Task dependencies & critical path

A dependency links one item to another so the schedule shows the real order of work — "drywall can't start until framing finishes." Foreman supports all four standard dependency types plus lead/lag time. You can show or hide critical-path highlighting from the Gantt toolbar.

Create a dependency

1. Open a project's Schedule tab in Gantt view.
2. Hover over an item's bar — small dots appear on its left and right edges.
3. Drag from an edge dot onto another bar and release.
4. The link is created as a Finish-to-Start dependency with no lag (the most common case). An arrow now connects the two bars.
5. Review the relationship on the timeline, then click Save to apply it between existing published tasks. Relationships involving draft tasks stay private until you click Publish and confirm.

Change the dependency type

1. Click the arrow between two bars.
2. In the popover, pick the relationship from the dropdown:
   • Finish-to-Start — the successor starts after the predecessor finishes.
   • Start-to-Start — the successor cannot start before the predecessor starts.
   • Finish-to-Finish — the successor cannot finish before the predecessor finishes.
   • Start-to-Finish — the successor finishes after the predecessor starts.
3. Click away or press Escape to close the popover, then review the timeline and click Save to apply edits between existing published tasks. Relationships involving draft tasks stay private until you click Publish and confirm. Closing the popover alone does not save or remove the relationship.

Hover an arrow for a mouse-following tooltip with its two tasks, relationship, and lag. A small badge appears only when the relationship has nonzero lag or lead (for example, SS+2). Relationships without an offset use the connection line alone.

Lead and lag time

Lag offsets a dependency in project working days. A positive lag delays the successor (a two-day cure before the next step); a negative value is lead time, letting work deliberately overlap. Enter the signed number in the arrow's Lag field. It shows working days, or calendar days for a seven-day schedule. Non-zero lag also shows in the arrow's badge and hover tooltip. Save the schedule to keep the change.

Remove a dependency

1. Click the arrow.
2. In the popover, click Remove.
3. Review the removal on the timeline, then click Save to apply edits between existing published tasks. Relationships involving draft tasks stay private until you click Publish and confirm.

Read the critical path

Foreman runs a critical-path calculation across each project every time the schedule changes:

• Use the flame button beside the Gantt view controls, labeled Hide critical path or Show critical path on hover. Highlighting starts enabled.
• When enabled, items on the critical path — the chain that determines the project's finish date — are outlined with a red ring, and arrows linking two critical items render in red.
• Hiding the critical path only changes highlighting. Arrows with conflicting task dates remain red.

Set predecessors in task details

Open a task and use Predecessors to add an existing task in the same project. Choose its relationship and enter the signed number in Lag / Lead; the ? beside that label explains positive and negative values. Then save the task dialog. Dependencies and any linked date changes are saved with that task; unrelated chart edits stay pending. Changing a relationship can move downstream dates while preserving duration and other predecessors' constraints. Review the schedule before publishing.