> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.autocleaneeg.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Task Management

> Comprehensive guide to creating, managing, and working with AutocleanEEG processing tasks.

## 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:

```bash theme={null}
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

| Command     | Description                 | Usage                                       |
| ----------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `task list` | List all available tasks    | Shows built-in, custom, and skipped tasks   |
| `task set`  | Set the active task         | Interactive selection if task name omitted  |
| `task copy` | Copy an existing task       | Creates customizable copy of built-in tasks |
| `task edit` | Edit a task file            | Opens task configuration for modification   |
| `task show` | Display active task details | Shows current task configuration            |

### Management Commands

| Command              | Description               | Usage                                     |
| -------------------- | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `task import <path>` | Import external task file | Copy task file into workspace             |
| `task delete`        | Remove a task             | Delete custom tasks (built-ins protected) |
| `task unset`         | Clear active task         | Remove current task selection             |
| `task explore`       | Open tasks folder         | Launch file explorer in tasks directory   |

## Task Types

### Built-in Tasks

Pre-configured processing pipelines included with AutocleanEEG. They live in the public Task Library - see [Task Library & Online Registry](../tasks/task_library_overview) for a plain-language walkthrough. The CLI shows a friendly status badge (`up to date`, `customized`, or `install to use`) so you always know what state your local copy is in.

```bash theme={null}
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 processing pipelines (editing is optional; you can keep defaults)
* Stored as `.py` files in workspace `tasks/` directory
* Advanced users can incorporate Python, R, or MATLAB code, but it is not required

### 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:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   autocleaneeg-pipeline task copy RestingState_Basic MyCustomTask
   ```

2. **Set as active:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   autocleaneeg-pipeline task set MyCustomTask
   ```

3. **Edit configuration:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   autocleaneeg-pipeline task edit
   ```

### Working with Tasks

1. **List available tasks:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   autocleaneeg-pipeline task list
   ```

2. **Set active task interactively:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   autocleaneeg-pipeline task set
   ```

3. **View current configuration:**
   ```bash theme={null}
   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

<Note>
  Task creation can be entirely custom and complex, incorporating Python, R, or MATLAB code for specialized processing workflows.
</Note>

## 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

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Input Management" icon="file-import" href="/input-management">
    Learn how to configure input files and batch processing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pipeline Execution" icon="play" href="/pipeline-execution">
    Execute tasks and monitor processing progress.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom Task Development" icon="code" href="/custom-tasks">
    Create advanced custom processing pipelines.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quality Control" icon="shield-check" href="/quality-control">
    Review and validate processing outputs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>