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Dependencies & Constraints

In a professional schedule, tasks rarely exist in isolation. The relationship between tasks—how one affects the start or finish of another—is what defines the project's critical path.

Tasks and Links

Task Dependencies​

MSP Planner supports the four standard industry dependency types, allowing you to model complex project logic:

1. Finish-to-Start (FS) - The Standard​

The most common link. Task B cannot start until Task A is finished. Example: You cannot start "Testing" until "Development" is complete.

2. Start-to-Start (SS)​

Task B cannot start until Task A has started. Example: "Documentation" can start as soon as "Development" starts.

3. Finish-to-Finish (FF)​

Task B cannot finish until Task A is finished. Example: "User Acceptance Testing" cannot finish until "Bug Fixing" is finished.

4. Start-to-Finish (SF)​

Task B cannot finish until Task A has started. (Rarely used, typically for shift-handover scenarios).

Managing Dependencies in the Workspace​

You can create dependencies using two high-efficiency methods:

  • The Toolbar: Select two tasks and click the Link button in the top menu.
  • The Gantt Chart: Click and drag the end of one task bar to the beginning of another to create a visual link.

To remove a dependency, select the linked tasks and click the Break button in the toolbar, or right-click the dependency line in the Gantt view and select "Delete."

Handling Constraints​

Beyond simple links, you can apply constraints to tasks to force specific behavior:

  • Must Start On: The task cannot start before a specific date, regardless of its dependencies.
  • Must Finish By: The task has a hard deadline that must be respected.
  • As Soon As Possible (ASAP): The task will move as far left as its dependencies allow.

The Impact on the Schedule​

When you link tasks, MSP Planner's scheduling engine automatically recalculates the dates for all downstream tasks. If a critical task is delayed by two days, every dependent task will shift automatically, providing you with an instant, updated project finish date.

This automation is what allows you to perform "What-if" analysis: you can move a task to see how it impacts the overall project deadline without manually updating every subsequent date.