Create a Dependency Using the Edit Dependencies Dialog Box

Use the Edit Dependencies dialog box on the Schedule tab to enter details for the dependency. This includes the predecessor tasks, relationship type for each task, and any lag or lead time.

To use the Edit Dependencies dialog box to create a dependency, complete the following steps:

  1. From the Vision Navigation menu, click Planning > Project Planning and click the Schedule tab.
  2. Double-click or right-click a task in the interactive Gantt chart and select Edit Dependency.
  3. Use the drop-down list in the Predecessors field on the Edit Dependencies dialog box to select a task that the current task depends on. Because you can only set task dependencies at the lowest level of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), this drop-down list displays only those tasks that are available as predecessors to the selected task. The tasks display in their respective order from the WBS.
  4. Select a Relationship Type to specify how the dependency between the selected tasks is structured:
    • Finish to Start — The successor task cannot begin until the predecessor task is complete. This is the most common relationship used when planning projects. You can also use the right-click shortcut menu to select Set FS Relationship to build this type of relationship between two or more tasks.
    • Start to Start — The successor task cannot begin until the predecessor task begins. You can also use the right-click shortcut menu to select Set SS Relationship to build this type of relationship between two or more tasks.
    • Finish to Finish — The successor task cannot be completed until the predecessor task is completed. You can also use the right-click shortcut menu to select Set FF Relationship to build this type of relationship between two or more tasks.
    • Start to Finish — The successor task cannot be completed until the predecessor task has begun. You can also use the right-click shortcut menu to select Set SF Relationship to build this type of relationship between two or more tasks.
  5. Enter the Lag/Lead time for the task and specify the Direction.

    You set the lag time or lead time in days.

    • Lag time — Indicates a delay between the dependent tasks where the selected relationship occurs a specified number of days later. After you enter the number of days of lag time, you select After as the Direction and then Vision creates the dependency. For example, if the Relationship is Finish to Start, you can specify a lag time of five days such that the dependent task does not start until five days after the predecessor task is finished.
    • Lead time — Indicates that the selected relationship occurs a specified number of days earlier, which may result in the tasks overlapping. After you enter the number of days of lead, you select Before as the Direction and then Vision creates the dependency. For example, if the Relationship is Start to Start, you can specify a lead time of five days and select Before as the direction. This causes the dependent task to start five days before the predecessor task starts.
  6. Click OK to save your changes. When you create the dependencies, an arrow displays, linking each predecessor to the successor task(s). If you change the dates for the predecessor, all successor tasks change accordingly.