---
sourceDocument: Zurich Strategic Portfolio Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/it-business-management

 Release :

    - zurich

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Zurich Strategic Portfolio Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itbm

bundleId :

    - itbm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Customize a state for project or project task

# Customize a state for project or project task {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Zurich
* 
* Updated July 31, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Add or modify a state of project or project task using dictionary
override.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

## About this task

As an example, the steps for adding custom states for Work in progress state category for Project task are described. In this example,

* the existing Work in Progress state is removed and following three new states are added:{#customize-project-task-states__table_project_states__entry__3}

  | State | Label | Category |
  |-|-|-|
  | 10 | Design | Work in Progress |
  | 11 | Development | Work in Progress |
  | 12 | Testing | Work in Progress |
  [ ]

  {#customize-project-task-states__table_project_states}
* the default Work in Progress is kept as `10` (`Design`).
{#customize-project-task-states__ul_i3q_lyf_yy}

## Procedure

1. [Define](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_DefineADictionaryOverride&version=zurich&pubname=zurich-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) a new dictionary override for `pm_project_task` table under `
   `[Task - State](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/zpZN4f~URpHGn8BHbMP3lA "View category information for the default project and project task states. In the base system, the states in project and project task inherit the states in Task table.")`
   ` dictionary.
2. Specify the override attributes for the dictionary override in Attributes field as follows:  
   `close_states=3;4;7,default_close_state=3,default_work_state=10,default_open_state=1,default_skipped_state=7,default_pending_state=-5,pending_states=-5,open_states=1,work_in_progress_states=10;11;12`

## Result

* As specified in Step 2, the `default_work_state` is declared as 10 and the `work_in_progress_states` as 10, 11, and 12. Now whenever a project task changes to any of the new Work in Progress states, its parent also moves to corresponding Work in progress state.

  Suppose that a project task
  has two children records, and if the first child record moves to
  Development state, the parent also moves to
  Development state. Now if the second child record
  moves to Design state, the two children records under
  the project task are in two different work in progress states. In such
  cases, the parent record moves to the default work in progress state. In
  this case, the parent record moves to Design as the
  `default_work_state` is specified as `10`
  (`Design`).
* The project states can also be customized using the same steps.
{#customize-project-task-states__ul_bzb_c1g_yy}
**Related concepts**   

* [Project and project task states](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BBCq06zVY_g3r4OMliuTzw "In the base system, the states in project and project task inherit the states in Task table.")