Schedule Dependencies

You can use the Cross-project Dependencies tab to relate task milestones to each other across items. A schedule dependency is when one task must finish before another task can begin. Use this view to highlight inconsistencies across items and to identify where your organization can work to resolve them by identifying in which items they are being driven from. Tasks that are marked as externally visible in the Tasks tab will be available in the Cross-project Dependencies tab.

The Cross-project Dependencies tab shows a list of items with a timeline of their externally visible tasks. The list of items will automatically include the work item currently selected in the Projects module, its child items, and any other explicitly-included items. The list is filtered so that only items with externally visible tasks are shown.

When the schedule dependency dates are sequential (the predecessor's planned finish date is before or equal to the successor's planned start date), the schedule dependency line will be green. When the schedule dependency dates are not sequential (the predecessor's planned finish date is after the successor's planned start date), the schedule dependency line will be red.

Adding a schedule dependency

If a work item contains a task that is externally visible, Once a schedule dependency has been created, it is visible in the Cross-project Dependencies tab. Once you have made at least one task in a work item as externally visible, the item, with the milestones you selected as externally visible, will appear in the Cross-project Dependencies tab of the parent work item. You can also select that work item to show in the Cross-project Dependencies tab for other items. Once you have at least two items showing to the Cross-project Dependencies tab, you can then create a dependency between the two items. The tasks that you chose to be externally visible appear as the milestone diamonds on the Gantt bar.

To add a schedule dependency

Open the Projects module.
Select a work item.
Select the Cross-project Dependencies tab.
Click the milestone (diamond) in the Gantt bar to which you want to add a schedule dependency. When the cursor changes to a four-headed arrow, drag it to the milestone (diamond) that will be the schedule-dependent milestone.
In the Dependency Creation dialog box, enter a name and description for this dependency.
Click Save.

Deleting a schedule dependency

Once a schedule dependency has been created, it is visible in the Cross-project Dependencies tab. In order to change a dependency, you must first remove it, and then create a new dependency to replace it.

To delete a schedule dependency

Open the Projects module.
Select a work item.
Select the Cross-project Dependencies tab.
Select the dependency arrow you want to delete and press the delete key on your computer.

Making tasks externally visible

In order to show work item milestones on the Cross-project Dependencies view, you must first make at least one task in the work item externally visible to other users in the Tasks tab.

To make tasks externally visible

Open the Projects module.
Select a work item.
Select the Tasks tab.
Click Check Out to check out the project plan.
Select a task that you want to make externally visible.
In the lower pane, on the Details tab, under Milestone Mapping select Task Externally Visible.
Click Milestone Mapping. In the Map Milestone dialog box, select the milestone to which you want to map the task.
Click OK.
In the lower pane, click Save.
Click Check In to check in the project plan.

Viewing a schedule dependency

Once a schedule dependency has been created, it is visible in the Cross-project Dependencies tab. In order to change a schedule dependency, you must delete it and then add a dependency to replace it.

To view a schedule dependency

Open the Projects module.
Select a work item.
Select the Cross-project Dependencies tab.