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createSubTask

Create a subtask under a parent task. Provide parent task ID and configure assignees, dates, attachments, and more.

Instructions

Creates a subtask. Create a new subtask under the provided parent task.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
taskRequestYesRequest body: taskRequest
taskIdYesPath parameter: taskId

Implementation Reference

  • Main handler function for the createSubTask tool. Extracts taskId and taskRequest from input, validates them, calls the teamwork service, and returns the created subtask response.
    export async function handleCreateSubTask(input: any) {
      logger.info("=== createSubTask tool called ===");
      logger.info(`Input: ${JSON.stringify(input || {})}`);
      
      try {
        // Get the taskId from input
        let taskId = input.taskId ? String(input.taskId) : null;
        
        // If taskId is not provided, return an error
        if (!taskId) {
          logger.info("No taskId provided");
          return {
            content: [{
              type: "text",
              text: "No taskId provided. Please provide a taskId of the parent task."
            }]
          };
        }
        
        // Prepare the task request
        const taskRequest = input.taskRequest as TaskRequest;
        
        // Validate task request
        if (!taskRequest || !taskRequest.task) {
          logger.error("Invalid task request: missing task object");
          return {
            content: [{
              type: "text",
              text: "Invalid task request: missing task object. Please provide a taskRequest.task object."
            }]
          };
        }
        
        // Ensure task has name (Teamwork API requires 'name' for the task title)
        if (!taskRequest.task.name) {
          logger.error("Invalid task request: missing task name");
          return {
            content: [{
              type: "text",
              text: "Invalid task request: missing task name. Please provide taskRequest.task.name."
            }]
          };
        }
        
        logger.info(`Creating subtask "${taskRequest.task.name}" for parent task ${taskId}`);
        
        // Call the service to create the subtask
        const createdSubTask = await teamworkService.createSubTask(String(taskId), taskRequest);
        
        logger.info("Subtask created successfully");
        logger.info(`Created subtask response: ${JSON.stringify(createdSubTask).substring(0, 200)}...`);
        
        // Ensure we return a properly formatted response
        const response = {
          content: [{
            type: "text",
            text: JSON.stringify(createdSubTask, null, 2)
          }]
        };
        
        // Validate that the response can be serialized
        try {
          JSON.stringify(response);
          logger.info("Response is valid JSON");
        } catch (jsonError: any) {
          logger.error(`Invalid JSON in response: ${jsonError.message}`);
          // Return a safe response
          return {
            content: [{
              type: "text",
              text: "Subtask created successfully, but there was an error formatting the response."
            }]
          };
        }
        
