Dependencies allow you to link tasks together so that changes to one task can affect another. When a predecessor task changes, the successor task is either updated automatically or remains unchanged for manual review, depending on the successor's scheduling mode.
Geniebelt supports Finish-to-Start dependencies
A Finish-to-Start dependency means that a successor task cannot begin until its predecessor has finished. By default, the successor starts on the next working day after the predecessor ends. If the successor is a milestone, it is scheduled on the predecessor's last scheduled day.
If you need the successor to start earlier or later, you can adjust the lag time, see below.
A task can have multiple predecessor and successor dependencies and you can see all related dependencies in the side-panel for each task. Clicking on a dependency in the task panel will take you to that specific task.
Scheduling mode
The scheduling mode determines how successor tasks behave when a predecessor changes.
There are two scheduling modes:
Automatic
Manual
Automatic scheduling
With automatic scheduling, successor tasks stay synchronized automatically. If the predecessor's end date changes, the successor's start date is recalculated based on the dependency and the configured lag time.
Manual scheduling
With manual scheduling, successor tasks are not updated automatically. If the predecessor changes, the successor keeps its current dates until you decide to update them manually.
Identifying and changing the scheduling mode
In the Gantt chart, task bars have a slightly different appearance depending on whether they use Automatic or Manual scheduling.
To change a task's scheduling mode, open the task side panel, click the three dots, and select either Automatic or Manual scheduling.
Creating dependencies
There are two ways to create dependencies:
Drag and drop directly in the Gantt chart
Create a dependency from the task side panel
Create a dependency by drag and drop
Hover over the predecessor task.
Click the dependency handle in the upper-right corner of the task bar.
Drag the connection to the successor task and drop it.
Alternatively:
Hover over the successor task.
Click the dependency handle in the upper-left corner.
Drag the connection to the predecessor task and drop it.
When a dependency is created:
The successor is automatically moved to the next working day after the predecessor finishes. If the successor is a milestone, it is scheduled on the predecessor's last scheduled day.
The successor's scheduling mode is changed to Automatic.
The lag time is set to 0 days.
Create a dependency from the task side panel
Open the task side panel and click the + button in the Dependencies section.
A dialog displays all project tasks. Select the task you want to link and, if needed, specify the lag time before creating the dependency.
Edit dependencies
To edit a dependency, click the dependency line in the Gantt Chart.
From the dependency panel, you can:
Change the lag time.
Delete the dependency.
Important
If you manually change the start date of a task with automatic scheduling, it automatically switches to manual scheduling.
A task that has reported progress on will automatically be changed to manual scheduling.
Lag time
Lag time defines how many working days should pass between the predecessor finishing and the successor starting.
A lag time of 0 means the successor starts on the next working day after the predecessor finishes. If the successor is a milestone, it is scheduled on the predecessor's last working day.
Positive lag values delay the successor.
Negative lag values allow the successor to start earlier than it otherwise would.
Lag time only affects tasks using automatic scheduling.
Mobile
Dependencies cannot be created or edited in the mobile app.
Hiding dependency lines
Large projects can contain many dependencies, making the Gantt chart difficult to read.
Use the Hide Dependencies option in the toolbar to hide dependency lines.
Your company administrator can also ask our Customer support to enable a setting that only displays dependency lines when at least one of the connected tasks are visible in the current Gantt chart view.
Need help? Chat in the app or contact our support here.