Managing Task Dependencies

Adding Dependencies Between Tasks

Add a Predecessor or Successor

1. Select a task and open Task details > Dependencies.
2. Click the Add predecessor/successor dropdown or start typing to search for a task.
3. Choose a task from the list to create the dependency.

Note: The default dependency type is FS (Finish-to-Start), and the precision level matches the highest location precision of the two tasks.

Add Dependencies by Dragging (Takt Time View)

1. Go to Takt Time and click Add dependency in the toolbar.

   

2. Drag from the end terminal of one task to the end terminal of another task to create an FF (Finish-to-Finish) dependency.
3. Drag from the end terminal to the start terminal to create an FS (Finish-to-Start) dependency.
4. Drag from the start terminal to the end terminal to create an SF (Start-to-Finish) dependency.

5. Drag from the start terminal to the start terminal to create an SS (Start-to-Start) dependency.

   

Add Dependencies by Dragging (Flowline View)

1. Go to Flowline and click Add dependency in the toolbar.
2. Drag from one task to another on the same location to create an FS dependency.
3. Drag between tasks on different locations to automatically set the location delay value.

Add Dependencies by Dragging (Network View)

1. Go to Network.

2. Drag from the end terminal of one task to the start terminal of another to create an FS dependency.

   

Creating Specific Dependencies

Add Specific Dependencies (Takt Time View)

1. Go to Takt Time and click both Add dependency and Specific dependency in the toolbar.

2. Drag from one task terminal to another task terminal to create the specific dependency type based on the terminals used (FF, FS, SF, or SS).

   

Add Specific Dependencies (Flowline View)

1. Go to Flowline and click both Add dependency and Specific dependency in the toolbar.
2. Drag from one task to another to create an FS specific dependency.

Modifying Dependencies

Change Dependency Type

1. Open Task details > Dependencies for the task.
2. Click the cell in the Type column.

3. Select a new type from the dropdown: FF, FS, SF, or SS.

   

Change Precision Level

1. Open Task details > Dependencies for the task.
2. Click the cell in the Precision column.
3. Select a location level from the dropdown.

Note: You cannot select a precision level lower than the highest location level of the connected tasks.

Adjust Buffer (Days)

1. Open Task details > Dependencies for the task.
2. Click the Buffer (days) field.

3. Enter a positive or negative integer between -5,000 and 5,000.

   

Adjust Location Delay

1. Open Task details > Dependencies for the task.
2. Click the Location delay field.

3. Enter a positive or negative integer between -5,000 and 5,000.

   

Adjust Buffer for Specific Dependencies

1. Open Task details > Dependencies for the task with a specific dependency.
2. Click the Buffer (days) field for the specific dependency.
3. Enter a positive or negative integer between -5,000 and 5,000.

Managing Internal Dependencies

Configure Internal Buffer and Precision

1. Select a task and go to Task details > General.
2. Edit the Internal buffer to a positive or negative value.
3. Set the Internal buffer precision to the same level or higher than the task's location precision.

Important: To use a negative internal buffer value, the Paced setting must be disabled.

Enable or Disable Paced

1. Select a task and go to Task details > General.
2. Toggle the Paced setting on or off.

Note: When Paced is enabled, the task maintains its pacing regardless of other dependencies.

Deleting Dependencies

Remove a Dependency from Task Details

1. Open Task details > Dependencies for the task.
2. Right-click the dependency you want to remove.

3. Click Remove.

   

Delete a Dependency from Network View

1. Go to Network.
2. Right-click on the dependency line.
3. Click Delete dependency.

Working with Task Copies

Add Dependencies to Recently Added Tasks

1. Go to Takt Time and click Add task in the toolbar.
2. Add a task, then enable the Add dependencies to recent added task option.
3. Add a new task.

Copy Tasks with Dependencies

1. Select a task with dependencies and click Copy.
2. Click Copy dependency options.
3. Choose one of the following options:
   • Add dependencies to copied tasks - Creates an FS dependency between the original and the copy
   • Copy dependencies to copied tasks - The copy retains all dependencies from the original
   • Copy dependencies between copied tasks - Dependencies are maintained only between copied tasks

4. Click Copy selected.

   

Deleting Tasks with Dependencies

Delete Task Dependencies

1. Select a task with dependencies.
2. Click Delete tasks in the toolbar or right-click and select Delete tasks.
3. Select the Delete dependencies option.
4. Click Continue.

Replace Dependencies When Deleting Tasks

1. Select a task that has both predecessor and successor dependencies.
2. Click Delete tasks in the toolbar or right-click and select Delete tasks.
3. Select the Replace dependencies option.
4. Click Continue.

Special Cases with Dependencies 

Understanding Circular Dependencies

Working with Fourth Layer Dependencies

1. Ensure both tasks have Paced disabled.
2. Go to Takt Time.
3. Add an FS dependency from the successor task to the predecessor task one location below.

Result: A new FS dependency is created with a location delay value of -1.

Remove Dependencies with No Impact

Some dependencies may currently have no impact on the schedule due to location precision, location delay, or being specific dependencies. You can identify and remove these dependencies to simplify your schedule.

1. Review dependencies in Task details > Dependencies.
2. Identify dependencies marked as having no current impact.
3. Right-click and select Remove to delete them.

Tactplan Schedule - Plans_Scheduling - (general) - Dependencies (2.4.1)