Connect Tasks (Create Dependencies)

• Create a Dependency
• Change Dependency Type
• Add Lag or Lead

When creating connection lines between Tasks, the orientation of the line itself can be changed to denote different types of predecessor/successor relationships — even between Tasks, Milestones, Constraints, and Imported Activities. To learn more on how to create and navigate between connection lines, check out this article.

Create a Dependency

1. Hover over a Task so you see a circle on the top center
    
2. Click and drag the circle to the center of another Task on the right (always draw the lines left to right to follow the flow of time)

🚧  Warning: Don't drop the line onto the edges of a Task; drop it in the center properly.

You can also bulk connect Tasks (or Milestones and Constraints) to one downstream or successor Task or connect one upstream or predecessor Task to multiple downstream or successor Tasks.

1. Multi-select all the Tasks you wish to connect to one other Task
    
2. Draw a connection line from one Task in the selection to another Task outside of the selection or from one Task outside of the selection to one Task within the selection

Change Dependency Type

The default dependency type is Finish-to-Start, showing that the previous Task must finish before the next can begin, but you can always change this whether it be during the planning process or to resolve a conflict.

You can also batch change dependency lines by either selecting the dependencies using the Harpoon Tool or selecting the whole chain of Tasks and pressing x on your keyboard to switch the connection from the Tasks to the Dependencies for you to reformat. 

1. Click on the line between the Tasks
    
2. Confirm that the line is a Dependency by clicking on the Line/Dependency dropdown illustrated in Figure 2
    
3. Click on the FS button to open the submenu
    
4. Click on your desired dependency type
   • FS: Finish-to-Start indicates the previous Task must finish before the next can begin
   • SS: Start-to-Start indicates both Tasks start on the same day
   • FF: Finish-to-Finish indicates both Tasks finish on the same day
   • SF: Start-to-Finish indicates the predecessor Task cannot finish until the successor Task begins

Add Lag or Lead

You can add a lag or lead time to dependent Tasks by typing in a number or clicking into the field, but if left alone, the lag or lead will auto-calculate based off the placement of the Tasks.

1. Click on the Connection line
    
2. Click in the open Lag/Lead field
    
3. Type in the number of days to show a lag or include a - (or minus symbol) with a number to show a lead time 

😎  Pro Tip: Use the keyboard shortcut X to toggle between the object selected and its connection line, and press it again to grow the selection as it toggles between the objects and connections.