Add Dependencies in Gantt View

Tasks in a schedule often depend on one another, meaning some tasks can only begin after others have started or finished. These relationships are called dependencies.

In the Gantt chart, you can add dependencies by linking tasks directly on the timeline. Once linked, the dependent task’s start date is automatically calculated based on the type of dependency and the predecessor's schedule, excluding weekends. In the Gantt view, you can:

• Add dependencies only for unpublished tasks. You can define or edit dependencies when the task is in draft mode from 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:A child task must be scheduled to finish on or before the planned end date of its parent task.

To 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

The pop-up shows the selected relationship and allows you to set up the lag days.

• Lag Days - The time delay imposed between the predecessor and successor tasks, depending on the dependency relationship. You can specify the delay as the number of days or the percentage of completion of the predecessor task.
  • Add lag days in the pop-up box that appears
  • Enter the value as zero if you do not want to add any time lag

Example - If you want a dependent task to start three days after the commencement of the predecessor task, choose 'SS—Start to Start' as the relation and enter 3 in the text box. 

The pop-up also allows you to add more dependencies to the successor manually, if required. To do so:

• Click ' Add New Row' at the bottom
• Enter task name, dependency type and lag days to add more dependencies for the task
• Repeat the process to add more predecessor tasks and dependency relationships

• Click 'Save'

Note- You can edit or delete dependencies of a task only from the grid view

To edit a dependency of a task

• 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
• Click '+Add' to add more relationships
• Click 'Save' for your changes to take effect

To remove the dependency of a task

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

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

• Click the trashcan icon in the row of a dependency to remove it
• Click 'Save' for your changes to take effect

Note: You cannot edit or remove the dependencies of the published tasks.