What is task dependency and what is it used for?

Some tasks need to be completed in a particular order. When the approach to a certain task depends on the result of another, dependency helps associate them together and determine an order to work. Projects' end-to-end Gantt visualization provides a bird's eye view of your tasks, helping you track them easily. Using the Chronology Gantt chart and the Milestone Gantt chart, you can effortlessly establish dependencies between tasks.

Feature Availability:

1. Dependency between tasks of the same project: Premium and Enterprise plans
   
2. Dependency between tasks across projects: Enterprise  plan
   

Click here to learn more about access privileges for Task dependencies.

Types of Dependency

Zoho Projects supports four types of dependency.

1. Finish-To-Start (FS) : The successor or dependent task can’t begin until the predecessor or parent task is finished. For instance, in a journal publishing process, self-review of a journal can’t begin until the draft is completed by the writer.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Start-To-Start (SS): The successor or dependent task can’t begin until after the predecessor or parent task has started. For instance, as the peer review of the journal starts, the manager review can also be initiated.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Finish-To-Finish (FF) : A task (successor/predecessor) can't be completed until the other task is finished. 
   
   For instance, error correction can't be completed until the manager review is finished.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Start-To-Finish (SF) : The successor or dependent task can be completed when the predecessor or parent task is about to begin.  For instance, publishing the journal can’t be completed unless the journal binding starts.
   
   
   

• Related Articles

• Task dependency settings

  Configure task dependency settings and set default dependency type. Click  and select Org Settings under Portal Configuration. Select Task & Timesheet in the left panel and scroll down to find Task Dependency where custom options for the project can ...

• Create task dependency using Milestone Gantt

  Set dependency between tasks of the same project Open your project and click Gantt & Reports in the left panel. Select the Gantt Chart section in the main panel. Select Milestone Gantt from the drop down menu. By default, Chronology Gantt is chosen. ...

• Create task dependency using Chronology Gantt chart

  Set dependency between tasks of the same project Open your project and click Gantt & Reports in the left panel. Select the Gantt Chart section in the main panel. Select Chronology Gantt from the drop down menu.  Mouse over the task name and click  to ...

• Manage task lists

  Edit / Delete a Task List Navigate to your project and click Tasks in the left panel. Ensure you are in the Classic View and hover over a task list. Click  to edit or delete a task list. When you edit, you can modify the task list name or change the ...

• Create task dependencies in templates

  Setting dependency between tasks is the best way to track their progress. You will be able to set dependency between tasks of the same project in Project Templates . Know more about task dependency.  Create task dependency from tasks  Navigate to > ...