Add Dependencies

Tasks are interdependent, such that the execution of certain tasks has to wait for the commencement or completion of another task or other tasks.

Predecessors are the WBS/schedule elements that need to be compulsorily started or completed before you can start a certain task. You can specify the predecessor tasks and the dependency relationship in the 'Predecessor' column for each dependent task. Also, you can add any delay or slack to be imposed before starting a dependent task. The start date of the dependent task is auto-calculated based on the predecessor task and the dependency relationship, excluding the weekends. But you can manually change the start date as required. You can edit or remove dependencies of a task at any time. You can perform the following actions for all the tasks on setting up dependencies: 

• Add dependencies
• Edit dependencies
• Remove dependencies

Note: If you update the start date of a dependent task, which is not in compliance with the type of dependency and lag days given to the predecessor task, you will receive an alert on the dependency violation.

Task dependencies play a vital role in calculating the critical path in your schedule. The critical path indicates the essential tasks that must be compulsorily commenced and completed as per the planned dates without any delays in order to complete the project in a timely fashion.

Add dependencies to 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 row

• Enter the details of the dependencies:

Task Name - The predecessor task. 

• Double-click inside the field and choose the task from the dropdown.

Type - The dependency relationship. 

• Click inside the field to reveal the drop-down button
• Click the down arrow and choose the relationship

The available options are:

• 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 percentage of completion of the predecessor task.
  • Double-click inside the cell and enter the value
  • 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.

• Click '+ Add' to save your settings
• Repeat the process to add more predecessor tasks and dependency relationships

The dependencies are shown:

• Click 'Save'

The predecessor tasks and their dependency relationships are added to the task. You can view them in the 'Predecessors' column of the 'Schedule' interface.

You can add more dependencies at any time. 

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 a 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.