Dependencies between tasks

Dependencies specify the relationships between tasks, milestones, and other items that can be presented on the timeline and displayed by the Gantt and Board type modules (Gantt and Board are the default module names used). By defining dependencies, you can automate task scheduling and highlight relations between tasks without impacting the schedule.

Note: the items presented on the Gantt chart are system-wide, and changing their dependencies might affect tasks in other Boxes or connected tools.

Dependency types

There are two basic types of dependencies:

  • Strong dependencies → have a scheduling impact. 

  • Soft dependencies → serve a purely informational purpose and don't have any scheduling impact.

Strong dependencies

Strong dependencies have a scheduling impact on tasks. 

Soft dependencies

How dependencies are displayed varies based on a module.

Gantt module

Board module

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External links

External links show dependencies between tasks within the scope of different Boxes. Such a dependency might constrain and therefore, the task period mode is set to "locked":

Dependency details

The following can be defined for a dependency:



Strong

Soft



Strong

Soft

Target task

YES

YES

Dependency type

YES

Four types available

YES

Soft dependencies don't have different types

Lag time

YES

NO

ASAP mode

YES

NO

Description

YES

YES

Soft dependency in Jira task sources

For all Jira task sources: the soft dependency links are mapped by default to the "is blocked by / blocks" Jira link, which is one of the default links automatically created by Jira.

If that link is removed or cannot be detected, the mapping will be left empty.