Post-task relationships connect OrbitalWP tasks to WordPress content, so a task can stay tied to the post, page, or supported custom post type it belongs to. You can use relationships to see the work attached to a piece of content, create tasks from that content, or open a task and see the content items connected to it.
How This Fits In OrbitalWP
Relationships work in both directions. From a content editor, OrbitalWP can show tasks linked to that content. From a task editor, OrbitalWP can show the posts, pages, or other supported content items linked to the task.
Related content can also appear in task details. When related content is visible to you, the task details area can show Related Content: with a View item or View items button. Task Views can also offer a Related Posts filter when related posts are available.
Where To Find It
In the WordPress editor for a supported post, page, or custom post type, look for the Orbital sidebar metabox. Inside that metabox, the relationship section is labeled Related Tasks.
In the task editor, look for the Orbital sidebar metabox. The task-side relationship section is labeled Relationships.
Supported content types are controlled in Orbital > Plugin Settings > General, under Allowed Post Types for Templates. The same setting controls which content editors can show the post-side relationship tools.
Before You Start
- You need task read access before related tasks can appear in the content editor.
- Creating, linking, unlinking, or deleting relationships requires administrator-level relationship access.
- To create a task from a content editor, you also need permission to create or edit tasks.
- To link or unlink a task and a content item, you need edit access to the task and edit access to the content item.
- Subtasks inherit related content from their parent task, so relationship editing happens on the parent task.
What You Can Do
- View tasks attached to a post, page, or supported custom post type from the Related Tasks section.
- Create a new task from a content editor when Create New Task is available.
- Apply a task template from a content editor when Use Template is available.
- Use Search and link existing tasks… to attach an existing task to the current content item.
- Use the task editor Relationships section to search for and link content items to a task.
- Use Select All and Unlink when bulk unlink controls are available.
Basic Workflow
- Open a supported post, page, or custom post type in the WordPress editor.
- Find the Orbital sidebar metabox, then open the Related Tasks section.
- Use Create New Task, Use Template, or Search and link existing tasks…, depending on which controls are available to you.
- Open a linked task when you need to manage task details, assignment, dates, custom fields, subtasks, or approvals.
- To manage the relationship from the task side, open the task editor and use the Relationships section in the Orbital sidebar metabox.
Important Controls And Settings
- Create New: This section appears when you can create tasks from the current content editor.
- Create New Task: Opens the task creation form for the current post, page, or supported custom post type.
- Use Template: Appears when templates are available for the current content type.
- Related Tasks: Shows tasks connected to the current content item.
- Search and link existing tasks: Searches for existing parent tasks that can be linked to the current content item.
- Select All and Unlink: Let you select visible related tasks and start a bulk unlink action.
- Unlink Only: Removes the connection but keeps the task.
- Unlink & Mark Orphan: Removes the connection and tags the task for cleanup.
- Unlink & Delete: Removes the connection and moves the task to trash.
When tasks with subtasks are handled through the bulk unlink panel, descendants are handled the same way as the selected parent task.
What Affects What You See
Relationships are permission-aware. A task or content item may exist, but it will only appear where the current user has permission to read it. Edit links and unlink buttons appear only when the current user also has edit access.
Search behaves differently depending on which side you are using. From a content editor, the search links existing tasks and does not offer subtasks, because subtasks inherit relationships from their parent task. From a task editor, the search links non-task content such as posts, pages, and supported public custom post types.
If a task is linked to more than one visible content item, OrbitalWP can show a small additional-count indicator beside the task title in the related task list.
Deeper Notes
Subtasks do not manage their own related content. When you open a subtask, the relationship section can show Inherited from parent task. The related content comes from the parent task, and relationship changes need to be made on the parent task.
Some relationships may be visible but read-only. For example, you may be able to read a related item but not edit it. In that case, OrbitalWP can show the item without an edit link or unlink button.
When a task is saved, OrbitalWP preserves existing related items that the current user cannot view or cannot edit. This prevents a user from accidentally removing hidden or read-only relationships just by saving the task.
Common Problems
I do not see Related Tasks on a post or page. The content type may not be enabled under Allowed Post Types for Templates, or your account may not have task read access.
I can see related tasks, but I cannot create, link, or unlink them. Viewing relationships and managing relationships are separate. Relationship changes require administrator-level relationship access, edit access to the content item, and the needed task permissions.
A task does not appear in search. The task may already be linked to the current content item, may be a subtask, may not match the search term, or may not be readable by your account.
A related content item is shown without an unlink button. You may not have edit access to that content item. Ask an administrator or a user who can edit that content to update the relationship.