Skip to content

MDUPDTASK - Create/Update Task command

MDCMS is delivered with a command-based API that allows external tools or applications to create and update Tasks within MDCMS. This allows a business to continue using its existing Project Management tool, while being able to synchronize the data in the tool with the Project Manager that is embedded in MDCMS.

The MDCMS command is named MDUPDTASK and is located in library MDCMS. It is not necessary to have the MD libraries in the library list prior to using this command. If you are unable to invoke a command from your Project Management tool, you can also directly call program MDUPDTASK in library MDCMS. In this case, be certain that the parameters sent to the program exactly match the parameters in command MDUPDTASK.

All MDUPDTASK API transactions are logged to file MDCMS/MDDUTSK.

NOTE: If Project Synchronization is used (MDCMS Settings option 8), the API will only need to be invoked for 1 system. The other partitions or physical systems will automatically be synchronized.

If a parameter value is not provided and the Task or Subtask already exists, the existing value for the parameter will remain in place.

MDUPDTASK Parameter Table

Name Type Length Description
Name Type Length Valid Values and Format
Project ID (PROJ) CHAR 12 A valid, active Project ID
Task Number (TASK) INTEGER 7 Specifies an existing Task number, or 0 if information is for a new Task Number or the task number will be retrieved based on the IREF value.
Subtask Number (STSK) INTEGER 7 Specifies an existing Subtask number. Or, if TASK > 0 and NSTS = *YES, a new Subtask will be created.
New Subtask (NSTS) CHAR 4 Specifies if the values should be saved to a new Task or Subtask.
*NO - If parameter TASK = 0, then a new task will be
created.
If TASK > 0 and STSK = 0, then the existing task will
be updated.
If TASK > 0 and STSK > 0, then the existing subtask
will be updated.
*YES - If parameter TASK = 0, then a new task will be created.
If TASK > 0, then a new subtask will be created.
*REF - If the value of IREF is found in the database for the given project, then the referenced task or subtask will be updated.
If parameter task = 0, and the value of IREF isn't found in the database for the given project, then a new task will be created.
If parameter task > 0, and the value of IREF isn't found in the database for the given project, then a new subtask will be created for the task.
*NOREF - If the value of IREF is found in the database for the given project, then the referenced task or subtask will be updated.
If the value of IREF isn't found in the database for the given project, then nothing will occur.
Task Type (TSKT) CHAR 10 The Task Type to categorize the Task/Subtask. If blank for a new task/subtask, the default task type for the project's Project Type will be used.
Task Summary (SUM) CHAR 240 A brief description of the task
Primary Appl (AGP) CHAR 6 MDCMS Appl used only for informational and filtering purposes.
Internal Ref Code (IREF) CHAR 20 Internal Reference Code
Priority (PRI) INTEGER 1 1 - 5
Status (STS) CHAR 1 Valid Task Status
Due Date (DUED) INTEGER 8 YYYYMMDD
Due Time (DUET) INTEGER 6 HHMMSS
Assigned to Group (AGRP) CHAR 10 Valid User Group
Assigned to User (AUSR) CHAR 10 Specific User in Group or Valid user in MDSEC when group left blank
Test Group (TSTG) CHAR 10 Valid User Group
Test User (TSTU) CHAR 10 Specific User in Group or Valid user in MDSEC when group left blank
Estimated Hours (HRSE) DEC 9,2 Number of hours expected to complete task
Estimated Cost (CSTE) DEC 11,2 Cost expected to complete task
Modification User (MUSR) CHAR 10 A valid user profile defined in MDSEC to be attributed to the creation or update of the Task or Subtask.
MDCMS Instance (ENV) CHAR 5 Unique ID
*DFT - default instance (no suffix)
*SAME - the current instance based on the library list
Extended Description (EDSC) CHAR 4000 Extended description of the task/subtask