration, and resource assignment during a scheduling period.

To create a Task Instance, the following must be true of the Task Definition Form:

• The Single Instance Task option button must be selected on the Scheduling Tab.
• A Template Variable List must not be used in the Resource Constraints on the Resources Required Tab.

Each task instance may be cut, copied, pasted, deleted, and edited individually without affecting any other tasks.

In various places, STK Scheduler icons are used in conjunction with the task names to communicate the type. Task instances use .

Recurring Task Parent Definition

A Recurring Task Parent Definition is a definition that is used to create a series of individual Task Instances that have identical resource constraints. A Recurring Task Parent Definition as well as its individual Task Instances are defined whenever you select the Recurring Task option button on the Scheduling Tab of the Task Definition Form. Once you click the OK button on the bottom of the Task Definition Form, STK Scheduler will create a Recurring Task Parent Definition as well as all of its Task Instances. Each of the Task Instances will assume a default name using a convention that shows its relation to its parent definition. STK Scheduler will attempt to give assignments to each of the task instances individually.

The Task Instances created by a recurring parent definition are identical to the instances defined above, They, therefore, may be treated as individual resources that can be cut, copied, pasted, deleted, and edited individually without affecting any other task.

Task Instances can be identified as being a child by the textbook that will appear in the upper right-hand corner of the Task Definition Form. The textbox will display the name of the parent task if it has one.

There is no method for orphaning a task instance from its parent.

Recurring Task Parent Definition themselves may be cut, copied, pasted, deleted, and edited. Any of these functions performed on the recurring parent definition will likewise be performed on all of its related task instances.

In various places STK Scheduler icons are used in conjunction with the task names to communicate the type to you. Recurring Task Parent Definitions use .

Template Task Parent Definition

A Template Task Parent Definition is a definition that is used to create a series of individual Task Instance that use changing resource definitions. For example, if 100 satellites each need to complete a ground pass using the same ground station, you may define a single task using a Template List as one of its resources and the ground station as the other. The use of a template list in the task's resource constraints on the Resource Required Tab defines a Template Task Parent Definition. Once you click the OK button on the bottom of the Task Definition Form, STK Scheduler will create a Template Task Parent Definition as well as all of its Task Instances. Each of the Task Instances will be assigned a task name that is the name of the parent task appended with the name(s) of the individual template resource(s). STK Scheduler will attempt to give assignments to each of the task instances individually.

The Task Instances created by a Template Parent Definition are identical to the instances defined above. They, therefore, may be treated as individual tasks that can be cut, copied, pasted, deleted, and edited individually without affecting any other task.

Task Instances can be identified as being a child by the textbox that will appear in the upper right-hand corner of the Task Definition Form. The textbox will display the name of the parent task if it has one.

There is no method for orphaning a task instance from its parent.

Template Task Parent Definitions themselves may be cut, copied, pasted, deleted, and edited. Any of these functions performed on the parent definition will likewise be performed on all of its child task instances.

In various places STK Scheduler icons are used in conjunction with the task names to communicate the type to you. Template Task Parent Definitions use .