Assign tasks to multiple clients at once using Bulk Actions, enabling your agency to distribute work items, requirements, or follow-up actions across a filtered client population in a single operation.

### Overview

The Assign Tasks bulk action lets you create task records for many clients simultaneously. You define the task content and due date, optionally add multiple tasks to a single action, and then filter the clients who should receive them. This is particularly useful for agencies that need to assign compliance requirements, program steps, or follow-up items to groups of clients on a regular basis.

- **What it does:** Creates one or more task records on each client profile that matches your search criteria, with the content and due dates you specify.
- **Why it matters:** Eliminates the need to manually create tasks on individual client profiles, ensures every client in a group receives the same assignments, and provides a consistent audit trail.
- **Who should use it:** Administrators, probation officers, case managers, and supervisors who manage client task assignments.
- **Expected outcome:** All matching clients receive new task records with the details you configured, visible on their individual profiles.

### Prerequisites

Before assigning tasks via Bulk Actions, make sure you have:

- An active eCourtDate staging or production agency account
- Super Admin role or both the **Create Bulk Actions** and **Update Bulk Actions** permissions
- Task descriptions and due dates planned before starting
- Client filters ready to target the correct population
- An understanding of which clients need the task assignments

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Navigate to Bulk Actions

1. Log in to your eCourtDate agency.
2. Click **Bulk Actions** in the top navigation bar.

#### Step 2: Create a New Assign Tasks Action

1. Locate the **Create Bulk Action** form.
2. Enter a descriptive name in the **Action Name** field (for example, "February 2026 Compliance Tasks - Division A").
3. Select **Assign Tasks** from the **Action Type** dropdown.
4. Click **Create** to generate the bulk action.

You are redirected to the bulk action edit page in **Draft** status.

#### Step 3: Configure the First Task

Locate the **Bulk Action Settings** section and fill in the task information.

1. Enter a description of the task in the **Task Content** text field. Be specific about what the client needs to do (for example, "Complete substance abuse assessment at approved provider" or "Submit proof of community service hours").
2. Select a **Due Date** using the date picker to set the deadline for the task.

#### Step 4: Add Additional Tasks (Optional)

You can assign multiple tasks to clients in a single bulk action.

1. Click the **Add Task** button to add another task entry.
2. Enter the **Task Content** for the new task.
3. Select a **Due Date** for the new task.
4. Repeat this process for each additional task you want to assign.

> **Tip:** Each task can have its own content and due date. This lets you assign a full set of requirements (for example, three separate compliance steps with staggered deadlines) in one bulk action.

#### Step 5: Filter Clients

1. Scroll to the **Search Clients** section.
2. Use the available filters to narrow down your client list. Filters include **Client Status**, **Assigned User**, **Assigned Group**, **Assigned Organization**, **Case Number**, and date ranges.
3. Set the **Client Limit** to cap the maximum number of clients included.
4. Click **Search** to preview the matching clients.

> **Note:** All search filters use the AND operator. A client must match every selected filter to be included.

#### Step 6: Review the Client List

1. Review the filtered client list in the results table.
2. Verify the client count and confirm the correct clients are included.
3. Click the **Include/Exclude** toggle next to any client you want to remove from the task assignment.
4. Excluded clients display a red indicator and will not receive task records.

#### Step 7: Run the Bulk Action

1. Click **Live Run** to assign the tasks immediately.
   - The status progresses from **Dispatching** to **Processing** to **Complete**.
   - You receive an email notification when the bulk action finishes.
2. Alternatively, click **Schedule Run** to set a future date and time.
   - Enter the **Scheduled Date** and **Scheduled Time**.
   - Click **Schedule Run** to confirm.

#### Step 8: Verify the Results

1. Click the client icon for any client in the results list to open their profile.
2. Navigate to the **Tasks** section on the client profile.
3. Confirm the new task records appear with the correct content and due dates.
4. Spot-check several client profiles to ensure all tasks were assigned accurately.

### What to Expect

After running the bulk action, each matching client has one or more new task records added to their profile with the content and due dates you configured. If you added multiple tasks, every matching client receives all of the tasks. The bulk action status progresses through **Dispatching**, **Processing**, and **Complete**. You receive an email notification once processing finishes.

### Best Practices

- **Write clear, actionable task descriptions.** Include specific instructions so clients and staff understand exactly what needs to be done (for example, "Submit proof of employment to your assigned officer by the due date").
- **Use staggered due dates for multiple tasks.** When assigning several tasks at once, set different due dates to distribute the workload and avoid overwhelming clients with simultaneous deadlines.
- **Test with a small group first.** Use the **Client Limit** field to restrict your first run to a small number of clients, verify the results, then process the full population.
- **Coordinate with assigned officers.** Notify case managers or probation officers when you assign tasks to their clients so they can follow up appropriately.
- **Review filters carefully before running.** Confirm the client count and spot-check individual records to ensure you are targeting the correct group.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Is there a limit to how many tasks I can add to a single bulk action?**
A: There is no fixed limit on the number of tasks per bulk action. You can click **Add Task** as many times as needed. However, assigning a large number of tasks may increase processing time.

**Q: Can I edit a task after it has been assigned through a bulk action?**
A: Yes. After the bulk action completes, you can edit individual task records directly on each client's profile. Bulk Actions does not provide a way to bulk-edit tasks that have already been created.

**Q: Do clients receive a notification when tasks are assigned?**
A: Assigning tasks through Bulk Actions does not automatically notify clients. To inform clients about their new tasks, use a separate **Send Messages** bulk action or contact them through your agency's standard communication channels.

**Q: What happens if a client already has the same task on their profile?**
A: The bulk action creates new task records regardless of existing tasks. It does not check for duplicates. Review your filters and task content to avoid assigning redundant tasks.

**Q: Can I assign tasks with different content to different groups of clients?**
A: A single bulk action assigns the same set of tasks to all matching clients. To assign different tasks to different groups, create separate bulk actions with distinct filters and task configurations for each group.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** Tasks were not assigned to all expected clients.
**Symptoms:** Some clients in your target group do not have the new task records on their profiles.
**Solution:**

1. Open the bulk action and review the search filters you applied.
2. Check the **Client Limit** to ensure it was set high enough to include all target clients.
3. Verify that the missing clients were not excluded via the **Include/Exclude** toggle.
4. Confirm the missing clients meet all filter criteria (remember that filters use the AND operator).

**Issue:** Tasks were assigned to the wrong clients.
**Symptoms:** Clients outside your intended group have new task records.
**Solution:**

1. Review the search filters used in the bulk action.
2. Remove the incorrect task records from the affected client profiles individually.
3. For future bulk actions, use more specific filters and carefully review the client list before clicking **Live Run**.

> **Important:** If you continue to experience issues after following these troubleshooting steps, sign in to eCourtDate and create a ticket by clicking the ticket button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

### Related Articles

- [How to Send a Mass Message Using Bulk Actions](/how-to-send-a-mass-message-using-bulk-actions)
- [How to Create Events via Bulk Actions](/how-to-create-events-via-bulk-actions)
- [How to Update Clients via Bulk Actions](/how-to-update-clients-via-bulk-actions)
- [How to Assign Users via Bulk Actions](/how-to-assign-users-via-bulk-actions)
- [How to Schedule Recurring Bulk Actions](/how-to-schedule-recurring-bulk-actions)