How I Use Microsoft Loop to Plan, Track, and Complete Tasks

[@tamasteam-fz7pm]

Task management tools often claim to bring everything together, but it's not always that seamless. Love the exploration of Microsoft Loop and how it brings Planner boards into the mix! By the way, I use Worksimplicity, its also help streamline tasks across platforms! Great insights shared here, looking forward to more on this topic!

[@jasonward4480]

Thank you very much for covering some of these nuances with Loop. I've been using it since it was first available in preview and had no idea that you could embed a planner board like that. Another Loop video I'd love to see is setting up a workspace around the PARA method (projects, areas, resources, archive)

[@MellieMacAttack]

You lost me at 19:09 and I will need to go somewhere else to see how Loop actually works. This was an overview of Planner and Teams which is still helpful. Would be nice to edit out the issues so we get to the point. Thank you

[@RussellSmith]

Great video! Needing to manually align the permissions between the Loop workspace and the Planner board seems like a major usability issue to me. At least when you insert the Planner board, it could compare permissions and warn the user something needs to be addressed to ensure everyone has access. I've come across the same issue with tabs in Teams channels.

[@DarrellaaS]

That’s a good feature request. We see warnings like that when we try to mention someone who isn’t a member of the workspace. It would be helpful to see a yellow-bar warning above the component highlighting members who can’t access the Planner.

[@cre8ivjay]

I agree. In fact permissions with Loop seem, well Loopy, to me but I'm struggling to even determine the why. So... 1) If I have an existing Planner in Teams, why would I copy to Loop? Can't I do most of what I need to do directly in Teams? 2) If I copy something like a Planner to Loop, as you pointed out, I have to manage separate permissions. Another reason I simply would opt to work directly from Teams. 3) I think workspaces/pages are tied to someone's OneDrive (I'll need to confirm this). If true, this is a huge drawback. Given files in OneDrive are tied to someone's account, if they leave, so does the content. It's why we suggest that people do not collaborate in OneDrive, but rather keep those files in SharePoint or Teams. Not trying to be a naysayer - as I think the concept is really cool, but the above points (if correct) are why I'm struggling with Loop (especially #3). I think there are instances where components are tied to a Team or chat, and in those cases, it's fine, but having any of this content tied to an individuals OneDrive is a non starter.

[@InternationalMarketingCOPA-DAT]

Very helpful video, thanks. And good to see you struggle with the same minor issues as we do! We found the trick to showing a component like Planner in its full view when you copy it to Teams or Outlook etc. is that this only works in the Browser version of the App, not the desktop App.

[@DarrellaaS]

That's right. Some of the Loop features also work best using Outlook Web App or New Outlook. I am hoping for a Loop Component that lets us insert just a single task card. I think that would be useful.

[@AlexeiAnisimov]

Thanks ! When would you recommend to actually consider starting to use Planner ? Built in tasks and kanban in Loop could be enough for many cases, I am thinking 🤔

[@wowsunnykim]

Thank you, how is your browser set up that you can toggle between teams and loop that way? Is it MS edge side bar?

[@jamesmacpherson413]

Subscribed mate! I have been trying to get Loop working for my team but I don’t like the task list in loop and want the planner buckets so this was great thank you!

[@DarrellaaS]

The Task list is quite basic. It is good that the list creates a Planner plan. I found we can take a link to that plan and paste it into the Loop page as a component. But you still have to keep the Task list. Deleting in also deletes the linked plan.

[@oliviersalgado]

I'm starting to use, and I like it. However, I'd like -in a task list- to have the ability to "archive" or store somewhere else the completed tasks for future reference. I have my view with Team tasks, which we update regularly (progress tracker) once it's completed, I'd like to move the task (not erase) somewhere else.

[@sudhk7]

Great video. But how do you ensure the task list under the given page captured in the meeting notes pointing to the same planner, as it appears to create multiple planners

[@fsfamous5657]

I need help on planner recurring where I have repeated the task for monthly basis. But it is coming soon after I click on completed but I needed this when new month arrives.

[@christopherng5847]

i'm new to project management and recently pick up share point and Loop, will it be any different to compare this with share point page or how to bring it into share point site, does loop progress tracker linked with planner or project or its independant built within loop?

[@envivomedia]

Looks awesome. I don't have the option to embed the planner though. It shows as a regular link block. What am I doing wrong?

[@DarrellaaS]

It’s rolling out to organisations now. You could ask an IT Admin to check that Planner Loop components are enabled in the cloud policies at config.office.com.

[@SoCalSurfer69]

Great video but I do not see Planner as you are showing it. I still see the old version.

[@esthercraft]

You have open up the amazing world of loop to me thank you. I wish Planner would allow us to put deadlines in sub-tasks, creating each sub-tasks as individual tickets becomes nightmare in planner with too many tickets. do u have recommendation on how to include dates in sub-tasks using loop or other M365 apps.

[@DarrellaaS]

Hi Esther. I’m glad you found the video helpful. It sounds like you are using sub-tasks with dependencies on the main task. If sub-tasks need due dates, you could build a table in Loop and use the due date column. But it’s not going to function as a reminder. You could look at using a Microsoft List too. Use a due date column and a Parent task column. The columns will only function as visual reminders. They won’t send you notifications.

[@Martinezortholv]

Bummer this no longer works in the new Teams. Also cannot link in tabs for either planner or loops. Hopefully they update this soon. Adding to a Team Chat or tab just makes it a link, no longer a live block.

[@laurar9102]

thank you very much!

[@Realdavidart]

What is the application you are using that has loop, teams, etc as application tabs.

[@DarrellaaS]

I’m using the Edge web browser and the tabs are set to vertical orientation. I turn off the title for the browser window too. It helps me focus on the content or the web app, rather than the browser features.

[@BDV000]

Can you add Trello to Loop?

[@DarrellaaS]

Yes. You can add a Trello board component. New in Microsoft Loop: Trello and Jira components kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn-8npx8d51opcU

[@vukin]

Useless planner. An app for nail studio . No task hierarchy, no connection to crm etc.

[@DarrellaaS]

Did you see the news around Planner, Project and To Do coming together in a new Planner Premium app? That will provide your advanced project needs, like task dependencies, Gantt chart views, improved resource management. The downside is that the advanced features will require a premium license.

[@barunmohanty4376]

Agreed