Classification rules validate class assignments on tasks and time entries. They help catch missing or incorrect classifications before they become gaps in your reports.
Rule types
Implication
“If any of these classes is assigned, then this other class should also be present.”
Use this when classes across (or within) classifications have a logical relationship. For example: “if any work package class is assigned, the R&D class should also be present.”
Exclusion
“If any of these classes is assigned, then this other class should NOT be present.”
Use this when certain classes are mutually incompatible. For example: “if R&D is assigned, Non-R&D should not be present.” Same structure as implication, but warns when the excluded class IS assigned.
At least one
“At least one class from this classification must be present.”
Use this to ensure a classification is never left empty. For example: every task must have at least one class from the “R&D Eligibility” classification.
Exactly one
“Exactly one class from this classification must be present.”
Use this when a classification is mutually exclusive. For example: a task should be either “R&D” or “Non-R&D” — never both and never neither.
Where warnings appear
- Task classifications panel — when viewing a task on the Tasks page, any rule violations for that task’s current classes are shown as yellow warnings.
- After saving task classifications — when you save classification changes on a task, any new warnings are shown so you can act on them immediately.
- After editing time entry classes — when you edit the snapshotted classes on a time entry and the new classes violate a rule, warnings are shown in the time entry detail dialog.
All warnings are advisory only — they never block saves.
Creating a rule
- Go to Classifications and click the Classification rules button.
- Click New rule.
- Choose the rule type (Implication, At least one, or Exactly one).
- Fill in the type-specific fields:
- Implication: enter a name, select trigger classes, select the implied class.
- At least one / Exactly one: select the classification. The name is generated automatically.
- Click Save.
Editing and deleting rules
- Implication and exclusion rules can be edited (pencil icon) to change the name, trigger classes, or implied/excluded class.
- Completeness rules (at least one / exactly one) cannot be edited — delete and recreate them instead.
- Any rule can be deleted (trash icon) with a confirmation dialog.
Rule validity
Rules can become invalid when the classes or classifications they reference are archived or deleted:
- Implication / Exclusion: invalid if the “then” class is archived/deleted, or if all “if” classes are archived/deleted.
- At least one / Exactly one: invalid if the referenced classification is archived/deleted.
Invalid rules are marked with a red “Invalid” badge and are skipped during evaluation.