Maintenance script: TaskDeck wiki

2026-10-20T21:29:53Z

TaskDeck wiki

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A '''source''' is the group a task belongs to, for example <code>Workspace</code> for the tasks in <code>tasks.json</code> or <code>npm</code> for npm scripts. Task Deck lets you set for each source:
* whether it is shown
* its icon
* its color
* which of its tasks are shown

All of this is stored in the regular VS Code settings. Each setting is an object with the source name as key. Click the gear icon in the view title to open the Settings editor with only the Task Deck settings. The full list is on [[TaskDeck:Commands and Settings|Commands and Settings]].

== Hiding and showing a source ==
Hover a source and click the eye icon (''Hide Source''). The source and all its tasks disappear from the view. Task Deck saves this as <code>false</code> in <code>quickTasks.sourceEnabled</code>.

To show a hidden source again, use one of these:
* Run '''Task Deck: Show Hidden Source…''' from the Command Palette and pick the source. If no source is hidden, a message says so.
* Set its entry in <code>quickTasks.sourceEnabled</code> back to <code>true</code>, or remove the entry.

Sources that are not listed in <code>quickTasks.sourceEnabled</code> are shown.

Hidden sources and their tasks are also left out of [[TaskDeck:Find Task|Find Task]]. Pinned tasks of a hidden source stay in the '''Pinned''' group. See [[TaskDeck:Pinned Tasks|Pinned Tasks]].

=== Where the setting is saved ===
''Hide Source'' and ''Show Hidden Source'' write to the '''workspace settings''' by default, so the choice only applies to the current project.

Set <code>quickTasks.sourceSaveToUser</code> to <code>true</code> for a source to save its visibility to your '''user settings''' instead. It then applies to all projects. When Task Deck writes the value, it removes the entry for that source from the other scope, so there is only one value left.

This only affects the two commands above. When you edit a setting yourself in the Settings editor, it is saved to the scope (''User'' or ''Workspace'') you have selected there.

== Icon ==
<code>quickTasks.sourceIcons</code> sets the icon of the source group. Without an entry the source uses <code>folder</code>.

The Settings editor offers these icons in a dropdown:
<code>folder</code>, <code>package</code>, <code>tools</code>, <code>checklist</code>, <code>gear</code>, <code>rocket</code>, <code>beaker</code>, <code>terminal</code>, <code>file-code</code>, <code>database</code>, <code>cloud</code>, <code>symbol-event</code>, <code>briefcase</code>, <code>combine</code>.

Any other id from the [https://microsoft.github.io/vscode-codicons/dist/codicon.html Codicon list] works too. Enter it with ''Edit in settings.json''.

== Color ==
<code>quickTasks.sourceColors</code> tints the source icon and the icons of its tasks. Without an entry the default color of your theme is used.

The Settings editor offers these colors in a dropdown:
<code>charts.blue</code>, <code>charts.green</code>, <code>charts.orange</code>, <code>charts.red</code>, <code>charts.purple</code>, <code>charts.yellow</code>, <code>terminal.ansiBlue</code>, <code>terminal.ansiGreen</code>, <code>terminal.ansiRed</code>, <code>terminal.ansiYellow</code>, <code>terminal.ansiCyan</code>, <code>terminal.ansiMagenta</code>.

Any other id from the [https://code.visualstudio.com/api/references/theme-color Theme Color reference] works too. Enter it with ''Edit in settings.json''.

The warning triangle of a failed task always uses the warning color of the theme.

== Filtering tasks by name ==
Two settings decide which tasks of a source are shown. Both take a list of name patterns and are edited with ''Edit in settings.json''.
* <code>quickTasks.sourceInclude</code>: if the list is not empty, only tasks that match one of the patterns are shown.
* <code>quickTasks.sourceExclude</code>: tasks that match one of the patterns are hidden. This also applies to tasks that match an include pattern.

Pattern rules:
* <code>*</code> stands for any number of characters, <code>?</code> for exactly one character.
* A pattern has to match the '''whole''' task name. <code>build</code> only matches a task named <code>build</code>, <code>build*</code> also matches <code>build:prod</code>.
* Upper and lower case don't matter.

The filters apply to the view and to [[TaskDeck:Find Task|Find Task]], but not to the '''Pinned''' group. The task count next to the source still counts all its tasks.

== Sources that are no longer found ==
A source can have settings even though it no longer exists, for example after you removed a task provider or deleted the last task from <code>tasks.json</code>. Task Deck keeps such a source in the view:
* It shows a warning triangle and the text <code>not found</code>.
* The tooltip explains that its stored settings are kept in case the source comes back.
* It has no tasks and can't be expanded.

This also applies to a hidden source. Once it is no longer found, it is shown again with the warning.

If you don't need the settings any more, right-click the source and choose '''Remove Source Configuration'''. After you confirm, Task Deck deletes the entries for this source from all Task Deck settings, in the user settings and in the workspace settings. An entry in the old <code>quickTasks.sources</code> setting is only removed from the workspace settings. Once no entry is left, the source disappears from the view.

== Example ==
<pre>
"quickTasks.sourceIcons": {
"Workspace": "checklist",
"npm": "package"
},
"quickTasks.sourceColors": {
"Workspace": "charts.blue",
"npm": "charts.green"
},
"quickTasks.sourceExclude": {
"npm": ["pre*", "post*"]
},
"quickTasks.sourceEnabled": {
"Gulp": false
}
</pre>
This gives <code>tasks.json</code> tasks a blue checklist icon and npm scripts a green package icon, hides the npm scripts whose names start with <code>pre</code> or <code>post</code> and hides the Gulp source.

== Old setting ==
Older versions stored all of this in a single setting, <code>quickTasks.sources</code>. It is deprecated, but Task Deck still reads it. A value in the new settings wins. For a source that has no entry in a new setting, the value from <code>quickTasks.sources</code> is used.

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Maintenance script: TaskDeck wiki