Give the person completing a task the information and inputs they need in its description. A merge field shows a card value; a form field lets them update the card without leaving the task.
The new description editor is available for To Do and Call instructions and corresponding task templates and automation-created tasks. Email and SMS tasks use the message composer instead. Older task descriptions may still use the earlier editor.
Choose the right block
Control | What it does | Example |
Insert Merge Field | Displays an inline text value. | Show the renter lead’s name. |
Insert Merge Content | Inserts supported rich content. | Include content that returns formatted HTML. |
Insert Form Field | Displays an editable input for an eligible card field. | Record tour preferences in Notes. |
Insert Aptly object | Adds a reference to a record. | Link a record the assignee should review. |
An object reference is not the same as changing a linked-record field. Displaying a value with a merge field does not make that value editable.
Start with the related card
Open the task and confirm Related Card points to the intended record. Merge and form fields use that card and its eligible relationships—not an arbitrary card elsewhere in the account.
For reusable work, edit the template’s description. A template has no default card supplying values, so gray merge chips and non-editable form previews are expected while authoring. Check the resulting task after the template is applied to a real card.
Example: confirm tour preferences
This example uses a To Do task on a Renter Leads card. Use an appropriate existing field on your board; the example’s Notes field stores the card’s description.
- Open the renter lead’s card and create or open a To Do task named Confirm tour preferences.
- In the description, type Review the prospect: followed by {. Select Renter Leads → Title to insert the lead’s name. You can also use / → Insert Merge Field.
- On a new line, type / and choose Insert Form Field.
- Select Renter Leads → Notes, then add a short instruction if needed.
- Review the task and its related card. The merge field supplies the name; the Notes input is where the assignee records preferences.
Save the card update—not just the task text
Entering Prefers an afternoon tour in Notes writes to the card immediately. You do not need to mark the task Complete to save that field value.
Watch the saving indicator. If Failed to save appears, do not assume the update succeeded. Open the related card and check the field, then reopen or refresh the task to confirm the value persisted.
Only complete the task after the actual work is done. Completing a task can trigger separately configured automations; it is different from saving a form input, sending a message or finishing work in another system.
Open the same task from your To Do dashboard
Go to Dashboard → To Do → Mine and select Tasks. Check the due-date and other filters if the task is missing, then open its title.
The task’s form input can retain the saved card value when opened from this task list. Confirm Related Card before editing.
These steps describe the standard To Do task view, not every custom dashboard or embedded app.
Troubleshoot a missing or unsaved value
- Gray placeholder in a template: apply the template to an appropriate card and inspect the resulting task.
- Blank or unexpected merge value: check the related card, source field and relationship. A chip showing a field label is not confirmation of the resolved value.
- Missing or disabled form input: check field eligibility and your access. Do not change live relationships just to make a field appear.
- Required-field asterisk: this reflects the board field’s required setting; do not assume the asterisk alone blocks task completion.
- Save failure: verify the card’s current value before retrying. Keep the task open until you know which value was saved.
If the problem continues, share the task or template link, related card link, field name, expected result and a screenshot with Support. Do not include credentials or unrelated personal information.