---
title: "Distribution Method"
slug: "distribution-method"
updated: 2026-03-31T07:40:04Z
published: 2026-03-31T07:40:04Z
canonical: "docs.dataloop.ai/distribution-method"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dataloop.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Distribution Method

## Overview

Items within a task are distributed among all users. The automatic option allocates an equal portion of items to each user, whereas the manual option provides greater control. As the task is actively being worked on by annotators, you have the flexibility to redistribute and balance the remaining items among annotators once more. Quality tasks (e.g., consensus, honey pot, qualification) are available only in the distribution method.

You can redistribute items to the assignees based on the specific context of their workload by using a Metadata Key or Value, or by employing a DQL query.

The items that do not meet the criteria will not be listed for redistribution and will remain with the current assignee.

### Reassign Items

When a task is active, changes in the workforce can occur. Use this option to reassign an assignment from one annotator to another.

Inactive users

Inactive users are grayed out and are not available for redistribution, but are available for reassignment. You can view an inactive message next to the user who is no longer in the project.

#### Distribution Task Reassignments

Changes in team structure when using distribution-based tasks use the reassignment and redistribution actions. For example, if an assignee leaves the project and work needs to be reassigned to someone else.

### Add Contributors to an Assignment

1. Open the **Human Tasks** page from the left-side menu.
2. Find the task and click on the **three-dots**.
3. Select **Edit** from the list.
4. Select the **5. Assignments** section from the left-side menu.
5. Select available users and add them into the **Assigned Users** list.
6. Click **Apply Reassignment**.

---

### Redistribute Tasks \ Assignments

To remove a specific assignment and have its items distributed among active assignees. For example, if an assignee leaves the project:

Redistribute items based on the Metadata or DQL query

You can now redistribute items based on the **Metadata** or **DQL query** by using **Redistribution Settings**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-02-11 at 14.00.01(1).png)

1. Open the **Human Tasks** page from the left portal menu.
2. Click on the **Three-dots** and select **Edit**.
3. Select the **Assignments** section from the list.
4. Identify the user to be redistributed and click **Redistribute**. A Redistribute Assignment page is displayed.
5. Select **Available Users** from the list and add them to the **Assigned Users** list, if needed.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-02-11 at 14.07.37.png)

1. Click **Redistribution Settings**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-02-11 at 14.09.02.png)
2. Edit the following options and click **Save Changes**:
  1. **Auto Distribution**
  2. Only redistribute items with no annotations: This option is to keep the work already started in the original assignment and let the assignee complete it.
  3. Redistribution Context: Redistribute items with a specific **Metadata Key/Value** or with a **DQL Query**. It redistributes items to the assignees based on the specific context of their workload.
    1. **Metadata Key/Value**:
      1. Data type: **String** or **Number**
      2. Key and Value
    2. **DQL Query**
3. Click **Apply Redistribution**.
4. Click **Save Changes**.

---

### Reassign a Task

To remove a specific assignment and have its items distributed among active assignees. For example, if an assignee leaves the project:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-02-11 at 13.57.40(2).png)

1. Open the **Human Tasks** page from the left portal menu.
2. Click on the **Three-dots** icon and select **Edit**.
3. Select the **Assignments** section from the list.
4. Identify the user to be redistributed and click **Reassign**. A reassign page is displayed.
5. Click **Select Assignee** of the user you want to assign.
6. Click **Apply Reassignment**.

### Edit Item Workloads

**Edit Item Workloads of Pipeline’s Distribution Task**: You have the ability to adjust the workload distribution of incoming pipeline items in distribution-type tasks generated by the pipeline ('My Task' node).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-02-11 at 14.00.01 copy.png)

Note

- Editing the allocation of incoming pipeline items will affect only future workload, with no impact on the current assignments.
- To avoid future workload to inactive users, you can make the workload percentage to 0 by selecting manual distribution.
- You cannot remove existing users from the list.

1. Open the **Human Tasks** page from the left portal menu.
2. Find the pipeline task and click on the **three-dots**.
3. Select **Edit** from the list.
4. Select the **5. Assignments** section from the left-side menu.
5. Click on the **Edit** next to the **% Items Workload** column.
6. Select available users and add them into the **Assigned Users** list.
7. Click **Confirm Workload**.