A dependency (often called a linked task) determines how a task in a task plan is scheduled, in relation to all other tasks in the task plan. A dependency is based on a task's start date and/or finish date. A dependency that determines how other tasks in a task plan are scheduled is called a predecessor. A dependency that relies on another task's start date or finish date to determine how it can be scheduled is called a successor.
A predecessor is a task that determines when another task (a successor) can be scheduled. The default link type for all links between tasks is finish-to-start (FS).
The Predecessors tab in the Task Information dialog box is used to manage predecessor tasks.
When working in the Predecessors tab, you can do the following:
- Name The name of the task.
- Predecessor The name of the predecessor task.
- Predecessor ID The work breakdown structure for a task in a task plan. This is used to identify a predecessor task within the work breakdown structure. For example, 1.B.c or 5.A.f.
- Type The dependency relationship to the predecessor task. FS (finish to start), FF (finish to finish), SF (start to finish), or SS (start to start).
- Lag The amount of time in the schedule that this task can be delayed before it will affect the scheduling of other tasks in the task plan.