PrimeFlow Task Expansion Nodes
Work with generated description, subtask, and checklist nodes expanded from a Task node on a PrimeFlow canvas.
When you expand a Task node in PrimeFlow, its description, subtasks, and checklist items can appear on the canvas as their own connected nodes. This lets you break a task apart visually - read the context, see the pieces, reorder your thinking, and work on items directly from the canvas.
This article covers those generated nodes. For the Task node itself, see PrimeFlow Task Nodes.
Expansion nodes are the real subtasks and checklist items
Anything you do on a generated subtask or checklist item node updates the real task in PrimeTask.
What you can do
Expand subtasks
each subtask becomes its own connected Task node.
Expand the checklist
each checklist item becomes its own connected node.
Expand the description
the task description becomes a linked documentation-style node you can read or edit from the canvas.
Toggle a checklist item complete
from the canvas.
Open the focused checklist editor
to add, reorder, or remove items.
Expand subtasks recursively
so nested subtasks and their checklists also appear.
Pin generated nodes
so they stay on the canvas when the Task node is collapsed.
Connect generated nodes
to other parts of the canvas.
Expand subtasks
Use the subtask expansion action on a Task node to place its subtasks on the canvas. Each subtask appears as its own Task node connected to the parent.
Subtasks are full tasks. A generated subtask node has the same behavior as any Task node - the full Action Toolbar, further expansion of its own subtasks and checklist, and a link to the task page.
For subtasks as a concept, see Subtasks.
Break a task down on the canvas
Expand a task's subtasks, then expand each subtask's own subtasks or checklist to see the whole tree at a glance.
Expand the description
Use the description expansion on a Task node to open the task description as a linked documentation-style node.
This is useful when the description is long, contains rich formatting, or includes embedded media such as YouTube videos, X posts, images, and links. The Task node stays compact while the expanded description gives you room to read and edit the full context.
The expanded description is the task's real description. Changes you save from the editor update the same description shown on the Task Details Page and in task notes.
Add context without leaving the canvas
If a task does not have a description yet, expand the Description section and start writing from PrimeFlow.
Expand the checklist
Use the checklist expansion action on a Task node to place its checklist items on the canvas. Each item becomes its own connected node.
From a checklist item node you can:
- Toggle complete - updates the task's checklist and progress.
- Pin - keep the item on the canvas when the Task node is collapsed.
- Remove from the canvas - takes the node off the canvas without removing it from the checklist.
Checklist items are lighter than subtasks. They do not have their own status, dates, attachments, or assignees - they are meant for quick step-through work inside a task.
Focused checklist editing
Open the focused checklist editor from the Task node when you want to work on the full checklist in one place. The editor lets you:
- Add new items.
- Edit an item's text.
- Reorder items.
- Delete items.
- Filter by all, pending, or completed.
- Search items when the checklist is long.
Changes made in the editor sync back to the task, the canvas, and the task's checklist wherever it appears in PrimeTask.
Recursive subtask expansion
Generated subtask nodes can expand further:
- Their own subtasks appear as connected Task nodes.
- Their own checklist items appear as connected checklist nodes.
This keeps going down the tree, so a complex task can be mapped in full on a single canvas.
Smart reuse
If a subtask is already on the canvas - for example, because you placed it directly earlier - PrimeFlow connects the parent Task node to the existing subtask node with a link rather than creating a copy. This keeps the canvas clean when the same task belongs to more than one map.
Pin behavior
Generated subtask and checklist item nodes can be pinned:
- Pin a subtask or checklist item to keep it on the canvas when the Task node is collapsed.
- Unpinned nodes are removed on collapse and rebuilt the next time you expand.
- Positions are remembered, so unpinned nodes return where you placed them.
Pinning applies independently - you can pin a few checklist items while leaving the rest to come and go with the Task node.
Color theme support
Subtask and checklist item nodes follow the canvas color theme and any per-node appearance override. Text and chrome adapt so the nodes remain readable.
Connections
Generated nodes stay connected to the Task node:
- Task → Subtask - for each expanded subtask.
- Task → Checklist - for each expanded checklist item.
For full connection behavior, see PrimeFlow Connections and Edges.
Things worth knowing
Subtasks and checklist items are different
Subtasks are full tasks with their own status, dates, checklist, subtasks, and actions. Checklist items are lightweight steps inside a task. Both can live on the canvas, but they behave differently.
Remove from Canvas does not delete anything
Removing a subtask or checklist item node from the canvas removes the visual node only. Subtasks remain in the parent task, and checklist items remain in the checklist.
Removing an expanded description node only closes that canvas view of the description. The task description remains on the task.
Description expansion follows the Task node
The expanded description belongs to the Task node that created it. Removing the Task node from the canvas also removes its expanded description node.
Appearance overrides are canvas-only
Changing the appearance of a generated node affects the canvas only. It does not change the subtask or the checklist item.
Expansion follows the active Space
Generated nodes come from the task in the active Space. Switching Spaces changes which tasks and canvases you see.
Common questions
"Can generated subtasks expand their own subtasks and checklists?"
Yes. Generated subtask nodes are full Task nodes and can expand recursively.
"Does toggling a checklist item on the canvas update the task?"
Yes. Toggling a checklist item node updates the task's checklist and its progress.
"Does editing the expanded description update the task?"
Yes. The expanded description is linked to the task. Save changes in the editor and the task description updates everywhere.
"If I collapse the Task node, do I lose my pinned nodes?"
No. Pinned subtask and checklist item nodes stay on the canvas. Unpinned ones are rebuilt when you expand again.
"Is there a full checklist editor, or only the canvas nodes?"
Both. Use the canvas nodes for quick toggles, and open the focused checklist editor from the Task node when you want to add, reorder, or edit many items at once.
"Can a checklist item be turned into a subtask?"
Not directly. Subtasks are created from the Task node's Action Toolbar. A checklist item is a lightweight step, not a full task - keep short steps as checklist items, and create subtasks when the work needs its own status, dates, or actions.
Where to go next
| If you want to… | Read this |
|---|---|
| Work with the Task node itself | PrimeFlow Task Nodes |
| Write rich task notes | Task Notes |
| Use task actions from the canvas | PrimeFlow Action Toolbar |
| Understand subtasks and checklists | Subtasks |
| Open the full task page | Task Details Page |
| Run a focus session on a task | Task Focus Mode |