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. Click Save schedule at the top right to save the relationship.

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 click Save schedule to save the change. 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. Arrows whose type or lag isn't the default also show a small badge on the link (for example, SS+2).

Lead and lag time

Lag offsets a dependency in 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. Existing non-zero lag shows in the arrow's badge and hover tooltip. The chart's relationship popover changes the type or removes the link; it does not have a lag-entry field.

Remove a dependency

1. Click the arrow.
2. In the popover, click Remove.
3. Click Save schedule to save the removal.

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.