        logger.info("=== createSubTask tool completed successfully ===");
        return response;
      } catch (error: any) {
        return createErrorResponse(error, 'Creating subtask');
      }
    } 
  • Tool definition (createSubTaskDefinition) containing the input JSON schema for the createSubTask tool, including all properties for taskRequest, taskId, and annotations.
    export const createSubTaskDefinition = {
      name: "createSubTask",
      description: "Creates a subtask. Create a new subtask under the provided parent task.",
      inputSchema: {
      type: "object",
      properties: {
        taskRequest: {
          type: "object",
          properties: {
            attachmentOptions: {
              type: "object",
              properties: {
                removeOtherFiles: {
                  type: "boolean"
                }
              },
              required: []
            },
            attachments: {
              type: "object",
              properties: {
                files: {
                  type: "array",
                  items: {
                    type: "object",
                    properties: {
                      categoryId: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      id: {
                        type: "integer"
                      }
                    },
                    required: [],
                    description: "File stores information about a uploaded file."
                  }
                },
                pendingFiles: {
                  type: "array",
                  items: {
                    type: "object",
                    properties: {
                      categoryId: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      reference: {
                        type: "string"
                      }
                    },
                    required: [],
                    description: "PendingFile stores information about a file uploaded on-the-fly."
                  }
                }
              },
              required: []
            },
            card: {
              type: "object",
              properties: {
                columnId: {
                  type: "integer"
                }
              },
              required: [],
              description: "Card stores information about the card created with the task."
            },
            predecessors: {
              type: "array",
              items: {
                type: "object",
                properties: {
                  id: {
                    type: "integer"
                  },
                  type: {
                    type: "string"
                  }
                },
                required: [],
                description: "Predecessor stores information about task predecessors."
              }
            },
            tags: {
              type: "array",
              items: {
                type: "object",
                properties: {
                  color: {
                    type: "string"
                  },
                  name: {
                    type: "string"
                  },
                  projectId: {
                    type: "integer"
                  }
                },
                required: [],
                description: "Tag contains all the information returned from a tag."
              }
            },
            task: {
              type: "object",
              properties: {
                assignees: {
                  type: "object",
                  properties: {
                    companyIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    teamIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    userIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    }
                  },
                  required: [],
                  description: "UserGroups are common lists for storing users, companies and teams ids together."
                },
                attachmentIds: {
                  type: "array",
                  items: {
                    type: "integer"
                  }
                },
                changeFollowers: {
                  type: "object",
                  properties: {
                    companyIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    teamIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    userIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    }
                  },
                  required: [],
                  description: "UserGroups are common lists for storing users, companies and teams ids together."
                },
                commentFollowers: {
                  type: "object",
                  properties: {
                    companyIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    teamIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    userIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    }
                  },
                  required: [],
                  description: "UserGroups are common lists for storing users, companies and teams ids together."
                },
                completedAt: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                completedBy: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                createdAt: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                createdBy: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                crmDealIds: {
                  type: "array",
                  items: {
                    type: "integer"
                  }
                },
                customFields: {
                  type: "object",
                  properties: {
                    Values: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "object",
                        properties: {
                          countryCode: {
                            type: "string"
                          },
                          currencySymbol: {
                            type: "string"
                          },
                          customfieldId: {
                            type: "integer"
                          },
                          urlTextToDisplay: {
                            type: "string"
                          },
                          value: {
                            type: "string"
                          }
                        },
                        required: [],
                        description: "CustomFieldValue contains all the information returned from a customfield."
                      }
                    }
                  },
                  required: [],
                  description: "CustomFields is the custom fields type."
                },
                description: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                descriptionContentType: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                dueAt: {
                  type: "string",
                  format: "date",
                  description: "NullableDate implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted. Date format '2006-01-02'"
                },
                estimatedMinutes: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                grantAccessTo: {
                  type: "object",
                  properties: {
                    companyIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    teamIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    userIds: {
                      type: "array",
                      items: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      description: "NullableInt64Slice implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    }
                  },
                  required: [],
                  description: "UserGroups are common lists for storing users, companies and teams ids together."
                },
                hasDeskTickets: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                name: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                originalDueDate: {
                  type: "string",
                  format: "date",
                  description: "NullableDate implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted. Date format '2006-01-02'"
                },
                parentTaskId: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                priority: {
                  type: "string",
                  enum: [
                    "low",
                    "normal",
                    "high"
                  ],
                  description: "NullableTaskPriority implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                },
                private: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                progress: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                reminders: {
                  type: "array",
                  items: {
                    type: "object",
                    properties: {
                      isRelative: {
                        type: "boolean"
                      },
                      note: {
                        type: "string"
                      },
                      relativeNumberDays: {
                        type: "integer"
                      },
                      remindAt: {
                        type: "string"
                      },
                      type: {
                        type: "string"
                      },
                      userId: {
                        type: "integer"
                      }
                    },
                    required: [],
                    description: "Reminder stores all necessary information to create a task reminder."
                  }
                },
                repeatOptions: {
                  type: "object",
                  properties: {
                    duration: {
                      type: "integer"
                    },
                    editOption: {
                      type: "string"
                    },
                    endsAt: {
                      type: "string",
                      format: "date",
                      description: "NullableDate implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted. Date format '2006-01-02'"
                    },
                    frequency: {
                      type: "object",
                      description: "NullableTaskRepeatFrequency implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    monthlyRepeatType: {
                      type: "object",
                      description: "NullableTaskRepeatMonthlyType implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    },
                    rrule: {
                      type: "string",
                      description: "Adds the RRule definition for repeating tasks. It replaces all other repeating fields."
                    },
                    selectedDays: {
                      type: "object",
                      description: "NullableWorkingHourEntryWeekdays implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted."
                    }
                  },
                  required: [],
                  description: "RepeatOptions stores recurring information for the task."
                },
                startAt: {
                  type: "string",
                  format: "date",
                  description: "NullableDate implements json.Unmarshaler to allow testing between a value that explicitly set to null or omitted. Date format '2006-01-02'"
                },
                status: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                tagIds: {
                  type: "array",
                  items: {
                    type: "integer"
                  }
                },
                taskgroupId: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                tasklistId: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                templateRoleName: {
                  type: "string"
                },
                ticketId: {
                  type: "integer"
                }
              },
              required: [],
              description: "Task contains all the information returned from a task."
            },
            taskOptions: {
              type: "object",
              properties: {
                appendAssignees: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                checkInvalidusers: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                everyoneMustDo: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                fireWebhook: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                isTemplate: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                logActivity: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                notify: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                parseInlineTags: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                positionAfterTaskId: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                pushDependents: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                pushSubtasks: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                shiftProjectDates: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                useDefaults: {
                  type: "boolean"
                },
                useNotifyViaTWIM: {
                  type: "boolean"
                }
              },
              required: [],
              description: "Options contains any options which can be set for the task request"
            },
            workflows: {
              type: "object",
              properties: {
                positionAfterTask: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                stageId: {
                  type: "integer"
                },
                workflowId: {
                  type: "integer"
                }
              },
              required: [],
              description: "Workflows stores information about where the task lives in the workflow"
            }
          },
          required: [],
          description: "Request body: taskRequest"
        },
        taskId: {
          type: "integer",
          description: "Path parameter: taskId"
        }
      },
      required: [
            "taskRequest",
            "taskId"
          ]
        },
        annotations: {
          title: "Create a Subtask",
          readOnlyHint: false,
          destructiveHint: false,
          openWorldHint: false
        }
      };
  • Service-layer function that makes the actual API call to POST /tasks/{taskId}/subtasks.json to create the subtask in Teamwork.
    export const createSubTask = async (taskId: string, taskData: TaskRequest) => {
      try {
        logger.info(`Creating subtask for parent task ${taskId}`);
        
