Dependencies

Dependencies help put tasks and milestones into a meaningful order. This makes it visible which tasks must be completed first and which build on them.

In smenso, dependencies can be created, displayed, and managed in different ways—directly in the Timeline, in the Gantt, in the task details, and in the list view.

Create dependencies in Timeline and Gantt

In the Timeline and Gantt views, dependencies can be created directly via drag & drop between tasks or milestones.

1. Open the Timeline or the Gantt.
2. Move the mouse pointer to the end of the bar of the task from which the dependency should originate.
3. As soon as the link icon appears, hold down the left mouse button.
4. Drag the connection to the desired task or milestone and release the mouse button there.

This links the tasks and the dependency is created automatically.

View and add dependencies in task details

In the task details, dependencies are displayed in two directions:

• Depends on – tasks or milestones that must be completed first
• Dependent to – tasks or milestones that follow afterwards

There, you can view existing dependencies and add new ones directly.

1. Open the task details.
2. Scroll to the Dependencies section.
3. Click + on the right.
4. Select the appropriate direction:
   • This task is blocked by (predecessor)…
   • This task blocks (successor)…
5. Search for the desired task or milestone and select the entry.

The dependency is applied immediately and then displayed in the Dependencies section.

View and manage dependencies in the list

Dependencies can also be made visible directly in the list view and edited there.

To do this, show the Blocked by and Blocks columns. In these columns, you can add dependencies directly or trace existing links.

Delete dependencies

You can remove an existing dependency directly in the timeline or in Gantt.

1. Move the mouse pointer over the connection line between two linked tasks.
2. As soon as the line is highlighted, press the Del key.

The dependency is then deleted.

Show and hide dependencies

For a clearer overview, dependencies can be shown or hidden in the Timeline and in the Gantt.

Use the corresponding button in the toolbar. If dependencies are hidden, they become visible via a hover effect when you move the mouse pointer over a task.

Show dependencies of multiple tasks

To track the dependencies of multiple tasks more specifically, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift + right mouse button.

This allows you to select multiple tasks and display their dependencies together. This is especially helpful in grouped views or more complex planning scenarios.

Automatic backlinks

When two tasks are linked in the Timeline or in the Gantt, dependencies are automatically created in both directions as entries in the task details.

This makes the connections visible not only in the graphical planning view, but also directly traceable within the task.

Notice when completing blocked tasks

If you want to complete a task that is still blocked by other tasks, a notice dialog appears before completion.

This allows you to immediately see that there are still open predecessors and decide whether you still want to complete the task.

Functional logic for dependencies

• A task cannot be set to In progress if a task in Depends on has not yet been completed.
• A task cannot have a Start date before the End date of the latest Depends on task.
• A task cannot have an End date before the Start date of the earliest Depends on task.

Notifications

The responsible person or people for the successor task receive a notification as soon as all dependent tasks have been completed.

This makes it visible that the next task has been unblocked and can be worked on.