Advanced Task Manager for Optimizely CMS 12

Update: If you are looking for the newest version of Advanced Task Manager, see the latest update here: What’s New in Advanced Task Manager. If you need the older CMS 11 version, see the legacy post here: Advanced Task Manager for Optimizely CMS 11.

Last reviewed: July 24, 2026

Advanced Task Manager Version 3 was the major CMS 12 release of Advanced Task Manager, rebuilt from the earlier CMS 11 and .NET Framework version for Optimizely CMS 12 and .NET 6. The goal of this release was to give editors and administrators a better way to manage content approval and change approval tasks with a cleaner interface and improved administration tools.

Overview

Advanced Task Manager for Optimizely is designed to improve visibility and control around Awaiting Review tasks in both Content Approval and Change Approval workflows.

Instead of relying on the default task experience alone, editors can work with a more focused administration view that makes approvals easier to review, sort, and process.

What changed in Version 3

Rebuilt for CMS 12 and .NET 6

This release was rewritten for Optimizely CMS 12 and .NET 6, replacing the earlier CMS 11 /.NET Framework implementation with a modern codebase aligned to current platform APIs.

Improved user interface

The CMS 12 release introduced a cleaner and more modern interface, making the task review experience easier for editors and administrators to use day to day.

Better platform alignment

The codebase was refactored to align with newer Optimizely API requirements, helping the tool integrate more cleanly with CMS 12 administration workflows.

Bug fixes and enhancements

Version 3 also included a range of fixes and refinements based on feedback from the earlier version, improving reliability and usability.

Installation

Install the package from the Optimizely NuGet feed:

dotnet add package AdvancedTaskManager

Configuration

Advanced Task Manager can be configured either in Startup.cs or through appsettings.json.

Example service registration:

public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
    services.AddAdvancedTaskManager(o =>
    {
        o.DeleteChangeApprovalTasks = true; // Default true
        o.PageSize = 10; // Default 30
        o.AddContentApprovalDeadlineProperty = true; // Default false
        o.DeleteContentApprovalDeadlineProperty = true; // Default false
        o.WarningDays = 4; // Default 4
        o.DateTimeFormat = "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm"; // Default "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm"
        o.DateTimeFormatUserFriendly = "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm"; // Default "MMM dd, yyyy, h:mm:ss tt"
    });

    // Or simply:
    services.AddAdvancedTaskManager();
}

Example appsettings.json configuration:

"AdvancedTaskManager": {
  "DeleteChangeApprovalTasks": true,
  "PageSize": 6,
  "AddContentApprovalDeadlineProperty": false,
  "DeleteContentApprovalDeadlineProperty": false,
  "WarningDays": 4,
  "DateTimeFormat": "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm",
  "DateTimeFormatUserFriendly": "MMM dd, yyyy, h:mm:ss tt"
}

Settings in appsettings.json take precedence over settings defined in startup code.

Admin integration

The tool integrates directly into Optimizely CMS and adds administration pages under the CMS Admin menu as Adv. Task Manager.

Access control

By default, access to the admin UI is limited to administrators. If needed, access can be extended to other roles through the authorization policy during registration.

Example:

services.AddAdvancedTaskManager(o => { },
    policy =>
    {
        policy.RequireRole("MyRole");
    });

Main features

Approve entire approval sequence

Editors can approve the full Content Approval sequence for one or multiple content items, with the comment field already prefilled to make the workflow faster.

Publish after approval

Editors with publish rights can publish selected content immediately after approval, either individually or in bulk.

Deadline field for approvals

An optional deadline field can be added to help editors communicate content urgency before approval.

User notifications linked to tasks

Notifications can be tied more closely to the task workflow, giving editors clearer visibility into approval-related actions.

Task ordering

Awaiting Review tasks can be sorted across multiple columns, giving editors a more usable view of active approvals.

Change Approval details

Change Approval tasks display richer detail, including changes to security settings, moved content, language settings, and expiration settings.

Why this release mattered

This CMS 12 release moved Advanced Task Manager from its older CMS 11 foundation into a modern Optimizely implementation, giving teams a stronger approval management experience on the newer platform.

Links

GitHub repository
NuGet package
Latest 2026 update post
Legacy CMS 11 post

FAQ

Is this the latest version of Advanced Task Manager?
No. This post covers the CMS 12 Version 3 release from January 3, 2024. For the latest update, see the July 21, 2026 post.

What platform does this version support?
This version was released for Optimizely CMS 12 and .NET 6.

What about CMS 11?
The earlier CMS 11 version has its own legacy post and repository.