Dependencies
Soft dependencies don’t have a scheduling impact.
A strong dependency ensures that the starting point of a dependency is before the target point of a dependency.
Strong dependencies (solid line on a Gantt chart) connect tasks in the following ways:
end to start
end to end
start to end
start to start
There are two types of strong dependencies:
ASAP - one task immediately follows the other
non-ASAP - one task follows the other, but doesn’t have to follow immediately
Lag time:
a mandatory gap between tasks
Unable to change dates
The dates of this task are determined by the dependency linking it to another task.
The dates of this task are determined by the dependencies linking it to other tasks.
A strong dependency makes it impossible to change the task dates in a way that would break the rules:
Task can’t be moved on the Gantt module timeline
Task can’t be moved in the Resources module
Task dates can’t be manually changed (editing a date of a Jira issue, Gantt module column, task details pop-up)
To see the dependencies, go to the Gantt module.
You can use the search function to locate the task.
When you click on a task row, the row is highlighted in blue (the task is selected). When you clear the search, the task is still highlighted in blue.
When dependencies are collapsed, you can click on a dependency dot to see the details.
When dependencies are expanded, you can see dependencies visualized as arrows connecting tasks.
Solutions:
move the source task before moving the target task.
change the task scheduling mode to manual (automatic rules no longer apply - you can manually change the dependency dates). The dependency arrow is orange to indicate the rules are broken, but you are allowed to place the task wherever you want.
change the dependency type to ‘soft’ - soft dependencies don’t have a scheduling impact. They can be used to indicate a connection between tasks.
remove the dependency.
Dates adjusted by a dependency
Dependency rules have repositioned a task.
In the example below:
strong ASAP dependency connects tasks - an ASAP dependency positions source and target points right after the other. Lag time is added (when specified).
Scheduling mode of the target task was manual (dependency didn’t apply).
Scheduling mode of a task changed to auto bottom-up - dependency is applied. The task is moved.
The dates of this task are determined by the dependency linking it to another task.
When a target task doesn’t have start/end date, it is not on the timeline. Once a task is positioned on the timeline, dependency rules apply.
Period mode
Unable to change dates
Auto top-down task
The dates of this task depend on the dates of its parent, which is set to auto top-down scheduling mode.
When a task is in the ‘auto top-down’ scheduling mode, it adjusts its period to fit under the parent task.
Parent-child relationships can be viewed in the Gantt module - task tree shows how tasks are nested.
Solutions:
Change the position of the parent
Change the period mode
of the child to ‘manual’ - automatic rules don’t apply. You can position tasks as you want.
of the child to ‘auto bottom-up’ - parent task period is modified by children
of a child to ‘auto basic’ - a task responds only to dependencies and non-working days. Period and position of the parent are ignored.
change how tasks are nested in the tree
Locked parent
The dates of this task depend on the dates of its parent, which is set to Locked scheduling mode.
When a task is in a ‘locked’ scheduling mode, its period cannot be changed (can’t be repositioned on a timeline, dates can’t be manually changed). A child in an ‘auto top-down' scheduling mode adjusts its period to fit under a parent.
Solutions:
Change the scheduling mode of the child task
Change the period of the parent task (if parent is ‘locked', the parent scheduling mode must be changed to allow for changes of its period).
change how tasks are nested in the tree.
Locked task
This task is set to Locked scheduling move, so its dates can’t be changed.
A task has a start/end date - start/end cannot be modified (the task can’t be moved on a timeline and dates can’t be manually changed).
A task doesn’t have a start/end date - start/end date can’t be entered.
Solution:
change the task scheduling mode.
Auto bottom-up task
This task is set to auto bottom-up scheduling mode, so its dates depend on the dates of its subtasks.
The period of an auto bottom-up task is based on the periods of its children.
When children don’t have a start/end date, the parent task doesn’t have dates.
Solution:
change the parent period mode
change the dates of the child tasks.
Dates adjusted by parent task
Auto top-down
The dates of this task depend on the dates of its parent, which is set to Auto top-down scheduling mode.
Parent task dates are changed. The child task adjusts its period to fit the parent.
The child didn’t have dates. Once the child is placed on a timeline, it adjusts to fit the parent.
Locked parent
The dates of this task depend on the dates of its parent, which is set to Locked scheduling mode.