Add Dependencies from Gantt View

Modified on Mon, 22 Sep at 3:33 AM

The work items in a schedule often depend on one another, meaning some tasks can only begin/complete after their predecessors have started or finished. These relationships are called dependencies.

In the Gantt chart, you can add dependencies by linking tasks directly and defining the dependency relationships. Once linked, the dependent task’s planned start/end dates are automatically calculated based on the type of dependency and the predecessor's timeline, factoring-in the weekends and holidays.

In the Gantt view, you can:

  • Add or remove dependencies only for unpublished tasks. You can define or edit dependencies when the task is in draft mode on the grid.

  • Include published tasks with or without progress as predecessors. Even if a task has started or is in progress, it can still be linked as a predecessor.

  • Choose dependency types when defining task relationships and apply lag days to add delays between dependent tasks.

    • SS - Start to Start - The successor or the dependent task can commence only after the predecessor task has started and is under execution. 

    • FS - Finish to Start - The most common dependency relationship. The dependent task can commence only after the completion of the predecessor task.

    • SF - Start to Finish - The dependent task can commence before the predecessor task, but can be completed only after the commencement of the predecessor task.

    • FF - Finish to Finish - The tasks can be started independently, but the dependent task cannot be completed until the predecessor task is completed. Both need not end up at the same time.

Note: The start and end dates of all child tasks under a parent should fall within the planned timeline their parent task.

Add dependencies

  • Navigate to the schedule page of the project
  • Ensure that you are in the 'Gantt' view or 'Grid and Gantt' view
  • Locate the task in the gantt chart for which you want to add a dependency
  • Hover the mouse over the bar to view the dependency nodes on its ends
    • FS – Finish to start- Click the end node of the predecessor task and then click the start node of the successor task.

    • SS – Start to Start-  Click the start node of the predecessor task and then click the start node of the successor task.

    • FF – Finish to Finish- Click the end node of the predecessor task and then click the end node of the successor task.

    • SF – Start to Finish- Click the start node of the predecessor task and then click the end node of the successor task.

Note- You cannot add a task that has been completed as a predecessor to any other task

By default, the lag days, that is, the time delay to impose between the predecessor and successor tasks depending on the dependency relationship, is set to zero when defining the dependency from the Gantt chart. If needed, you can manually set up the lag days from the grid. See the instructions below for guidance.

Remove a Dependency Relationship

  • Ensure that you are in the Gantt view or Grid and Gantt View
  • Hover your mouse over the dependency line to remove
  • Click on the red dot  
  • Confirm deletion by clicking OK in the confirmation dialog

Edit a Dependency Relationship

  • Navigate to the schedule page of the project
  • Ensure that you are in the 'Grid' view
  • Double-click inside the 'Predecessors' column of the task for which you want to edit the dependency

All predecessor tasks and their dependency relationships are shown as a list:

  • Click inside the rows to edit the details of the dependencies, for example, set up the lag days.
  • Click '+Add' to add more relationships
  • Click 'Save' for your changes to take effect
Note: You cannot edit or remove the dependencies of the published tasks.

Was this article helpful?

That’s Great!

Thank you for your feedback

Sorry! We couldn't be helpful

Thank you for your feedback

Let us know how can we improve this article!

Select at least one of the reasons
CAPTCHA verification is required.

Feedback sent

We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article