Intertask Dependencies

Intertask dependencies can be of 4 types:

• finish to start – the most common link type indicating that task Y cannot be started, until task X has been finished
• finish to finish – task Y cannot be finished, until task X has been finished
• start to finish – task Y cannot be finished, until task X has been started
• start to start – task Y cannot be started, until task X has been started

To assign the most common link type, finish to start, select the tasks first you’d like to assign links to: for this, select one task and then pressing Ctrl button select another task. Then use one of the following:

1. Apply command Link Tasks in menu Workspace.
2. Use Link Tasks icon on the toolbar Workspace.
3. Apply Drag & Drop operation: click on the task from which the link starts, hold the mouse button and drag the first task to any task you want to link the first task with, release the mouse.

Any link type can be assigned in the dialog Task Information, on the Predecessors tab. For that, do the following:

• Select dependant task.
• Then use Predecessors in menu Tasks.
• To add a new link press New button. A new row will be added with the name of the task from which the link starts, with the link type and with minimum interval between tasks.

Note: In Lag graph minimal interval is indicated between:

• finish to start – the end of task X and the beginning of task Y.
• finish to finish – the end of task Y and the end of task X.
• start to finish – the beginning of task X and the end of task Y.
• start to start – the beginning of task Y and the beginning of task X

• To select a task from which the link starts, double-click on the cell with the task and then select the needed task from the pop up menu.

  

• To select a link type, double-click on the corresponding cell and select the needed type from the pop up menu.

  

• To select minimum time interval, double-click on the corresponding cell and with the help of the arrows indicate the needed length. Time interval can be set in various measurements from minutes to weeks. For that, in the cell Lag specify the needed measurements:
  • m - minutes
  • h - hours
  • d - days
  • w - weeks

Do not forget to press OK, to save the changes.

Task: In our example, let’s add finish to start link type between the tasks "Make up food list" and "Buy food" and also between the tasks "Make up equipment list" and "Buy lacking equipment".

Links between tasks can be removed the same way (use one of the methods given below):

• Select the tasks to be independent. For that, select one task and then, pressing Ctrl button, select another task. Then use one of the following steps:
  • Use Unlink Tasks in menu Workspace.
  • Use Unlink Tasks icon on the toolbar Workspace.
• Select the task to be linked. Then use Predecessors in menu Tasks. Select the link to be deleted and press Delete.

Do not forget to press OK, to save the changes.