Create tasks

Insert new tasks (nodes) at any point in the Nodemap, including root tasks, by choosing the direction you want them to flow. To create a task:

Select a task (or link) in the Nodemap.
From the action bar, choose one of the Add Task icons.
Enter a task name and press Enter.

	Add predecessor Creates a new task directly above the selected task. This does not replace existing predecessors; it is added in addition.
	Add successor Creates a new task directly below the selected task. This does not replace existing successors; it is added in addition.
	Add sibling Inserts a new task with the same predecessors and successors as the selected task. Available only when a single node is selected.
	Add predecessor (inherits existing) Creates a new task that inherits all the current predecessors of the selected task. Available only when a single node with at least one predecessor is selected.
	Add successor (inherits existing) Creates a new task that inherits all the current successors of the selected task. Available only when a single node with at least one successor is selected.
	Add shared predecessor When multiple tasks are selected, inserts a new task as a predecessor to all selected tasks.
	Add shared successor When multiple tasks are selected, inserts a new task as a successor to all selected tasks.
	Add between When a link between two tasks is selected, inserts a new task directly between them. Available only when a single link is selected.

When you create a new task in the Nodemap, it’s inserted in the selected position and automatically becomes the active task, allowing you to quickly build task chains in succession.

You can insert new tasks at any point in the Nodemap — including as root tasks — by choosing the direction you want them to flow. The selected insertion direction will persist for subsequent task creations, except for root tasks, where the next task defaults to Successor (add task after), matching the behavior in the task list view.

If you change the task type, it will reset to Normal for any new tasks created afterward.

This action can be undone, which will remove any tasks created during the operation.

Create a root task

You can create a root task — a task with no predecessors or successors — directly from the Nodemap. When there are no tasks in a runbook, the root task form will open automatically and cannot be closed, ensuring you can always create the first task. The stream assigned to a root task follows the same logic as on the task list: it depends on the current stream filters applied and the user’s permissions.

The root task form behaves in a familiar way:

If there are no visible tasks in the runbook (whether fresh or filtered), the root task form appears automatically (if you have permission) and cannot be closed.

If tasks are already present, you can open the root task form manually using the + icon in the bottom-left corner. In this case, clicking outside the form will close it.

When creating a task from another selected task, the system will attempt to assign it to the same stream. If you don’t have permission for that stream, the task will be placed in the first permitted stream.

Keep in mind that if you create a new task while a filter is applied, the task may not be visible once created. After you create a root task, it will automatically be selected. The create form will remain open and default to successor mode (the same as the task list), making it quick to continue building out your runbook.

Other task actions

In addition to creating new tasks, the action bar provides several other options when you click on a task in the Nodemap. These actions help you edit, manage, or organize tasks more efficiently.

	Edit Opens the task edit panel when a single node is selected. Opens the bulk edit panel when multiple nodes are selected. If the task edit panel is already open, changing the selected nodes will automatically update it.
	Duplicate Creates up to 100 copies of a selected task. Available only when a single node is selected. Newly duplicated tasks are auto-selected. This action is undoable.
	Copy Copies the selected nodes to the clipboard.
	Paste Available when the clipboard contains copied tasks. Newly pasted tasks are auto-selected. This action is undoable.
	Delete Available on both nodes and links, for single or bulk selections. Shows a confirmation modal when deleting tasks. Important: Deleting tasks is not undoable, but deleting links is.
	View comments Opens the comments panel for the selected task, same as in the task list.
	Start task Starts a given task, opening the start modal if required. Runbook admins and assigned users can start tasks.
	Finish task Finishes a given task, opening the finish modal if required. Runbook admins and assigned users can finish tasks.
	Skip task Skips the given task, opening a confirmation modal to enter a reason. Same permissions apply as elsewhere in the platform.

Edit a task

When you edit a task in the Nodemap, the Task Edit panel appears on the side of the screen. This panel updates automatically based on your selection:

If you select a single task, the single edit panel opens for that task.

If you select multiple tasks, the bulk edit panel opens, allowing you to make changes to all selected tasks at once. For more details on how to do this, see our Nodemap Navigation and Selection article.

Add, remove, and update dependencies directly on the Nodemap.
Drag and drop tasks to adjust their placement.

If you clear your selection, the bulk edit panel will automatically close. You can also press Enter to open the appropriate panel, depending on whether one or more tasks are selected.

Selection Behavior in the Nodemap

If a task edit panel is open in the task list and you switch to the Nodemap, that task will automatically be added to your selection.

After creating a new task, it will be automatically selected so you can continue editing or building your workflow seamlessly.

When you undo an operation, your previous selection will be restored, returning you to where you were before the action. See the Nodemap Overview article for more information on what you can undo.

When you insert or update a link, the target node will automatically be selected.

When you paste or duplicate tasks, the newly added tasks will be automatically selected, allowing for quick adjustments or continued editing.

You can make multiple changes to your runbook by selecting one or more nodes. Use the keyboard shortcuts and the action bar to help with this. Perform a wide range of actions — copy, paste, move, delete, duplicate, view comments, edit, bulk edit, or create tasks in any direction. You can also undo actions to quickly revert your last change without needing to backtrack manually.

Note: Before making any major changes to your plan, we recommend saving a version so you can easily roll back if needed. The undo feature currently only reverts your most recent action. For further information on how to save a runbook version, see this article.

Dependencies

When dependencies are filtered out, you can now click to reveal them step by step, moving up or down the chain to view the full context of connected tasks.

For example, if you filter the Nodemap by the 02. Failover stream (using the left-hand panel), only tasks in that stream will be shown.

Tasks with hidden dependencies will display an indicator.

A dot above the task icon indicates a predecessor
A dot below the task icon indicates a successor

Hover over and click the indicator to reveal the hidden dependency.

The Filters panel will update to reflect both the original filter and any revealed dependencies.

This makes it easier to understand task relationships when working with filtered views.

Execute in the Nodemap

You can now run tasks directly from the Nodemap during execution, giving you a more interactive and streamlined way to monitor progress and manage activity in real time.

Further Resources

Watch our video covering creating, editing and managing tasks using the Editable Nodemap.

Nodemap - Task and Dependency Management