        // Ensure we have a valid task object
        if (!taskData || !taskData.task) {
          throw new Error('Invalid task data: missing task object');
        }
        
        // Ensure task has name field (Teamwork API requires 'name' for the task title)
        if (!taskData.task.name) {
          throw new Error('Invalid task data: missing task name');
        }
        
        logger.info(`Subtask data: ${JSON.stringify(taskData).substring(0, 200)}...`);
        
        const api = ensureApiClient();
        const response = await api.post(`/tasks/${taskId}/subtasks.json`, taskData);
        
        logger.info(`Subtask creation successful, status: ${response.status}`);
        
        // Validate response data
        if (!response.data) {
          logger.warn('Subtask created but response data is empty');
          return { success: true, message: 'Subtask created successfully, but no details returned' };
        }
        
        // Ensure response data is serializable
        try {
          JSON.stringify(response.data);
          logger.info('Response data is valid JSON');
        } catch (error: any) {
          logger.error(`Response data is not valid JSON: ${error.message}`);
          return { 
            success: true, 
            message: 'Subtask created successfully, but response contains non-serializable data',
            partial: typeof response.data === 'object' ? Object.keys(response.data) : typeof response.data
          };
        }
        
        return response.data;
      } catch (error: any) {
        logger.error(`Error creating subtask for parent task ${taskId}: ${error.message}`);
        
        // Log detailed error information
        if (error.response) {
          logger.error(`API error status: ${error.response.status}`);
          logger.error(`API error data: ${JSON.stringify(error.response.data || {})}`);
        }
        
        if (error.stack) {
          logger.error(`Stack trace: ${error.stack}`);
        }
        
        throw new Error(`Failed to create subtask for parent task ${taskId}: ${error.message}`);
      }
    };
  • Import and registration of createSubTaskDefinition and handleCreateSubTask in the tools index, with the tool pair added to the toolPairs array on line 75.
    import { createSubTaskDefinition as createSubTask, handleCreateSubTask } from './tasks/createSubTask.js';
    import { updateTaskDefinition as updateTask, handleUpdateTask } from './tasks/updateTask.js';
    import { deleteTaskDefinition as deleteTask, handleDeleteTask } from './tasks/deleteTask.js';
    import { getTasksMetricsCompleteDefinition as getTasksMetricsComplete, handleGetTasksMetricsComplete } from './tasks/getTasksMetricsComplete.js';
    import { getTasksMetricsLateDefinition as getTasksMetricsLate, handleGetTasksMetricsLate } from './tasks/getTasksMetricsLate.js';
    import { getTaskSubtasksDefinition as getTaskSubtasks, handleGetTaskSubtasks } from './tasks/getTaskSubtasks.js';
    import { getTaskCommentsDefinition as getTaskComments, handleGetTaskComments } from './tasks/getTaskComments.js';
    
    // Comments
    import { createCommentDefinition as createComment, handleCreateComment } from './comments/createComment.js';
    
    // People
    import { getPeopleDefinition as getPeople, handleGetPeople } from './people/getPeople.js';
    import { getPersonByIdDefinition as getPersonById, handleGetPersonById } from './people/getPersonById.js';
    import { getProjectPeopleDefinition as getProjectPeople, handleGetProjectPeople } from './people/getProjectPeople.js';
    import { addPeopleToProjectDefinition as addPeopleToProject, handleAddPeopleToProject } from './people/addPeopleToProject.js';
    import { deletePersonDefinition as deletePerson, handleDeletePerson } from './people/deletePerson.js';
    import { updatePersonDefinition as updatePerson, handleUpdatePerson } from './people/updatePerson.js';
    
