Overview

Tasks in AutocleanEEG define the processing pipeline configuration and steps for your EEG data analysis. The CLI provides comprehensive task management capabilities through the autocleaneeg-pipeline task command suite.

Task Command Overview

Running autocleaneeg-pipeline task displays the current workspace status and all available task commands:
autocleaneeg-pipeline task
This shows:
  • Current workspace location and free space
  • Active task (if set)
  • Input file (if configured)
  • Complete list of available task commands

Available Task Commands

Core Commands

CommandDescriptionUsage
task listList all available tasksShows built-in, custom, and skipped tasks
task setSet the active taskInteractive selection if task name omitted
task copyCopy an existing taskCreates customizable copy of built-in tasks
task editEdit a task fileOpens task configuration for modification
task showDisplay active task detailsShows current task configuration

Management Commands

CommandDescriptionUsage
task import <path>Import external task fileCopy task file into workspace
task deleteRemove a taskDelete custom tasks (built-ins protected)
task unsetClear active taskRemove current task selection
task exploreOpen tasks folderLaunch file explorer in tasks directory

Task Types

Built-in Tasks

Pre-configured processing pipelines included with AutocleanEEG:
autocleaneeg-pipeline task list
Example output shows:
  • RestingState_Basic: Standard resting-state EEG preprocessing pipeline
  • Ready-to-use configurations for common analysis workflows
  • Cannot be modified directly (copy first for customization)

Custom Tasks

User-created or copied tasks stored in your workspace:
  • Created through task copy or task import
  • Fully customizable Python-based processing pipelines
  • Stored as .py files in workspace tasks/ directory
  • Can incorporate Python, R, or MATLAB processing code

Task Files

The system categorizes task files as:
  • Valid Tasks: Properly formatted and executable
  • Skipped Files: Templates or invalid configurations
  • Built-in Tasks: Core AutocleanEEG processing modules

Common Workflows

Creating a Custom Task

  1. Copy a built-in task:
    autocleaneeg-pipeline task copy RestingState_Basic MyCustomTask
    
  2. Set as active:
    autocleaneeg-pipeline task set MyCustomTask
    
  3. Edit configuration:
    autocleaneeg-pipeline task edit
    

Working with Tasks

  1. List available tasks:
    autocleaneeg-pipeline task list
    
  2. Set active task interactively:
    autocleaneeg-pipeline task set
    
  3. View current configuration:
    autocleaneeg-pipeline task show
    

Task Configuration

Tasks define:
  • Processing steps: Filtering, artifact removal, referencing
  • Parameters: Thresholds, frequency bands, rejection criteria
  • Quality control: Automated flagging and validation
  • Output formats: File types and organization
Task creation can be entirely custom and complex, incorporating Python, R, or MATLAB code for specialized processing workflows.

Best Practices

  • Copy before customizing: Always copy built-in tasks rather than modifying them directly
  • Descriptive naming: Use clear, descriptive names for custom tasks
  • Version control: Consider backing up custom tasks outside the workspace
  • Testing: Validate custom tasks on sample data before batch processing
  • Documentation: Document custom task modifications for reproducibility

Next Steps