How to Use Gantt Chart Dependencies to Build Your Project
Timing is everything when managing projects. Many projects involve tasks that can’t be started until other tasks have been completed. And with so many moving parts within a project, tasks that depend on each other can be challenging to schedule and manage.
Hive’s Dependencies function enables users to link and group dependent actions together, so users can manage their work schedule more efficiently. Here’s how to use dependent actions within Hive using the Gantt Chart project view.
First thing’s first: Enable Dependencies in Hive
Before you open a project with Gantt view, head over to the Apps tab on your left-hand navigation bar. This will open a whole range of workspace apps. Scroll to ‘Dependencies’ and toggle the slider to activate this feature.
Open a project and select Gantt view via the ‘Change layout’ option. You’ll now see a timeline of events. Within this, there may be actions that cannot be started until others are completed. This is where the Dependencies function comes into play, and it’s really simple to set up. For more on the Gantt view setting, read this post.
Let’s look at two different methods of linking dependent tasks together.
Setting up Dependencies using the drag and drop method
You can build Dependencies into your project timeline very quickly by dragging and dropping actions in order. Navigate your cursor over the first action in your Gantt chart, and click on the circle next to the action and drag it directly in front of the next dependent action in your project.
You should see a line appear connecting the two actions on the Gantt chart. Continue dragging and dropping actions that are grouped together and dependent on each other. Note that you can create several groups of dependent actions within your project. So, for example, one group might only have a chain of two or three dependent actions that need to be completed in order, while another group might have ten or more dependent actions.
If you need to delete any of the Dependencies you’ve set up, click on the linking line. A pop-up window will appear. Click on ‘Remove link’ to delete the Dependency.
Setting up Dependencies using the Predecessor setting
Navigate to the toolbar, click the cog icon, select the Predecessor setting and then click ‘Apply’. On the left of the Gantt chart, there is a list of project actions. Hover your cursor over the first action you want to link in your project timeline. A predecessor field should appear next to the action.
Type 1.1 to indicate that it is the first action in the first group of dependent actions within the project. Now hover your cursor over the next dependent action and type 1.2 to indicate that it is the second action in the first group of dependent actions. The third action in the first group will be 1.3, the fourth will be 1.4 and so on. Use the same naming convention for the other groups of dependent actions. (So, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc. Then 3.1, 3.2 etc.)
If you need to delete any of the Dependencies you’ve set up, just clear the data in the Predecessor field.
How to set up lead/lag times with Hive Dependencies
If you want to specify strict lead/lag times between one task and the next, there is the option to do that within Gantt view. There are various formulas you can use here to indicate Dependencies:
Finish-to-start (FS)
Start-to-start (SS)
Finish-to-finish (FF)
Let’s look at an example of how you might use each of these formulas.
- If you wanted feedback within three days on a particular action, you could set FS+3 days in the Predecessor column.
- If you wanted to start a new related action within three days, you could set SS+3 days in the Predecessor column.
- And if you wanted to wrap up a particular action within three days, you could set FF+3 days in the Predecessor column.
Once you have specified your lead/lag times, you need to select how strictly you want to adhere to the dates when using the Auto scheduling function. We explain how to do this below.
Using Auto scheduling options
You have three options for Auto scheduling within the Gantt view – Off, On, and Strict. To get started, open the Auto-scheduling options by navigating to the right of the top bar and clicking ‘More’. A drop-down menu will appear. Scroll down and click on ‘Auto scheduling’. A window offering three Auto-scheduling options will appear.
- Off: Dependencies don’t get adjusted when dates are changed. You can move actions without altering the rest of the timeline, but dependent actions remain connected
- On: Dependencies will be automatically adjusted when dates are changed. This will favor the dependent action’s start date rather than the dependency link itself, meaning that the preceding action can move forward in time without affecting the dependent action. Only once the predecessor has passed the start date of the dependent action, will the dependent action move forward. Additionally, if a predecessor action is completed in a shorter duration than planned, the dependent actions will not move forward automatically to account for the shorter duration adjustment.
- Strict: Strict scheduling (or ‘ASAP’ scheduling) means that all actions move together, no matter which direction they are moving. Specify a lead/lag time that dates will strictly adhere to in the Predecessor column and Gantt view will aim for the job to be completed as soon as possible.
When you use Hive’s Dependencies function, scheduling dependent actions within your project timeline can be taken care of automatically, leaving you and your team more time to focus on the work at hand.
And as your projects evolve and change, you can choose how Hive’s Dependencies function adapts your project’s schedule, giving you flexibility and control over rescheduling.
Learn more about using the Dependencies function in Gantt view in this post. And watch our video to discover how you and your team can get the most out of Hive Dependencies.
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