    // Companies
    import { createCompanyDefinition as createCompany, handleCreateCompany } from './companies/createCompany.js';
    import { updateCompanyDefinition as updateCompany, handleUpdateCompany } from './companies/updateCompany.js';
    import { deleteCompanyDefinition as deleteCompany, handleDeleteCompany } from './companies/deleteCompany.js';
    import { getCompaniesDefinition as getCompanies, handleGetCompanies } from './companies/getCompanies.js';
    import { getCompanyByIdDefinition as getCompanyById, handleGetCompanyById } from './companies/getCompanyById.js';
    
    // Reporting
    import { getProjectsPeopleMetricsPerformanceDefinition as getProjectsPeopleMetricsPerformance, handleGetProjectsPeopleMetricsPerformance } from './people/getPeopleMetricsPerformance.js';
    import { getProjectsPeopleUtilizationDefinition as getProjectsPeopleUtilization, handleGetProjectsPeopleUtilization } from './people/getPeopleUtilization.js';
    import { getProjectPersonDefinition as getProjectPerson, handleGetProjectPerson } from './people/getProjectPerson.js';
    import { getProjectsReportingUserTaskCompletionDefinition as getProjectsReportingUserTaskCompletion, handleGetProjectsReportingUserTaskCompletion } from './reporting/getUserTaskCompletion.js';
    import { getProjectsReportingUtilizationDefinition as getProjectsReportingUtilization, handleGetProjectsReportingUtilization } from './people/getUtilization.js';
    
    // Time-related imports
    import { getTimeDefinition as getTime, handleGetTime } from './time/getTime.js';
    import { getProjectsAllocationsTimeDefinition as getAllocationTime, handleGetProjectsAllocationsTime } from './time/getAllocationTime.js';
    
    // Core
    import { getTimezonesDefinition as getTimezones, handleGetTimezones } from './core/getTimezones.js';
    
    // Define a structure that pairs tool definitions with their handlers
    interface ToolPair {
      definition: any;
      handler: Function;
    }
    
    // Create an array of tool pairs
    const toolPairs: ToolPair[] = [
      { definition: getProjects, handler: handleGetProjects },
      { definition: getCurrentProject, handler: handleGetCurrentProject },
      { definition: createProject, handler: handleCreateProject },
      { definition: getTasks, handler: handleGetTasks },
      { definition: getTasksByProjectId, handler: handleGetTasksByProjectId },
      { definition: getTaskListsByProjectId, handler: handleGetTaskListsByProjectId },
      { definition: getTasksByTaskListId, handler: handleGetTasksByTaskListId },
      { definition: getTaskById, handler: handleGetTaskById },
      { definition: createTask, handler: handleCreateTask },
      { definition: createSubTask, handler: handleCreateSubTask },
  • Tool grouped under 'Tasks' in the config toolGroups mapping.
      'Tasks': ['getTasks', 'getTasksByProjectId', 'getTaskListsByProjectId', 'getTaskById', 'createTask', 'createSubTask', 'updateTask', 'deleteTask', 'getTasksMetricsComplete', 'getTasksMetricsLate', 'getTaskSubtasks', 'getTaskComments'],
      'People': ['getPeople', 'getPersonById', 'getProjectPeople', 'addPeopleToProject', 'deletePerson', 'getProjectsPeopleMetricsPerformance', 'getProjectsPeopleUtilization', 'getProjectPerson'],
      'Reporting': ['getProjectsReportingUserTaskCompletion', 'getProjectsReportingUtilization'],
      'Time': ['getTime', 'getProjectsAllocationsTime', 'getTimezones'],
      'Comments': ['createComment'],
      'Companies': ['createCompany', 'updateCompany', 'deleteCompany', 'getCompanies', 'getCompanyById']
    };
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations indicate the tool is not read-only and not destructive, but the description adds no further behavioral context such as required permissions, side effects on parent task, or notification defaults. Minimal transparency beyond annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is concise (two sentences) but contains redundancy: 'Creates a subtask. Create a new subtask...' could be merged. Structurally fine but not maximally efficient.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the complexity of the schema (many nested objects and options) and no output schema, the description fails to provide sufficient context about how to use the tool effectively. Important details like identifying the parent task are left implicit.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, so the baseline is 3. The description does not add any additional meaning to parameters beyond what the schema already provides.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('Creates a subtask') and distinguishes from sibling tools like createTask by specifying 'under the provided parent task'. This provides clear purpose and differentiation.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage when a subtask needs to be created under a parent task, but it does not explicitly state when not to use it or suggest alternatives for top-level tasks. Usage context is implied but not articulated.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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