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markPM's avatar
markPM
Copper Contributor
Sep 09, 2024

Task dependencies

Hi everybody!   A doubt regarding how to show dependencies between tasks:   1. If task 14 depends on ending tasks number 12 and 13, how should I schedule it: a) Creating a dependency on task 14 ...
  • John-project's avatar
    John-project
    Sep 09, 2024

    markPM 

    The whole purpose of dependencies is to shown interaction of tasks. Normally dependencies show a logical sequence of tasks resulting in a Gantt display that more-less follows a waterfall.

     

    In your examples the first sequence, task 14 dependent on task 13 which is dependent on task 12, shows the correct sequence whereas the second sequence shows task 14 dependent on both task 12 and 13 but task 13's dependency on task 12 is missing. Graphically, the two scenarios look like this:

    So when laid out as described in your screen shots, no, the third task in both cases does not start at the same time. If the dependency between the first and second tasks is shown as described verbally, then the two sequences look like this:

    The third task in each sequence does start at the same time, but there is a redundant dependency between task d and f in the second sequence. Technically it isn't wrong, but it adds no value and can add confusion, or raise doubt (i.e. why? what are we missing?).

     

    John

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